The town of Licciana Nardi is in the province of Massa Carrara at 210 m of altitude and it has a population of about 4,000 inhabitants. The castles of Bastia, of Monti, of Terrarossa and of Licciana Nardi built in a medieval style can be visited in the town.

The area of Licciana has played an important role since the ancient times because of the intense commercial exchanges that took place here and that extended from Aulla towards the northern passes or towards the Garfagnana. There are archaeological evidences dating to four thousand years ago. They are carved stones called "stele-statues" and their use is still unknown.
The original built-up area rose around the XI century and it immediately appeared as an active and lively trade centre. Licciana's Middle Ages were characterized by the dominion of the Malaspina family, who inherited the control of the area from the Moregnano family, and they exercised their power in the following centuries. This authoritative family also built the castle and transformed it into a residence in the XVI century.
The dominion of the Malaspina lasted until 1797, the year when the general Chabot, leader of the operations to occupy Tuscany under Napoleon, abolished feudalism. Therefore, the area underwent important and meaningful reforms aimed at giving life to a rough social equality that was the pivot of the revolutionary Napoleonic policy. Yet, the town of Licciana did not get any benefit from the French domination.
The Restoration of 1814 started a process of great political changes that also represented the ascending phase of Licciana's history. This town that the Congress of Vienna annexed to the Dukedom of Modena did not accept this condition and it became the object of a long dispute inside the Tuscan territory dominated by the Estensi. In effect, part of the towns that then had been subjected to the Dukedom of Emilia wanted the Tuscan Grand Duchy to rule them again. Nevertheless, there was also a large number of cities who supported the Unity of Italy and Licciana was one of them.
In effect, the Nardi family of Liccia joined Ciro Menotti, a central figure in the Risorgimento uprisings in 1831. One member of the family, Anarcarsi, also participated to the unlucky expedition of the Bandiera brothers, at the end of which he was killed with his companions in arms. Licciana changed its name after the Unity of Italy to honour the name of the Nardi.