Top 6 Castles around San Godenzo

Premilcuore, like many other villages in the area, experienced its period of maximum expansion around the 13th and 14th centuries under the dominion of the Guidi family. In this period the castle known as Rocca di Premilcuore was built, today not much remains of this structure except one of the doors and remains of the walls incorporated into other buildings in subsequent periods. The life of Premilcuore is linked to the course of the Rabbi river. Today the river is a popular summer destination to escape the heat, while in the past the watercourse served to irrigate the surrounding fields and gave power to various mills in the area, two of which are still visible near the town.

The Palagio Fiorentino belonged to the Guidi Counts, like other castles in the area. Built around 1230 by Count Bandino, the branch of the counts of Palagio originated from this castle, to whom it belonged for many years The last exponent of the branch of the counts of Palagio was Count Antonio, who, in 1381, freed all his subjects from all bonds of servitude and vassalage. In 1398 Count Antonio allied himself with Florence, Bologna, Venice, Padua, Ferrara and Mantua against the Visconti of Milan, even if he later switched to the side of the Visconti. In 1402 Count Antonio had to cede the territories to the Republic of Florence, to avoid the consequences of some livestock raids against the Republic in the lands of Count Piero di Porciano. After this capitulation, Montemezzano, Lonnano, Papiano and Stia also spontaneously submitted to Florence, all subsequently reunited in the Community of Palagio Fiorentino. In 1440, during the clashes between Florence and Milan, the Milanese army commanded by Niccolò Piccinino burned and destroyed the castle. The current building of the Palagio Fiorentino was built at the beginning of the twentieth century by the lawyer Carlo Beni, mayor of Stia and author of a famous Guide to the Casentino. During the reconstruction work, medieval artefacts were found, including coins and a seal with the Guidi coat of arms The appearance of the structure, rather than respecting the original architectural layout, recalls the neo-Gothic taste in vogue in the years of the renovation. (Source: https://casentino.it/palagio-fiorentino/ )

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.

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

The origins of Premilcuore are mysterious, although there are several versions and legends about its foundation. The most fascinating and imaginative version is linked to the legend of the Roman soldier named Marcello, who fled Rome at the time of Caracalla, because he was part of a conspiracy against the emperor, and who found refuge in these places. Marcello fortified the small villages already existing, one of which, the current via Marciolame, is named in honor of its founder. And even the name of Premilcuore seems to date back to “PREMIT COR” (“pain oppresses our hearts” for the death of their benefactor) or to “PREMUNT COR” (“rather than hand him over we would tear out our hearts” because the Roman captain was wanted to be killed). (Source: http://www.turismopremilcuore.it/scopri-premilcuore/storia/ )

It dates back to the XII - XIII century and belonged to the Guidi Counts (in 1371). In the fifteenth century it fell under the influence of the Florentines, from this moment its decline began. Cardiane Anglico describes the castle as follows in 1371: 'It is on the Alpe on a high insepugnable mountain. It has a fortress and a very strong tower. There is another one-shot crossbow tower called the Oak. The main road that leads from Galeata to Tuscany passes here in the middle (...) '. The structures currently visible are the walls (partially hidden by vegetation) with the mighty arched entrance door in sandstone blocks and part of the central keep. Below the castle you can see the road 'that led from Galeata to Tuscany' with retaining walls. (Source: http://www.turismoforlivese.it/servizi/menu/dinamica.aspx?ID=27901)

Wild strawberries in large numbers and the view of Porciano. But the whole (oak forest) landscape is incredibly beautiful. In Castello, which can be reached from Stia, you can also stay in style.