Archive for 'Castles & Palaces'

Girifalco Fortress in Cortona was built by Gabrio Serbelloni, nephew of Pope IV and Francesco Laparelli. Cortona was an important military town from the establishment of the government of Cosimo I Medici until the subjection of Siena in 1555 and the fort was built in the 16th century to bolster the military strength of the city though the site has much older origins as a defensive structure. However, though the building is fascinating historically and as an example of military architecture, its greatest selling point is probably the view that it offers over Cortona and the entire Valdichiana area from the top of the tower. If you're visiting Cortona, this is the best way to introduce yourself to the town.

Aghinolfi Castle is a beautiful Tuscan castle perched on a hilltop with stunning view all around the Lunigiana area and out across the Tyrrhenian coast. This position adds to the beauty and romance of the castle but has also made it an optimum strategic location which has made its history dramatic and complicated. It has also meant that the town in which it is located, Montignoso, has also had a much more colourful history than a town its size might normally have had. The town purchased the castle just over a decade ago and have restored it and opened it to the public as a perfect example of a Tuscan countryside palace. If you have a fondness for castles and beyond amazing locations, find a luxury villa in Montignoso and stop by!

Montalcino is a hill town in the south of Tuscany known for its famous wine, Brunello di Montalcino. One of its most distinctive features is the fortified castle that sits at the highest point of the town and overlooks everything below. Built on a pentagonal plan in 1361 and designed by the Sienese architects Mino Foresi and Domenico di Feo, the castle incorporates some of the pre-existing southern town walls (which date back as far as the 13th century), and other pre-existing structures including the keep of Santo Martini, the San Giovanni tower and an ancient basilica which now serves as its chapel. Find a villa with a pool in Siena nearby and spend a day experiencing this unique little town, its traditions and the wonderful Montalcino castle.

Brolio Castle in the Chianti area of Tuscany is one of the most picturesque castles of the region as well as home to the vineyards from which the Ricasoli family has been distilling their famous wine since the middle ages. Its history, beauty and amenities are unparalleled. Why not find a villa with a pool in Chianti and spend a day exploring it for yourself?

The building has Lombard origins but nothing of the original structure exists today. Due to its strategic location, it was used as a military outpost by Florence, to whom they were affiliated despite the proximity of Siena.

Perched atop a rocky hill with breath-taking views across valleys and out to the coast, Malaspina Castle's picturesque appearance does not belie its troubled past. However, it is this combination of historical interest, morbid fascination and beauty that makes it such a curious place to visit. Find a luxury villa in Tuscany and you could spend a day exploring the castle for yourself.

The first records of this castle in Massa, Tuscany date back to 1084 and, in 1269, the original structure was levelled during a political dispute with the army from Lucca. It was later rebuilt with multiple periods of alteration, additions and redecoration during the fourteenth to the nineteenth centuries.