Few properties provide such a complete vision of a country villa as Casa Rocca di Pierle near Cortona. This solid two-storey stone building, with its shuttered windows and pantiled roof, stands proud in the landscape, with astonishing views across the Val di Pierle. Its graceful iron gates open onto a vast garden that climbs the hill behind the villa, carpeted with lawn and surrounded by floral borders. At its centre lies a beautiful kidney-shaped private pool, crafted from local stone.

Yet, step inside this rambling villa and you will find it holds a secret. The space within has been divided neatly into three traditionally styled apartments, one on the ground floor and two on the first level, making it a great choice for a party of up to 10 family or friends to holiday together with a welcome degree of separation. There’s also a dining hall with its own kitchen – so if you like villa life to come with a few hotel-style benefits, forget cooking altogether and hire one of our recommended chefs.

https://www.to-tuscany.com

Rocca di Pierle

Account

by category

Login

Name

by region

Title

Name in English

Castello di Reschio forms part of a chain of walled settlements in proximity of the Tuscan boundaries. It belonged to the county of Porta Sant’Angelo of the commune of Perugia, perched on a hillock above the valley of Pierle, along the right riverbank of the Niccone stream. Today it is part of the communal territory of Lisciano Niccone, province of Perugia.
Origins of Castle till mid-14th century
The name Reschio, derived from Resculum, suggests a fortification at the site dates to the late Roman Empire. The present structure was likely begun at some time between the 9th and 11th centuries. Historians from the 17th and 18th centuries (Muratori and Gamurrini respectively) refer to land grants by Charlemagne and other emperors wrote prior to the 11th centuries. These certificates, emitted for the Bourbon of Monte Santa Maria family(originally the Lords of Colle), possibly represent the first records referring to the Castle of Reschio. However, no such documentary evidence is still extant.

The first documentation of the castle is from 3rd of May, 1202, when Uguccione di Ranieri of the Vagliana branch of the Family of the Marchesi del Monte S. Maria, marchese di Colle e di Vagliana, submitted to the town of Perugia this castle and its properties along with those of Monte Gualandro, Castel Nuovo, Santa Maria di Pierle, Lisciano, and Tisciano. A treatise for protection was signed with the consuls of Perugia. The historian Litta, understands this to mean Uguccione was in possession of those sites by a grant from Federico Barbarossa, and, as the imperial power diminished, the obligation arose to keep them by vassalage treatise.

Reschio, Imperial Feud
The Emperor Charles IV, by a certificate of May 14, 1355, invests Ugolino and his nephews Angelo, Guiduccio and Pietro Marchesi del Monte Santa Maria, with the castles of Marzana, Lippiano and Reschio, confirming their privileges (Mariotti 1835). Ugolino requested this deed from the Emperor, by which all Feuds are freed from protection bonds, of which investiture was given or confirmed (amongst which the curia of Reschio is expressly mentioned). The family of the Marchesi del Monte S. Maria therefore depends directly from the Sacred Roman Empire, thus freed from the Umbrian towns, where the various factions were always in conflict with each other. The marquisate hereby became an imperial “sovereign” feud.Ranieri di Ugolino was the only member of the Bourbon del Monte family who, after the investiture by Charles IV, did not have the title of marquis of Monte S. Maria, but was the first one to take on the title marquis of Reschio, most probably his place of residence.

The Montemelini Family of Perugia
In 1364 the castle of Reschio still belonged to the Marquis of Monte S. Maria (Ranieri, the son of Ugolino di Berarda, used the title of Marquis of Reschio, likewise his son Antonio). The handing over to the Montemelini family took place in 1365 when Antonia (Ranieri’s granddaughter) inherits a part of the marquisate of Reschio (including the Castle). Antonia was married to Ranieri di Tiberio Montemelini di Perugia, but had to defend the Castle from the pitfalls of her relatives (amongst which the toughest one her cousin Cerbone, who had many relatives killed in order to be sole proprietor of the marquisate). In 1593 Montemelini Lord of Reschio put his feud under the protection of the Grand Duke of Tuscany and was condemned by the Pope for having placed the coat of arms of the Medici on the gateway of the Castle.

The bishop of Todi, Angiolo Cesi
In 1601 Count Niccolò, son of Napoleone Montemelini, sold this feud, through the Congregation of the Barons, to Mons. Angelo Cesi, bishop of Todi, who made a present of this to his nephew Venanzio Chiappino (as can be read in the inscription placed above the entrance to the Castle). The Notary Francesco Torelli drew up the sales deed in Perugia.

