This castle was built in the 14th century. To defend the city. When, in 1555, the city was taken by the Medici, it became a country residence, but it undergoes practically no transformation, which makes its interest. With its 4 towers of identical angles, placed on a height, isolated among olive trees, cypresses and other trees, it still has an impressive appearance. Its brick construction and its position on a steep escarpment still reinforce this pace, yet softened by the appearance of the ditch, now occupied by a garden. The noble floor and top of the towers are decorated by a pretty frieze formed of small arches, and bricks oblique create a beautiful effect of shadows. The windows are all identical, and are surmounted by a lowered arch, and there are still fine murderers; The holes used to fix the scaffolds dot the facade. A gate under a pointed arch makes it possible to enter the castle, passing under a place from which the besieged threw all kinds of disagreeable things on the assailants: molten lead, stones, inflammable or boiling liquids.

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Castello delle Quattro torra

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his castle built in 1190 was destroyed by wars and rebuilt several times before being given in 1376 to Santa Caterina di Siena, which made it into a convent. He returned to the public domain and was restored in 1408. The banker Crescenzio Turamini who bought it in 1525, had it restored by Baldassarre Peruzzi, who gave it the current form. After 1555, it belonged for a moment to Cosimo I of Medicis. In 1802, new restoration, in the neoclassical style, of the facade of the villa, by Serafino Belli. Today, the buildings, a garden and two courtyards are surrounded by a wall. You enter a triangular courtyard which includes buildings for the service staff, then you reach a second courtyard paved with bricks, with the neoclassical style villa and the house of the guard opposite. The garden is accessed by two doors next to a well. This garden contains a chapel whose exterior is simple but nicely decorated inside. Near the chapel, a beautiful loggia nowadays has beautiful frescoes. You can go round the walls by a circular path, from which you can enjoy beautiful views. In the villa, you have to visit the pretty fresco by Baldassarre Peruzzi: the "Judgment of Paris".

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Castello di Belcaro

After the destruction of its fortification the Castello was converted into an aristocratic estate, owned by the Barons Ricasoli. Since then Castello di Lucignano has been providing its Lords with agricultural products, including grapes for the production of great Chianti wines.
The history of Castello di Lucignano reaches far back in time: besides Etruscan artifacts a Roman wall was discovered, which still forms part of the old wine-cellar of the castle . The first written account of the Castello dates back to the year 912, when the Sienese Archbishop Teodorico assessed the taxes for the parish S. Cristina at Lucignano della Berardenga. Castello di Lucignano was subjected to the century long battles between Siena and Florenz and finally in 1452, after a siege by Aragonese troups, came under the reign of Florence.

Since 1994 Castello di Lucignano is experiencing a time of revival. Thanks to the initiative of a German entrepreneur, Gerd K. Schué and his son Stephan, the dilapidated hamlet was carefully restored, the vineyards were replanted with modern clones of Sangiovese grapes and a state-of-the-art wine-cellar was established. Today Castello di Lucignano is considered one of the most beautiful architectoral “jewels” of the Chianti Classico region.

http://www.castellodilucignano.it

Castello di Lucignano

The Castle of Cacchiano is located in the town of the same name in the province of Siena, in the heart of the Chianti region, set on a hill overlooking the valley of San Marcellino for over 1000 years. It is in fact here that in the X century the noble family of the Ricasoli decided to build the manor on what were the remains of a previous Roman settlement, as evidenced by the existence of numerous archaeological finds discovered in the area. The military complex, together with the nearby castle of Brolio, also owned by the Ricasoli family, became a particularly strategic defensive structure in the border area between the Florentine territory in which they were located, and the Sienese one. In 1452 the manor resisted the assault of the Aragonese troops, but a few years later in 1478, it suffered serious damage from another attack. The castle maintained the function of a fortress in defense of the territory until the end of 1500, when the defensive task failed, it underwent structural changes, transforming itself into a farm-villa with an agricultural vocation.
Today the Castle is owned by the Ricasoli-Firidolfi family, descendants of Barone Bettino Ricasoli, the great-great-grandfather of the current owner, nicknamed the "Iron Baron" who in the 19th century brought great innovations to Tuscan viticulture and assembly coder of Chianti wine. In continuity with the centuries-old vocation that distinguishes the family and the territory, the castle is now home to a well-known farm, producing a wide range of products, all of the highest quality. The production area is the Monti in Chianti plateau, where Sangiovese, Malvasia, Colorino, Caniolo and Merlot vines produce an average of 120,000 bottles. Another highlight of the estate is the production of extra virgin olive oil D.O.P. Chianti Classico obtained from 30 hectares of olive groves, some seculars, other decades.
In the seventeenth century part of the castle an area has been created for the direct sale of the company's products, while in the adjacent area there is the wine shop where tastings and light lunches are organized.
The Castle of Cacchiano also opens to hospitality with the farmhouse and its apartments, such as the "Bindaccio", perfectly integrated into the oldest part of the castle, which with its 200 sqm furnished with care and elegance offers every comfort and modern service . On the top floor there is a terrace-solarium where you can enjoy the magnificent surrounding panorama, while adjacent to the apartment there is also a garden with swimming pool. In the heart of the castle is instead the apartment the "Guerrante", over 100 square meters, furnished with fine furniture and equipped with a terrace that runs along the ancient walls.

