Fortezza della Brunella is a Renaissance fortress on a hill above Aulla, in Tuscany’s Lunigiana area. Its defensive architecture, views over the Magra and Aulella waterways, and natural history museum make it a distinctive stop in town.
- Location: Viale Rimembranza 4, Aulla.
- Setting: Above the confluence of the Magra River and Aulella stream.
- Inside: The Museo di Storia Naturale della Lunigiana.
- Visiting: Access is by guided tour; confirm current arrangements before setting out.
Where the fortress stands
Fortezza della Brunella overlooks Aulla and the confluence of the Magra River and Aulella stream. The fortress takes its name from the particular color of the rock beneath it, and its position gives it a commanding view across the surrounding valley.
The fortress has a square plan, a deep moat and four large rectangular bastions. A masonry bridge now crosses the moat where a drawbridge once stood. Its exact construction date and original commissioners remain uncertain; the Comune di Aulla says the only written source about it dates to 1553, when the fortification was already fully operational.
Its later history includes a three-week siege: Spanish troops captured the fortress on 24 December 1733, and it returned to the Marquis of Podenzana in 1737. The Italian state acquired it in 1977 and assigned it to the Comune di Aulla as a home for the natural history museum.
How do you get to Fortezza della Brunella?
The approach address is Fortezza della Brunella, Viale Rimembranza 4, 54011 Aulla, Massa-Carrara. Lunigiana World advises people arriving in Aulla to follow signs for the fortress. From Demy Hotel, a hotel in Aulla, the fortress is about a 26-minute walk or a 2-minute drive.
The Comune di Aulla provides information on wheelchair-accessible parking, and its museum information also confirms an accessible entrance. Check access arrangements with the Comune if you need specific assistance.
What to check before visiting
Visits to the fortress are by guided tour, and opening hours vary, so check the official site before you go. Visit Tuscany says tours run every 45 minutes from opening time, require no reservation and are paid for on the day at the meeting point. The Comune directs visitors to contact the museum for current information.
Admission is listed at €5–€6 for adults. Visit Tuscany also gives a reduced price of €3 for children aged 6–18, students and groups of more than 15. It gives free admission for children under 6, tourist guides, Aulla residents, people with disabilities and one companion. Confirm the current price when arranging your visit.
Visit Tuscany says the guided tour includes both the fortress and the Museo di Storia Naturale della Lunigiana. For information, call 0187 400247 Monday through Friday, 9:00–12:00.
What can you see inside and around the fortress?
The Museo di Storia Naturale della Lunigiana was established in 1981 on the Comune di Aulla’s initiative and is housed in the fortress. Its four exhibition rooms cover the natural environment of the Magra basin, including the valley floor, hills, mountains and sub-mountain landscapes.
The collections include preserved mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, along with osteological, insect and mineral collections. The minerals include local Lunigiana rocks and fossil fragments of a mastodon tusk from the Pontremoli area. A hanging garden inside the fortress looks across Lunigiana, the Apennines and the Apuan Alps.
For context on the town’s other sights and layout, the Aulla visitor guide covers the centre and getting around.
The Museo dell’Abbazia di San Caprasio is another local history stop. Caprigliola and Bibola, a Via Francigena trail section and Pallerone Castle are also among the sights identified by Lunigiana World.
The guide to Chiesa di San Caprasio covers the site.
FAQs
Is Fortezza della Brunella open every day?
Opening patterns vary, and schedules can change. Contact the museum or Comune di Aulla for current visiting times before you go.
Do you need to reserve a guided tour?
Visit Tuscany says no reservation is required and that tickets are paid on the day at the meeting point. Confirm the current arrangements before travelling.
Does admission include the natural history museum?
Visit Tuscany says the guided tour includes admission to both the fortress and the Museo di Storia Naturale della Lunigiana.
Is there accessible parking?
The Comune provides wheelchair-accessible parking information and confirms an accessible entrance for the museum.