Top 6 Castles around Castell'Azzara

With its imposing mass, the Orsini Fortress dominates the medieval village of Sorano and represents one of the greatest examples of medieval architecture of the Renaissance. Built by the Aldobrandeschi in the 13th century, it was later expanded and renovated by the Orsini, according to the needs imposed by the advent of firearms. The aim was to make Sorano a powerful military bulwark in the centuries-old dispute between this turbulent family and the Republic of Siena. The oldest structures, identifiable with the surviving portions of the Rocca degli Aldobrandeschi, are located in the northern area of the fortification. The complex must have been divided into two main alignments that delimited an open space facing the town below (now Piazza Cairoli) to the east and south. In the mid-16th century, other structural interventions completely modified the original layout of the ancient keep, which was adapted to the use of a count's residence. Today some of these rooms house the Civic Archaeological Museum which preserves finds from the territory of Sorano, Sovana and Castell’Ottieri. The entrance to the keep was protected by a drawbridge, now disappeared, and by a deep moat which delimited, descending into the valley, also the two gates of access to the village. The large square in front, supported on two sides by walls, was the nodal point of all the daily activities of the garrison. The sixteenth-century complex consists of a central keep where the headquarters was located and which housed the armory, the gunpowder and saltpetre warehouse, the foundry and the prisons. At the base of the building was located the guardhouse to control the main entrance to the Fortress. Above the portal stands the coat of arms with the rampant lions of the Aldobrandeschi, the rosette and the bars of the Orsini, surmounted by the crest on which rests the heraldic bear. The Mastio is connected to the two corner bastions, also decorated with a coat of arms and by embankments that delimit a second moat that was filled in during the Lorraine period. The various buildings, which make up the Renaissance complex, are connected to each other by a series of underground walkways that allowed the rapid movement of troops along the entire perimeter of the walls. The paths are dug on multiple levels and are equipped with "wolf mouth" slits suitable for defense with arquebuses and culverins. The two bastions also constituted the main deposits for food and water reserves and were used as milling rooms for the processing of grain and gunpowder. The water supply was via a system of canals connected by some cisterns dug into the tuff. In the second half of the 16th century, the political situation of the County changed radically when it became part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. From this moment on, the large military complex, which had withstood many battles, lost its strategic function and was gradually abandoned. Today, thanks to numerous restoration interventions, it is possible to visit the entire bastion complex of the Fortress by going to the Museum located in the fourteenth-century part.

Sorano is a small medieval town built on tuff rocks in the province of Grosseto/Tuscany.

beautiful hamlet with a wonderful view

wonderful village dug into the tuff

Along the Vie Cave of Vitozza we can admire the caves that have been divided into three types: mixed-use caves (as a dwelling and stable); stables (recognizable by the presence of mangers, troughs and fences); caves for residential use (present especially on the south-west side, more sheltered and better exposed to the sun). The latter are characterized by jars for grain, wells for collecting water and chimneys. The first evidence dates back to the 11th century, when numerous castles were built throughout the area. At that time Vitozza must have been part of a large fiefdom that included 15 castles among which we remember Sorano, Pitigliano, Farnese, Mezzano, etc. (Guiniccesca land). The fiefdom must have had considerable strategic importance since thanks to the fortifications it was possible to control the natural access routes to the sea.

The area of Vitozza, near San Quirico, is one of the most important medieval rock settlements in Italy that developed on a tuff spur above the Lente valley. The settlement, already existing in the 12th century, was definitively abandoned around the 15th century due to wars and depredations. Traveling along the main dirt road you can admire the remains of fortifications, churches and also numerous caves (more than two hundred) that were used as stables, homes and places of work.

Sorano is located in a suggestive mountainous region immersed in the richness of forests. The medieval village clings to a steep tuff rock called Masso Leopoldino, which dominates the valley of the Lente stream. The tower houses, the winding streets, the open spaces, the alleys and tunnels that intertwine in the heart of the rock give the neighborhood a unique charm. The panorama from the terrace on the top of the cliff offers exceptional views of Sorano, the volcanic gorges and the Lente valley. Over the centuries, Sorano has been the scene of disputes, sieges and wars, earning it the curious nickname of "Italy's match".

Vitozza, a significant rock settlement in the municipality of Sorano, has medieval roots, presumably at the end of the 11th century, around the castle built by the Aldobrandeschi. This castle structure is located in a rock settlement which probably saw settlements already in the Etruscan-Roman era. Over the centuries, Vitozza has passed through various dominations, including Orvieto, the Basques, the Aldobrandeschi, Siena and the Orsini. Despite its historical importance, the settlement suffered a slow decline and progressive abandonment, with the population moving to San Quirico in the sixteenth century. However, the Vitozza caves remained inhabited until the eighteenth century, as documented by the 1783 census conducted by the Lorena family. The history of Vitozza is today told through descriptive panels at the entrances to the caves, highlighting the people and families who lived there centuries ago.