The Castle of Castiglione del Terziere is a majestic fortress overlooking the surrounding landscape, protecting the medieval village that stretches at its feet. Castiglione del Terziere s one of the oldest villages in Lunigiana, that corner of Toscana bordering Liguria and Emilia Romagnawith origins that certainly date back to the early Middle Ages. Starting in 1275, the village acquired the attribute "del Terziere", as it represented a "third part" of the feudal territories of the Malaspina family. In 1350, it became an autonomous fief, and in 1451, it was incorporated into the Florentine Republic. During that period, the Castle took on the role of the seat of Government and Florentine Magistracy in Lunigiana, a function it continued to fulfill until the mid-18th century.
Today Castle of Castiglione del Terziere is not only a guardian of extraordinary works of art and a library of great significance, but also a symbol of the historical memory of Lunigiana. This place embodies an act of love for one's land, carried out by Loris Jacopo Bononi, an intellectual, collector, and culture enthusiast who dedicated his life to the research and acquisition of printed works, furnishings, artworks, archaeological finds, paintings, and sculptures. His collection is now one of the most important and diverse private collections in Tuscany and undoubtedly the most significant in the entire Lunigiana.
In 1969, Professor Bononi, a great history expert, initiated the restoration of the Castle of Castiglione del Terziere, which had long been in ruins, managing to bring it back to life in just a few years. Despite his numerous professional commitments, Bononi devoted the rest of his life to a mission of "preserving the Lunigiana", opening the Castle scholars, visitors, and school groups, constantly striving to pass on the values he firmly believed in.
The Castle was conceived as a residence and never intended to be a Wunderkammer, but rather a place where history is lived. The works of art inside are not merely displayed but are an integral part of the spaces lived in daily, each one a piece of a well-defined narrative. Every object or artwork acquired over the years has found a new dimension within the structure, creating a unique atmosphere and an original contextualization.
The Castle of Castiglione del Terziere has also become a place of cherished memories for Professor Bononi and his partner, Raffaella Paoletti,who, until 2023, lovingly and devotedly safeguarded the important legacy entrusted to her by the professor, keeping his memory alive and continuing his mission. Thanks to her dedication, the Castle continues to serve as a landmark for the history and culture of Lunigiana, a place where past and present blend into a unique experience for every visitor.
Loris jacopo Bononi
Born in Fivizzano, a local physician in his homeland, later an executive in multinational pharmaceutical companies and a university professor in Turin, Bononi was also a renowned man of letters and poet widely recognized for his narrative and poetic works. His book collection stands out for its variety, breadth, and the rarity of certain editions. Among the volumes are rare manuscripts, incunabula, and first editions of famous authors, which give the collection both bibliographic and historical value. Over time, the librarygrew into not just a place of knowledge, but also an invitation to reflect on the importance of preserving historical memory and the role of reading as a tool for growth and awareness.
Who will come?
after you to break the silence
of my waiting for you in the afterlife
to say to me can’t you see she's waiting
she wants to live another life together
on this earth
There will come crowds of words
avalanches of silence, astral rays
filigrees suspended in the universe
And there will be a waiting from every place
for every place, from every time
for every time
And there will be something indefinable
the semblance of the infinite
the shadow of eternity
But then—who knows if it will be true
Loris jacopo Bononi
Poem written for Raffaella Paoletti.
Raffaella paoletti
She was born in 1961 in Genoa where she spent her childhood and youth. For her studies, she chose to follow her artistic nature, which found a happy expression in the curation of prestigious exhibition spaces, a field she worked in for about ten years.
In 1987, she visited the Castle of Castiglione del Terziere and met Professor Loris Jacopo Bononi, owner and the driving force behind the restoration and rebirth of that extraordinary container of history and culture.
For both of them, it was an immediate sense of recognition, an unstoppable and mutual love that bound them in a deep sharing of life.
It was a rich life, dedicated to their love for culture and to welcoming those who wished to visit the Castle, learn its history, and explore the works it housed. They lived together until 2012, and even after Loris’s passing, Raffaella continued to welcome visitors with a smile, offering them the chance to experience firsthand the Castle and the treasures it contained—especially the exceptional library, rich with incunabula and first printed works of Italian literature.
A cultured and refined woman, she had absorbed the history and culture of the places she moved through with confidence and awareness. She possessed the rare gifts of empathy and determination.
he lived the final years of her life with great dignity and love for culture and the land of Lunigiana, always holding on to the idea of establishing the Foundation that she and the professor had envisioned—one that would ensure the continuity of the Castle’s legacy. She worked toward this goal by seeking support and collaborations with institutions and the most prestigious Italian and international universities.
She had a deep reverence for beauty, and loved nature and flowers, which she used to decorate the Castle’s halls with beautiful arrangements. She leaves us with a memory of boundless love for life.
Her joyful laughter will forever echo through the halls of the Castle and along the streets of Castiglione. She had a kind word and a smile for everyone.
