«Torre di Busticca or “Bustiè” is the appellation that the Pontremolesi give to Castelnuovo, a fortified construction built from a large building with a quadrilateral base, which circumscribes a tower that is also quadrilateral. The central tower seems to date back to the medieval period and it seems possible that its construction is to be connected to the control over the nearby bridge. According to tradition, this would be the fortress that Federico II had his son, King Enzo, build around 1246 to hide there, according to information from a chronicler, cited by the historian Manfredo Giuliani, the great imperial treasure. However, the visible characteristics of the structure suggest a later date, probably to be associated with a restructuring carried out by Galeazzo Visconti in the 14th century.

Two documents, one from 1383, the other from 1431, reveal that there was a garrison of 8 men in Castelnuovo. A description of the fortress, dating back to the eighteenth century, was written by Giovanni Targioni Tozzetti, in his “Reports of some travels made in different parts of Tuscany”: ” The tower then or fortress which is called Castelnuovo, also remains on the eastern side, but next to the bridge built on the Magra. It is very old, and was probably raised, because towards the North you can see a Porticciuola which had its Drawbridge, which today remains buried. The Tower is square, of beautiful symmetry, surrounded by a large scarp wall, which rises to a suitable height, enclosing the barracks for many soldiers; and its gate on the main road is defended by two double gates of square stones, fortified by portcullises. It also has another wall, which is crenellated, on the edge of the Magra, which communicated with a small fort between the same and the said Tower; and from there it passed over the Gate, which remains in the facade of the aforementioned bridge, but is now largely destroyed ”.»

(taken from “Historical-architectural guide to the castles of Tuscan Lunigiana” by Nicola Gallo, 2002)

photos: arch. Elia Santini, Giuseppe Fugacci