The original settlement developed around the castle which had belonged to the fief of the Malaspina (Spino Fiorito branch) since 1275. Inherited by the Marquis Leonardo Malaspina it passed to subsequent descendants until 1418 when the then occupant, Marquis Niccolo passed away. 

The Castle was then placed under the protection of the Republic of Florence with whom the Marquis had already contracted a treaty of "accomandigia" in 1404. The treaty was a pact by which smaller cities or seignories requested the help of more powerful ones.

In 1477 following the death of Spinetta II, nephew of the late Niccolo, the Castle entered the "Captaincy of Fivizzano" which united under a protectorate from the Republic of Florence. The protectorate comprised some 26 villas "Corti" and 21 "Castelli" each with its own statute. 13 of the original "Castelli" including Gassano remain to this day within the modern "Comune" municipality of Fivizzano.

The Castle of Gassano stood on a rock outcrop, tilted upwards towards the east some 190meters above sea level, laying between the valleys of the Rosaro to the north and the Auelella to the south, overlooking the valley road which it controlled. It was guarded by several walls with a single point of access at the western end guarded by gates. 

The perched village that remains to day, dominated by the church, shows little obvious traces or evidence of the historic structure of the Castle which has been incorporated within the later properties, or it's fortifications, apart from the arched gateway in the external walls at the western end of the village.  Between this arched access in the fortifications  and the central area between the Borgo di Mezzo and the Piazza Superiore della Chiesa are to be found several important buildings. Although also modified over the centuries they were once home to noblemen and traders. 

At some point in the eighteenth century an access road was constructed across the back of the outcrop at the eastern end of the village. Evidence of the rock on which the village is founded can be still see adjoining the bar where six to eight metres of rock was blasted away to drive the road through the spine of the outcrop. Whilst this afforded vehicle access to the village, the nature of the streets and paths (narrow and stepped) still prevents vehicle access to most of the village. Car parks have been now constructed at both ends of the village. It is still possible to walk up the old and narrow western access leading from the valley floor to the arched access, a good climb!   

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