The first mention of the locality is in an official document dating back to the 8th century with the name of
Castro Novo ("new fortified settlement"). From the 13th century Castelnuovo di Garfagnana developed as a market town due to its position close to rivers which were important trading routes. Later, in the 14th century, it developed under the jurisdiction of the
city of Lucca. In 1316, control of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana was given to
Castruccio Castracani, who built a bridge in order to join the castle to the village. At the beginning of the 15th century the inhabitants of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana rebelled against the domination of Lucca, putting themselves under the protection of the
Estensi family of
Ferrara in 1430. Under the Este control, the village gained in importance by becoming the first seat of
Vicarship and then by building imposing religious buildings such as the cathedral. In 1512 the town was occupied by troops led by
Francesco Maria I della Rovere, Duke of Urbino, and a few years later it was conquered by the
Republic of Florence, the latter, holding the town under its control for just a few years. In the following years the
House of Este returned to power; their domination lasting up to the
invasion of the territory by the French army led by
Napoleon Bonaparte. During French domination, Castelnuovo and the territories of the Apuan Alps became part of the
Cisalpine Republic. After the collapse of the
Napoleonic Empire, in 1814 it was given back to the Estensi who ruled it until the
Unification of Italy in 1861. ==Main sights==