Top 5 Castles around Dicomano

The ancient castle of the Turicchi Counts, which was the noble title of the bishops of Florence. It was their summer residence. Having ownership and jurisdiction over the surrounding countryside, including Rufina, they had the right of pre-emption of a portion of the wine produced in the fiefdom. This feudal right later gave rise to the Festa del Carro (Cart Festival), which takes place both in Rufina and in Florence. The cart, filled with five thousand flasks of Rufina Chianti DOCG wine, is paraded once a year, pulled by oxen, to Piazza della Signoria, where it is donated to the competent authorities.

This Castle was one of the innumerable existing in the Middle Ages of which the Guidi Counts were owners for a long time. Castel Castagnaio had a military function, it was a fortified outpost that made it possible to control the nearby possessions, as the high and perched position favored the sighting of all the other settlements belonging to the Guidi such as Porciano, Stia, Papiano. The castle was built on the foundations of a Roman temple, built in turn on the walls of an older one. Today the remains of the castle are surrounded by support structures to prevent the collapse of what remained of the suggestive ruin.

In the heart of the ancient feud of the Guidi counts, then of the Bishops of Florence, at the foot of Monte di Croce, stands this imposing manor, once an outpost of feudal power in the countryside of these lands. Its origins date back to the 12th century, it was owned by the Saltarelli family, local lords and notaries who then emigrated to Florence, who expanded the original structures of what is now the central core, turreted and embattled. In the 15th century the interior was embellished with arcades and loggias according to the Renaissance style and taste, while on the outside the walled perimeter was in turn surrounded by massive stone bastions. All this is almost certainly due to the new owners of the time, the Pazzi, whose insignia - two dolphins facing each other - still mark the castle today. The nearby chapel, of medieval origin, is dedicated to S. Maria Maddalena de 'Pazzi who stayed here in the 16th century. Legend has it that after the failure of the conspiracy of 1478 hatched by the family against the Medici, the famous conspiracy of the Pazzi which cost the life of Giuliano brother of Lorenzo, Torre a Decima became their refuge. Completely restored after the war, the complex now suffers from neglect and is gradually deteriorating.

Remains of one of the castles of the Guidi Counts who controlled the Casentino

visiting the ruins of castles always has its charm, especially if they are located in the hills, where the view caresses our eyes. in this route you can also find the Bacio butter factory and other ruins of houses and churches.

spectacular. Love the abandoned villa. At the top portion of the trail, when you turn west, with the 2nd ruined villa off to your right is open ridgetop with views north and south. much of the return to santa brigida- all those switchbacks- is strada biancha and paved road. well worth a side trip to the burraie - the stone butter houses built over springs.