MEDIEVAL CASTLES AND WATCHTOWERS

The castles of the feudal age in Casentino

The 350 years ranging from the second half of the 10th century to the first decades of the 14th century represent for the Casentino that period for which the valley is today best known and remembered. Initially important abbeys were built which were not only religious entities, but also territorial control bodies in a situation of feudalism where there were still no feudal lords. Chronologically, Badia Santa Trinita in Alpe, Badia di Campoleone, Strumi, Badia Prataglia, Camaldoli, Vallombrosa, Badia a Poppena are born. With these last two we are at around 1050. It is also the period of the first castles, not the best-known ones of the Guidi today, rather those wanted by the feudal bishops of Arezzo such as the Castle of Subbiano, Castel Focognano, Pontenano, Sarna and the Castle of Marciano, early 11th century. From the previous century are the Castello dei Conti Catani di Chiusi and the Castello di Romena founded by the Lordship of Spoleto, then passed to the Guidi. The early 11th century saw the construction of important churches: Pieve di Sietina, Pieve di San Martino, Pieve di Socana, Pieve di Buiano, Pieve di Strada, Pieve di Stia. Some of these, completely rebuilt in the mid-twelfth century.
From the mid-9th century to the early 14th century, when the construction of the Castle of Poppi by the Guidi and the reconstruction of the fortress of Serravalle by the Aretine bishopric ended, we have the historical period marked by the castle in Casentino. In every hill of this land, in every place that allowed a strategic view on the territory or on its most important communication routes, there was a castle or a fortress of control and defense. From the second half of the fourteenth century, with the submission of the Casentino to the Florentine Republic, the castles lost their function and also their feudal lord. An irreversible decay began for these structures, in some cases it was the Florentines themselves who destroyed them so that they were not used as forts by their enemies, in other cases they were demolished and set on fire by captains of fortune such as Niccolò Piccinino and Vitellozzo Vitelli. During the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, villages resurrected on the ruins of the castles: Bibbiena, Raggiolo, Quota, Castel Focognano, Pontenano.
Speaking of castles in Casentino we immediately think of that of Poppi and then of those of Romena and Porciano. In addition to these three, the list below indicates those places where evidence of the medieval architecture of these structures is still evident. Also indicated are castles that have been completely rebuilt in recent times in place of the ancient castle, with a style similar to the original one, or completely different: Palagio Fiorentino, Castello di Partina, Valenzano.
Click on the banner for the description of the castle

THE MEDIEVAL CASTLES OF CASENTINO IN TUSCANY

Poppi Castle – Porciano Castle – Romena Castle – Palagio Fiorentino - Pratovecchio Castle –
Castelcastagnaio – Montemignaio Castle – Castel San Niccolò – Soci Castle – Partina Castle –
Serravalle Castle – Gressa Castle – Chiusi Castle – Chitignano Castle – Sarna Castle –
Castel Focognano – Castello di Valenzano – Castello di Subbiano – Della Fioraia Castle – Bibbiano Castle -