Fosdinovo, set in the valley of the Magra river, was founded during the Early Middle Age when a new road between the coastal area and the valleys of the western Lunigiana area was built; in fact the place name derives from “Faucenova”, meaning “new street”.
The village was first under the jurisdiction of some local noble families and in the XII century it passed to the Bishop of Luni. In 1340 it was conquered by the Malaspina family: during this period the village increased its economic power.
Fosdinovo castle, probably the best preserved in the Lunigiana area, was mentioned for the first time in a document dated back to 1084. Under the malaspina domination it became the military and political centre of their estates. The primitive keep dates back to the 11th century and was enlarged in subsequent phases with turrets and cylindrical towers designed to create a defensive flanking fire, especially towards the internal area of Lunigiana. Other impressive towers and bastions were added to the side facing the town, while the interior of the castle was transformed into a refined seigneurial residence with splendid halls decorated with frescoes.
The original building of the Church of San Remigio was probably built in the XIII century by order of the Bishops of Luni and was refurbished in the XVI century. It is now in Baroque style, with only one nave, a presbytery and a choir. Inside you can find Galeotto Malaspina’s tomb.
The Oratorio della Compagnia dei Bianchi (XVI century) is characterised by a XVII century façade in white marble.The interior, in splendid Baroque style, contains altars made of polychromatic marble standing around the lateral walls and a XV century wooden sculpture of the Holy Virgin.