Palazzo Massaini can be found just over 4 kilometres from Pienza, spreading over the rolling hills of the Val d’Orcia Artistic, Natural and Cultural Park, a UNESCO world heritage site since 2004 – a prime location for its beauty, history and culture. It boasts an extraordinary view that seems frozen in time. Here the shapes and colours of nature change with the seasons, suggestive of the harmony shown in the Sienese School of painting. 

HISTORY
The origins of Palazzo Massaini date to around 1200 when it was built by Bibbiano Cacciaconti, a member of the aristocratic Asciano family.
In the 16th century, the building was converted into a “villa” and a wing was added, as well as an elegant little loggia in the courtyard and understated cornices to the gates.

Amongst the many owners it would have over time, we have one Pope – Enea Silvio Piccolomini (1405-1464), who became Pope Pius II in 1458. The coats of arms of the Piccolomini family are evident inside the Castle, especially the so-called “light blue cross with the moons of God”.

Today the architectural complex features an Italian garden which spreads to the east of the villa.

https://www.palazzomassaini.com

Palazzo Massaini

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Il castello di Cosona è un complesso architettonico fortificato situato nell'omonima località rurale del territorio comunale di Pienza lungo la Strada Provinciale 71.
Storia
Il complesso venne costruito nel corso del Quattrocento divenendo una fattoria fortificata. Numerosi sono stati i passaggi di proprietà nel corso del tempo.

In epoca ottocentesca venne costruito il fabbrico a pianta rettangolare che venne adibito a granaio.

Agli inizi del Novecento l'intero complesso venne restaurato su progetto dell'architetto senese Arturo Viligiardi; durante gli interventi di ristrutturazione, nel 1913 venne ricavata una cappella all'interno di un preesistente corpo di fabbrica originariamente adibito ad altri usi agricoli.

Descrizione
Il complesso architettonico fortificato è costituito da vari corpi di fabbrica addossati tra loro che si articolano su 15 lati totali. Tra essi spicca la torre a sezione quadrata che si eleva sul fronte occidentale del complesso architettonico.

Molto caratteristico è il pozzo-cisterna, costruito nel 1659 e restaurato nel 1913, che veniva utilizzato per la raccolta dell'acqua.

Il granaio di epoca ottocentesca si caratterizza per la presenza di due stemmi gentilizi della famiglia Forteguerri che fece realizzare l'opera.

Il castello di Cosona è al centro dell'omonima azienda agricola, e di una struttura ricettiva-agrituristica dotata di sette appartamenti indipendenti, abitati fino agli anni Settanta da alcune famiglie mezzadrili.

Castello di Cosona

History
The ancient Castello di Spedaletto rises in the heart of the Val d'Orcia, a UNESCO world heritage site, along the road from Pienza to Bagno Vignoni. In the Middle Ages the area was of particular importance, as it was linked to the Via Franchigena, the main communication route that crossed Europe for its entire length.

The construction of Spedaletto Castle was commissioned by Ugolino da Rocchione as a fortified welcome place for the thousands of travelers and pilgrims going to Rome: since 1263 the complex was managed by the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala of Siena and among its guests boasted famous people such as Charles II of Anjou and Pope Pius II who also issued a bull in favor of the church of Spedaletto.

The castle has a square plan with towers at each corner and appears to protrude with stone corbels and crenellation along the entire perimeter, a splendid fortified access gate with a powerful keep in its defense. The remakes of the late fifteenth century are evident, such as the slight slippage of most of the wall circuit and the loopholes for firearms in several places. In the first courtyard we find immediately left of the door the Gothic church of the hospital with a splendid facade enriched by a rose window and a sestiacuto portal, on the right a second access door, embellished with stone crests, leads into a second courtyard, heart of the fortification, from which you access the keep and the walkway.

During the fifteenth century restoration work was carried out that modified the original medieval appearance, giving it the features of a "gancia" (fortified farm), while it dates back to the nineteenth century the addition of a building with warehouse functions.

Restructured in full respect of its centuries-old origins, it now hosts a farmhouse which is flanked by the mill with millstones where the organic cereals of the estate are processed and from which the "pici", a typical dish from Val d'Orcia, are produced. bread and other types of pasta available to guests.

The tourist service includes two apartments and double rooms with bathroom, furnished with antiques typical of the Sienese countryside. The accommodations are located in the old barn and have TV with satellite channels, Wi-Fi and a fan. Every day begins with a breakfast of sweets, cold meats, hot drinks and homemade products.

https://www.histouring.com

Castello di Spedaletto

This fortified castle in Bibbiano dates back to the year 850
This castle was the property of the Longobard Count Guinigi di Reghinari at the time of Ludovico II. The name ‘Bibbiano’ comes from ‘Bibbio’ (in Latin ‘bibianum’), an aquatic bird similar to duck which used to inhabit this area.
The castle belonged to the Guiglieschis when, in 1051, Emperor Arrigo III gave it over to the protection of the Abbey of Sant’Antimo. 
Bibbiano then passed into the hands of the Cacciacontis who, in 1197, gave it to the Republic of Siena. It was at this time that the castle was re-fortified. Further restructuring took place in 1338 and in 1400.
Despite being used both as a residence and as a fort, Bibbiano today still has the appearance of a classic medieval castle. Its quadrilateral walls are surrounded by a ditch, the main entrance has a drawbridge and two corner towers form part of the double defensive walls. An earthquake destroyed the top part of the central building in 1909 and was subsequently rebuilt.

https://www.tuscany-charming.it

Bibbiano Castle

Castello di Potentino History
The Castle of the Potentino is located outside Seggiano. The castle was built around the year one thousand as an ancient possession of the bishops of Chiusi, whose diocese extended, at the time, to the whole area of ​​Mount Amiata. In the eleventh century there is the attestation that belonged to the Visconti di Campiglia. In the thirteenth century it came under Sienese control and belonged to the Bonsignori, Tolomei, Salimbeni and Bindi families. Later, its importance as a boundary fortress was declined, it was transformed into an elegant holiday resort and it was bought first by the Mignenellis and then by the Venturi family. Enrico Venturi, by testamentary disposition, donated it to the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala in Siena.

In 1600 it was bought by the Marquis Giovanni Battista Bourbon Del Monte who kept it for centuries and only in 1906 sold it to the Swiss citizen Hemmeler. Today the complex is the heirs of the British writer Graham Greene who turned it into a renowned farm.

The castle of the Potentino still presents its original medieval appearance, occupying two distinct areas; the first, more external, includes the various annexed rural buildings and leads to the second, more internal area, which is accessed through an arched door that opens up along a curtain wall with summit blackbirds.

The main area consists of the castle properly called L-shaped around a courtyard. The building, unlike the remaining complex, is in Renaissance style following the interventions made by the Sienese between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, with the architraved access door surmounted by a noble coat of arms; on the roof there is a small bell gable. Beyond the main area there is a third well-defined area where there stood an Italian garden, now completely resized and modified.

At the castellano settlement, there is the noble chapel dedicated to Sant'Antonio da Padova. Today, the estate has been revitalized and is dedicated to the production of wine, grappa and oil thanks to the 4 hectare vineyard and a suggestive olive grove.

https://www.histouring.com