The fortresses of Sarzana: Firmafede and Sarzanello

Why Sarzana has two fortresses

In the Middle Ages Sarzana was the gateway between Liguria and Tuscany, on the Via Francigena and close to the mouth of the Magra. Whoever held it controlled the road between Genoa, Pisa and the Po plain. So it changed hands many times: the bishops of Luni, Pisa, the lords of Lucca, the Fregoso family, Florence, the Bank of Saint George and finally the Republic of Genoa.

The turning point was the war of “Serezzana” in 1484–1487. Florence won, took the town, and Lorenzo the Magnificent decided to make it a fortified outpost. He had the town stronghold rebuilt and the hilltop castle transformed: the two forts worked together, one defending the walls, the other watching the valley. In 1496 Sarzana returned to Genoa, which completed the works in the following century.

Fortezza Firmafede (the Citadel)

It stands on the southern edge of the old town, a few minutes from Piazza Matteotti. It takes its name from a 13th-century Pisan stronghold destroyed during the Florentine siege of 1487; on its ruins, between 1487 and 1492, Lorenzo de’ Medici’s architects built the present fortress. It is a large quadrilateral with round corner towers, a central keep and a moat all around.

After Genoa passed to the Kingdom of Sardinia in the 19th century, it became a barracks and then a prison, until the 1970s. Restoration between 1985 and 2003 turned it into a cultural centre.

What you can visit

• The parade ground and the towers
• The wall walk, with views over the rooftops of the old town
• The tunnels and underground galleries
• The prison cells, a reminder of its years as a jail
• Temporary exhibitions and, in August, the National Antiques Fair

The MUdeF, the multimedia fortress museum inside the Citadel, is temporarily closed in autumn 2026 for maintenance of its equipment.

Opening hours and tickets

In October 2026 Firmafede is closed on Mondays and open Tuesday to Friday 10am–1pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am–1pm and 3–6pm. Summer hours are different. A full ticket costs €5, reduced €4 (under 14, over 65, groups); family tickets cost €12 and €16, and an audio guide in Italian and English costs €2. The combined ticket for both fortresses is €8. Always check the official Fortezza Firmafede website, as the route can close during events and re-enactments.

Fortezza di Sarzanello

The hilltop castle already existed in 963, when Emperor Otto I confirmed it to the bishop of Luni. Between 1317 and 1328 it was the residence of Castruccio Castracani, lord of Lucca, who strengthened it. Its present form dates from after 1487, with the works ordered by Florence.

It is one of the clearest examples of military architecture in transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The main body is triangular with three round towers; in front stands a large ravelin, also triangular, linked by a bridge. Together they form a rhombus, surrounded by a dry moat crossed on a small stone bridge.

Opening hours and tickets

Sarzanello is run by the Italian Ministry of Culture through the National Museums of Liguria and opens on seasonal hours: mostly at weekends in the colder months, on more days and into the evening in summer. A full ticket costs €5, reduced €4, free under 6. Before climbing up, check current hours by phoning the number listed on the Firmafede website or on the Ministry of Culture pages.

How to get up to Sarzanello

• On foot: from the centre, climb the Montata di Sarzanello, a path with views over the Magra valley. From the station allow 15–20 minutes uphill, at a steady pace. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water in summer.
• By car: from the centre take the road towards Fosdinovo, then Via alla Fortezza.
• By public transport: town buses do not reach the fortress; the alternative to walking is a taxi.

Both fortresses in half a day

Start with Firmafede in the morning, buy the combined ticket and walk the walls. Have lunch in town, then climb to Sarzanello in the afternoon, when the light over the valley is best. In summer, reverse the order and do the climb early in the morning. The rest of the town, with the cathedral and Via Mazzini, is in our Sarzana guide.