Tresana developed around its castle, which in ancient times was something between a private villa and a stronghold. In early medieval times -possibly at the times of Emperor Federico Barbarossa- it was donated to Obizzano di Mulazzo, member of the Malaspina family.

Later it became part of the marquisate of Giogavallo, and then part of Lussuolo marquis' dominions. When this latter died in 1559, the marquisate was divided in three parts, one for each of the heirs; one of these parts then became the Tresana feud, which also had the right of minting coins. The feud had short life though, as in 1652 Tresana fell under the rule of the city of Milan. Then, in 1660, it was sold to the Corsini family from Florence. After the Vienna Congress, Tresana was given to the Duke of Modena; it then followed Modena in the process of Italian reunification.