A trip to Tuscany wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of the biggest and most majestic castles in the region, The Rocca di Pierle in the Cortona area, beside the village of Pierle. The ruins of this magnificent structure still stand tall over Val di Pierle and many of its walls are still intact! Visitors would thoroughly enjoy a close up view of the castle and could stay in one of many farmhouse accommodation in the Cortona area for a day or two while they explore this beautiful area with a nice selection of historical and cultural activities to engage in.
Tourists will learn when they visit the Rocca that this site dates back to the 10th century and was the centre of many territorial feuds over the centuries. Eventually in 1576, the Duke of Tuscany, Francesco de Medici ordered the castle to be cast into ruins to prevent enemies from border territories from taking up shelter there to terrorise the Cortona area.
Fortunately for tourists today, a fortress of this magnitude was very difficult to entirely destroy. Its surrounding walls were over two metres thick, eight metres high and the castle was over five floors in height! It’s once thought to have had three or four watch towers of which only one remains, standing at a height of twenty eight metres!
The Rocca had a turbulent history and the history of the Cortona area suffered as a result. The River Niccone that thrashed in the steep valley below had no proper embankments and so the land was of little use for agriculture. It was only used for stock breeding which greatly lessened the population. When embankments were eventually constructed, the land improved and the population and prosperity of local towns thrived also.
Fortunately for tourists today, a fortress of this magnitude was very difficult to entirely destroy. Its surrounding walls were over two metres thick, eight metres high and the castle was over five floors in height! It’s once thought to have had three or four watch towers of which only one remains, standing at a height of twenty eight metres!
The Rocca had a turbulent history and the history of the Cortona area suffered as a result. The River Niccone that thrashed in the steep valley below had no proper embankments and so the land was of little use for agriculture. It was only used for stock breeding which greatly lessened the population. When embankments were eventually constructed, the land improved and the population and prosperity of local towns thrived also.
Today tourists can see what the Rocca would have looked like in its former glory thanks to surveying and measurements taken by local architecture companies to create a digital reconstruction which can be seen on the official website of the Rocca of Pierle.
The village of Pierle beside the castle is one of the oldest in Tuscany and has little else for visitors to see except the charming little Romanesque church of St. Biagio, but less than sixteen kilometres away is the lively town of Cortona. Visit the Sanctuary of Santa Margherita, a stunning fortress of architecture, frescoes and an ornate tomb where the saint has been buried since her death in 1297.
The village of Pierle beside the castle is one of the oldest in Tuscany and has little else for visitors to see except the charming little Romanesque church of St. Biagio, but less than sixteen kilometres away is the lively town of Cortona. Visit the Sanctuary of Santa Margherita, a stunning fortress of architecture, frescoes and an ornate tomb where the saint has been buried since her death in 1297.
There’s a fine selection of delicious restaurants to dine in and a visit to the local Etruscan museum and art gallery is well worth a visit! There’s also a fantastic array of festivals held here throughout the year for tourists to be entertained by!
There’s so much on offer here for visitors between the Rocca di Pierle and Cortona, it would be a treasured addition to your Tuscan holiday! Visit our website tuscany-villas,it and start planning your next trip!
Photo credits:
Rocca di Pierle Website
There’s so much on offer here for visitors between the Rocca di Pierle and Cortona, it would be a treasured addition to your Tuscan holiday! Visit our website tuscany-villas,it and start planning your next trip!
Photo credits:
Rocca di Pierle Website