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The Castle of Cacchiano

The castle of Poggiarello is located along the road that connects Caldana to San Giusto a Balli. The place is mentioned at the end of the thirteenth century in the Road Statute of Siena, but we know nothing about the history of the castle. The hamlet has a tower with a sloping base, and a second building also with battlements. Southward there are two sections of ancient walls with a guard tower at the corner, bordering a small courtyard. In the garden there is a chapel dedicated to S. Augusto and built in 1558 by Augusto Chigi, perhaps on a design of Baldassare Peruzzi.
http://www.prolocosovicille.it

Poggiarello di Toiano

The Castello di Brolio is a rural castle, palace and gardens located in the municipality of Gaiole in Chianti, about 20 km NE of Siena, region of Tuscany, Italy.

The palace has belonged to the Ricasoli family for nearly 800 years. The castle was destroyed more than once during the wars between Siena and Florence. It was rebuilt around the year 1500 after destruction by the Sienese army. Now on a pentagonal plinth, rise both the stone castle and larger brick palace built in Gothic revival-style, mainly under the patronage of Baron Bettino Ricasoli, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy, who created the Chianti recipe of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia bianca. In 2015, the site was mainly known for its surrounding wine manufacture, and hosts guided tours.

Castello di Brolio

Castello di Ama is located about 12 miles northeast of Siena in the hills of Gaiole. This is the heart of Chianti Classico, a bucolic rolling landscape of woods, vineyards and olive groves.

Historically this is Etruscan country. The first references to the region’s wines date back to 998. In the 11th century, Ama was the beneficiary of several privileges granted by the Holy Roman Emperors Henry VI and Otto IV. The Castello di Ama later became part of the holdings of the Firidolfi family. It was destroyed during the 15th-century Aragonese invasion. In the early 18th century, the remains of the fortress were restructured into two residences, owned by the Pianigiani and Ricucci families. In his 1773 famous “Relazione sul Governo della Toscana”, the Grand Duke Peter Leopold, Governor of Tuscany, describes the region of Ama with great admiration, as a magnificent area with deep winegrowing roots.

The modern era of Castello di Ama began about 35 years ago with the replanting of the estate vineyard. Of the 260 hectares comprising the estate nearly 90 hectares are planted to vines and 40 to olives. This site itself is spectacular – a rounded hilltop set 1600 feet above sea level. It has perfect southern exposure and the clay-calcareous soils that are considered ideal for Sangiovese, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir

In 1982, management of the property was given to Marco Pallanti, an up-and-coming young agronomist who went on to become one of the most respected winemakers in Tuscany. Marco launched a ten-year research project to determine the site’s viticultural characteristics. Under his direction the vineyard was divided into individual homogeneous blocks based upon soils and exposure. The goal was to identify the various micro-terroirs ensuring even ripening and optimum quality for each variety.

In 1988 the reins of the estate were assumed by Lorenza Sebasti, the young daughter of one of the owners. She and Marco were married in the 1990s.

During the five-year period of 1982-87, some 50,000 vines were re-trellised to an open lyre system, an enormous undertaking considering a vineyard density of 2,800 vines per hectare. Much of the vineyard was also grafted to new clones and varieties to take advantage of geology and topography.

As President of the Chianti Classico Consorzio, Marco Pallanti, worked very hard to bring definition to the wines produced in the Chianti Classico zone. With some of the finest producers in the region in agreement with Marco, together they crafted new rules for the region of Chianti Classico. It was a long and hard struggle.

Under Marco’s leadership the Consorzio agreed that beginning with the 2008 vintage, all wines labeled with Riserva must be tasted and approved by a panel at the Consorzio. The panel is looking to keep wines lacking the quality level deemed necessary for a Chianti Classico Riserva from being able to use the term on the label.

As Marco stepped away from the position of President of the Conzorzio he felt confident that these new rules would assure that wines from Chianti Classico meet quality standards of which he can be proud. For this reason, beginning with the 2008 vintage, Casello di Ama Chianti Classico, included the term “Riserva” on the label of their flagship wine. In 2011, Gran Selezione was added to the labels of their Cru wines, Vigneto Bellavista and Vigneto La Casuccia.

