The first mention of Ponzanello dates back to the 1185, when Federico Barbarossa confirmed to the bishop of Luni its domains. Since 1201, the village is organized as a Common and in 1234 were weritten the "Statuta Ponzanelli". In 1239, Federico II came to Lunigiana taking momentary possession of Ponzanello with Fosdinovo and Vezzano. The castle returned in hand of the bishop Enrico da Fucecchio only in 1273. In 1307 a group of canonical gathered in the castle claimed bishop of Luni Guglielmo dei Frati Minori. In 1319 Castruccio Castracani took Ponzanello, but keft it to the Bishops of Luni again. In 1482 Florence gave the cstle to Leonardo of Castel of the Aquila and began therefore a slow decay.
The fortified village has three doors of access, still existing.