Prospero Cimarra
On December 5, 1678 the County of Reschio was purchased by the Duke of Acquasparta for the sum of 25000 scudi. Cimarra, contractor of the Gabella del Macinato (grain and flour taxes) of the Towns, Countryside and Castles of the District of Rome, was indebted with the Apostolic Chamber by the sum of approximately 30000 scutes and therefore forced to sell the propriety of Reschio.

The noble family Bichi Ruspoli Forteguerri di Siena
On May 27, 1692 Cardinal Carlo Bichi (May 6, 1638 – November 7, 1718; nominated cardinal by Alexander VIII in 1690), offered to purchase the County of Reschio for the sum of 23000 scutes on behalf of his nephew Marquis Galgano Bichi, of the noble family Bichi of Siena. The notary Francesco Antamoro drew up the sales deed, confirmed by Pope Innocenzo XII on October 11, on October 20, 1692.

This important family from Siena contributed decisively to the development of the community of Reschio, right up to the 1920s, when the inauguration of the first (and only) elementary school of Reschio took place, thanks to the determination of the teacher Nazareno Carnevali.

The Castle in the Twentieth Century
In 1932, after 240 years, the marquis Ridolfo Bichi Ruspoli Forteguerri sold the estate of Reschio, including a number of farmhouses still part of the propriety to this day, to Professor Angiolo Maria Cenciarini. The sale took place “per aversionem” or, as one would say today, “with closed gates” meaning including all the contents of the Castle, of the houses and farms on the estate. In the deed, drawn up by the notary Zati of Florence, one can read that the entire sum paid for the purchase corresponded to a total price of 800,000 lire. Under the Cenciarini, the property was dedicated to cultivation and processing of tobacco.


In 1970s, the property belonged to the counts of Bosca di Roveto, who renovated the castle.


In 1994, the Bolza Family (aristocratic Austro-Hungarian family of Italian origins) purchased the estate. The present owners have started a process of requalification of the entire real estate heritage, and recovery of the Castle.

Castello di Reschio

Il castello di Sorbello è situato su un'altura davanti a Reschio, nel comune di Cortona, ma non lontano da Umbertide, al confine un tempo tra il granducato di Toscana e lo Stato Pontificio. Dalla rocca prese titolo un ramo della dinastia dei Bourbon del Monte Santa Maria e fu, dal 1416 al 1815, sede dell'omonimo piccolo marchesato, feudo imperiale mediato che comprendeva anche Pereto e la val di Pierle.
Storia
È costituito da un massiccio palazzo a planimetria rettangolare con torre merlata ghibellina e rivellino, inserito in un basamento trapezoidale con forti rastremature ed accenno a bastionatura, cordolato e con guardiole ai vertici. Il maniero domina tuttora l'alto corso del Tevere ed è sempre la residenza dei marchesi Ranieri Bourbon del Monte. Alle pendici del colle, raggiunto da due sentieri, si trova il borgo agricolo di Sant'Andrea, intorno a un piazzale, con antiche costruzioni e la chiesa, il cui arciprete un tempo era nominato dai signori di Sorbello.

I marchesi, dopo che i Bourbon di Sorbello si estinsero nei Ranieri tramite il matrimonio di Giovanni Antonio con Altavilla, pronipote dell'ultimo feudatario reggente Lodovico IV (1805-1815), utilizzavano la rocca come residenza estiva, unitamente alla villa del Pischiello sulle colline del lago Trasimeno, ma soggiornavano a lungo anche nel palazzo di Perugia e nel castello di Civitella Ranieri, nei dintorni di Umbertide.

L'edificio non dispone di muri di cinta, ma di due maestosi ingressi, uno orientato a est, l'altro a ovest, collegati attraverso un'ampia corte. In mezzo a questa si erge uno scalone, illuminato da un secondo cortile, che sovrasta i locali un tempo adibiti a carcere feudale: a sud-est la fortezza è rivolta verso il sottostante castello di Reschio. La struttura è stata realizzata alle falde di un abbassamento del monte Montaccio e il primo cantiere fu installato nei primi anni dell'XI secolo, secondo quanto risulta dalla prima documentazione concernente la stipulazione di un contratto tra i marchesi e il governo di Città di Castello, avente per oggetto l'alienazione di alcuni immobili. I signori, prima della costruzione della rocca, abitavano in cima al monte e si possono ancora vedere i resti della dimora.

