Where: Camaiore – town of Capezzano Pianore, place Rotaio

Quando: 1223 - 1649

The castle is still well preserved; it stands on an isolated hill above the Via Sarzanese which leads from Capezzano to Pietrasanta. The toponym "Rotaio" could derive from the Lombard king Rotari, the conqueror of Luni and of the Versilia plain; the first mention dates back to the year 884, when "Rotario" was used to indicate the roundness of the small hill.

The castle of Rotaio was built by Lucca in 1223 and it has a star shape that is typical of the military fortresses: it was in fact built to prevent the lords of Lunigiana from sending reinforcements to the Camaiore castles allied with the city of Pisa, which soon after would have been conquered by the Lucca municipality. Rotaio was often disputed between Lucca and Pisa because of its strategic position - which allowed to control the Via Francigena and the plain of Versilia.

The castle walls are entirely preserved and the tower and the other annexes are inside. The structure is currently private property and therefore it was not possible to carry out more detailed investigations.