Since the X
th century the hill of Montecarlo was home to one of the many feudal families that controlled the territories of the
Plain and of
Versilia. In the 14
th century Castruccio Castracani, ruler of Lucca, reinforced the existing fortified structure with the intention of installing his headquarters in the new
rocca. The intervention of Charles of Bohemia, sent by his father king John to support Lucca against Pisa first and Florence later, had its consequences on the future of Montecarlo. In 1332 when the Florentines destroyed the neighbouring village of Vivinaia and its inhabitants took shelter on the hill at the foot of the Cerruglio fortress, Charles ordered to build a new fortification on the site. Considering its strategic position the prince of Bohemia didn't hesitate to build a proper
castle enclosing the whole village within its walls and called it Montecarlo in his memory. After being controlled by Paolo Guinigi of Lucca at the beginning of 15
thcentury, Montecarlo passed under the Florentines and with the accession of the Medici the
fortress was modified in its structure. Dismantled in the eighteenth century according to the wishes of the Lorena dynasty, in time the fortress passed into private hands.