It is the obsessive dedication to quality in both the vineyard and winery that has made Castello di Ama not just one of Tuscany’s greatest wine producers, but among the finest wineries in the world.

http://www.thesortingtable.com

Castello di Ama

About two kilometers from Gaiole in Chianti stands the ancient Castello di Meleto, built in the 11th century by Benedictine monks from the nearby Badia di Coltibuono. Later it became the property of a feudal lord known as Guardellotto who, following conflicts with the emperor Frederick I Barbarossa saw himself stripped of all his possessions including the fort. Towards the middle of the thirteenth century, a time when the ancient cassero built in the center of the castle dates back to, the property passes into the hands of a branch of the Ricasoli-Firidolfi, which will be called "da Meleto" or "Meletesi".

Strategically positioned on the underlying road between Valdarno and Chianti over the centuries the castle was the protagonist of numerous wars without suffering serious damage. In 1478 the Aragonese army, an ally of Siena, took possession of the manor but only two years later it was expelled by the Florentine armies that carried out substantial work to strengthen the defensive structures, still visible today. After the war periods during the 1700s the structure was transformed into a villa and therefore its defenses dismantled: the interiors still have the appearance dating back to this period, with frescoed and decorated rooms and a picturesque theater from 1742 equipped with its original scenery.


Today the village of Castello di Meleto offers itself as an exclusive location where to spend a peaceful and relaxing stay, being able to choose to stay in the farmhouses, renovated in 1998, for privacy-filled holidays, or in the B&B rooms arranged between the Castle and the Casa Canonica. Guests have access to two infinity pools, the first in the garden of the castle and the second, with salt water, next to the villa casanova, both equipped with umbrellas and deck chairs for moments of absolute tranquility.


A few hundred meters away is the restaurant "La Fornace di Meleto", where the protagonists are the dishes of the rich Tuscan gastronomic tradition such as the Pici, the Fiorentina and the delicious Tiramisù.

The history of the Castle is also marked by weddings that took place over the years among the representatives of the noble families and today as yesterday it lends itself to become the setting for ceremonies and events with a unique charm. Guests can enjoy the frescoed rooms of the Piano Nobile, the garden and the panoramic terrace overlooking the gentle Chianti hills and the Scuderia where to celebrate with music and dancing. A small private chapel capable of holding about 20 people lends itself to religious weddings with an intimate atmosphere, while for a greater number of guests it is possible to choose the Pieve di Santa Maria in Spaltenna, just 2 km from the Castle.

Among the approximately one thousand hectares of land that extend around the village, about 125 are cultivated with vines, mainly finding the Chianti Classico DOCG but also Cabernet, Merlot and Vermentino. You cannot miss taking part in one of the guided tours of the Castello di Meleto, including the ancient underground cellar, ending with a tasting of the wines produced on the estate.

https://www.histouring.com/

Castello di Meleto 

Prime notizie
La torre fu probabilmente eretta dai Longobardi nel VI o VII secolo, ma la parte principale del castello fu costruita verso la fine del primo millennio dai discendenti di Winigi, primo conte salico di Siena sotto i Franchi nel IX secolo, e di suo figlio Berardo dal quale la zona della Berardenga prende il nome. Troviamo frequenti riferimenti alla casata dei Berardenghi (discendenti da Berardo) nei vari documenti relativi a Montalto e alla zona circostante, e in particolare al vicino monastero di San Salvatore a Fontebona che fu fondato da Winigi nell'867 e in seguito ampliato dai suoi figli Ranieri e Berardo.

La notizia più antica che abbiamo sul maniero risale all'XI secolo, e suggerisce che a quel punto Montalto era già una comunità ben stabilita. Un censimento del 1202 conta più di 40 famiglie abitanti in quella corte (la quale includeva non solo il castello ma anche i terreni che gli appartenevano); ma numerosi documenti rogati a Montalto in un lasso di tempo di oltre un secolo, dal 1104 al 1212, registrano inizialmente donazioni e in seguito vendite di beni fondiari ad altri (incluso il monastero), forse segnali di difficoltà economiche per i Berardenghi signori di Montalto, indotti ad alienare immobili per ottenere denaro liquido.

La battaglia di Montalto
Montalto dominava un'importante strada medievale che permetteva ad Arezzo e i suoi territori l'accesso al Mediterraneo, ed era di grande importanza strategica per Siena per via della sua posizione proprio sul confine fra i territori di Siena e quelli di Firenze ed i suoi alleati.

I fiorentini intendevano portare l'intera Toscana sotto il loro dominio; la repubblica di Siena, da parte sua, non solo voleva conservare la propria indipendenza, ma sperava anche di annettere il paese di Montepulciano che sovrastava la via Francigena, la grande arteria commerciale che dalla Francia conduceva a Roma. Di conseguenza, dal 1201 al 1553 Siena e Firenze furono perennemente in guerra, ed il castello di Montalto si trovava spesso coinvolto.

Di particolare rilievo è la cosiddetta battaglia di Montalto che ebbe luogo nel giugno 1208. I cronisti ci offrono rapporti a volte incongrui sulle cause iniziali del conflitto: uno storico narra che Siena aveva posto Montepulciano sotto assedio, e Firenze, intendendo venire in aiuto della città asserragliata, attaccò Montalto che era l'avamposto principale di Siena nella zona, spingendo Siena a tutelare la sicurezza del castello. Un altro asserisce che le truppe di Siena erano in cammino verso Montepulciano quando vennero sorprese e attaccate dai fiorentini nella zona di Montalto. Altri ancora raccontano semplicemente che le due città vennero alle armi a Montalto. Ad ogni modo, la cosa certa è che la conseguente battaglia fu feroce e devastante. Molti furono i caduti in entrambe le parti, ma Siena soffrì i danni più ingenti; Firenze catturò più di 1200 prigionieri, e il castello fu quasi interamente distrutto. Un cronista riferisce, tra le altre cose, anche le parole di scherno formulate dai fiorentini dopo l'esito dello scontro: "“Est factum planum Mons Altum nomine vanum”".

La fortezza subì danni considerevoli, e i Berardenghi fecero appello a Siena per contribuire ai lavori di rafforzamento delle mura. Siena, riconoscendo l'importante posizione strategica di Montalto, consentì a un prestito.

Castello di Montalto in Chianti

Il castello del Poggiarello di Stigliano è una fortificazione sviluppata tra il XII e il XV secolo, che sorge su di un'antica necropoli etrusca nel territorio del comune di Sovicille, in provincia di Siena.

Storia
La parte più antica è costituita da due case-torri che costituivano una fattoria fortificata di proprietà della famiglia Pecci, mercanti senesi che investirono le loro finanze su una struttura posta lungo un'importante via d'accesso al fiume Merse, lungo il quale si erano sviluppate attività senesi di metallurgia e manifattura.

Poggiarello di stigliano, siena - panoramio.jpg
Le abitazioni circostanti affrontarono un periodo di insicurezza e continua manutenzione già dalla metà del XIII secolo, quando incursioni fiorentine, teutoniche, pisane e di altre popolazioni condussero il castello a costituirsi, all'inizio del Quattrocento, in una vera e propria fortezza; essa era di strategica importanza per la Repubblica di Siena, la quale la annotò nell'elenco dei fortilizi privati, proprietà degli aderenti alla corporazione del Governo dei Nove, attinente alla classe imprenditoriale senese.

Nel XVI secolo, alla fine della Guerra di Siena, un ramo della famiglia Piccolomini si stabilì in questo castello. Dopo la peste del 1630, la popolazione venne decimata: la fortezza smise di assumere un ruolo difensivo e venne frammentata in piccoli poderi ad uso agricolo. Infine, nel XIX secolo, al fine di rendere più efficiente l'agricoltura toscana, la fattoria del Poggiarello di Stigliano venne divisa tra le proprietà delle fattorie limitrofe, per essere oggi ricostituita come un bene protetto sotto la Soprintendenza ai Beni Architettonici della Toscana.

Castello del Poggiarello di Stigliano


In the center of Tuscany, between Florence and Siena, Castel Pietraio with its medieval village stands out in the green frame of the Sienese Hills, a few kilometers from San Gimignano and other enchanting cities of art.

Its origins date back to the 10th century, when Ildebrando Lambardi married Countess Ava Zenovi (whose sarcophagus is still visible in Abbadia a Isola abbey) thus forming one of the most important families of the Valdelsa. The most ancient part of Castel Pietraio dates back to this period, the tower with Guelph battlements, while the remaining construction with the internal cloister dates back to the 14th century. The church dedicated to the Saints Peter and Paul dates back to 1700 as well as the buildings of the small village.

The centuries of history of the Castel Pietraio walls give deep sensations, made of ancient and charming atmospheres. In the eighteenth-century building of the village there are the cozy rooms where there are wooden beams, terracotta floors, stone walls and bathrooms in Carrara marble, as well as precious fabrics and stylish furniture. Amenities include air conditioning, a minibar, flat-screen TVs and a safe.

In the oldest part of the castle are the apartments that take their name from the architectural details that distinguish them: of different spaces and sizes, but always have in common the great charm of the historical residence.

The happy position and the great territorial tradition linked to viniculture make Castel Pietraio a company with a strong vocation for the production of quality labels. The 153 hectares of the farm, divided among vineyards, olive trees, wheat and sunflowers are flanked by the old cellars equipped with the most modern equipment, contributing to obtaining wines with an excellent profile. In addition to evocative tastings and healthy ecological walks in the farm's woods, guests can relax in the village's swimming pool, read a good book under the shade of an ancient oak tree or set off to explore the nearby cities of art.

https://www.histouring.com