Il feudo dei Bourbon di Sorbello era denominato imperiale, perché concesso, nel 1416, dall'imperatore Sigismondo di Lussemburgo (1410-1437) a Lodovico I (1416-1441), appartenente a una linea collaterale dei Bourbon del Monte, marchesi del Monte Santa Maria: la sovranità su questo piccolo ma strategico territorio - 4 km² e 500 abitanti - durò fino al Congresso di Vienna. I feudatari rogavano atti pubblici, riconosciuti dagli altri governi, e amministravano la giustizia civile e penale in una sala del castello. Il marchesato dipendeva dal Sacro Romano Impero, ma, per motivi di tutela e difesa in caso di guerra, aveva sottoscritto un atto di accomandigia con il granducato di Toscana: il 24 giugno di ogni anno i Sorbello partecipavano, a Firenze, al corteo di San Giovanni Battista per l'omaggio feudale ed erano i primi nella gerarchia dei nobili titolari.

Il maniero, delimitato da un ampio giardino, risulta essere l'unico dell'odierno comune cortonese ad essere intatto e abitabile, dopo alcuni restauri che, non essendo più attuale la destinazione militare, lo convertirono in residenza signorile. Intorno ad esso si notano i ruderi di antiche fortificazioni, ma la facciata, il retro e la torre con i merli a coda di rondine sono inalterati. L'androne, la scalea, il corpo di guardia, le prigioni sono tutti particolari dal volto poliedrico che ricordano i tempi feudali. Nel piano terra la cappella di Sant'Andrea custodisce una pala d'altare dedicata all'apostolo e un graffito raffigurante la Madonna, patrona di tutti i rami dei Bourbon del Monte Santa Maria.

L'interno del monumentale edificio è stato quasi totalmente rimaneggiato nel Seicento secondo il gusto barocco, prevalente nel periodo. È caratterizzato da 365 stanze, secondo la composizione dell'anno solare: interessanti, anche per l'arredamento e le opere d'arte conservate, il piano nobile, la sala del marchese, del trono, dei busti (rappresentanti molti componenti della prolifica dinastia).

Lo stesso marchese Uguccione Ranieri parla, inoltre, dell'inquietante presenza soprannaturale di un fantasma che si manifesterebbe ogni 19 luglio, riferibile a Battistello di Sorbello, figlio legittimato di Guidone I e della favorita Rosa di Bagnolo, fatto decapitare nella sala di giustizia del castello, appunto in quel giorno del 1558, per volere dello zio Lodovico II per timore che ostacolasse la successione del proprio erede Tancredi II. Lo spettro, come in un rito, pare compia la sua annuale comparsa nella sala del trono con la testa male attaccata quasi ad angolo retto, percorra la sala dei busti e, attraverso scale non più esistenti, si soffermi nel luogo dove morì.

Castello di Sorbello

The Guglielmi Castle, or Isabella Castle, is located in the southern part of the Isola Maggiore, one of the three islands in Trasimeno Lake in the province of Perugia, Umbria, Italy.

History
It was built as a summer residence, in 1887, by Senator Giacinto Guglielmi, Marquis of Vulci and Civitavecchia, in agreement with his wife Isabella, which was dedicated to the dwelling. In 1894 the Guglielmi organized a lavish inauguration: the building remained their property until 1975 and passed into new ownership in 1990. In 2010 the company which had purchased the complex and started the restoration declared bankruptcy. In 2014 the castle was offered at auction last time but this was not quorate. The asking price was 7.6 million.

Guglielmi castle

DESCRIPTION
Castle in Italy for holiday rental  – This picturesque fairytale castle dating back to the 14th century is exceptionally situated on a hilltop, commanding far reaching views over the Trasimeno Lake and the gently sloping Tuscan-Umbrian Appennines. Originally used as a military watch tower, it later became the lavish residence of the Borgia family who left their distinctive mark of elegance and opulence. The current owners have transformed this medieval building into a unique holiday destination in a magical setting with a wonderful new pool and private tennis court for guests to enjoy.
Thanks to its privileged hillside location and its original thick stone walls, Castello il Borgia is pleasantly cool during the summer months. Most rooms enjoy stunning views over Lake Trasimeno, Italy’s largest non-Alpine lake, which can be reached in a few minutes's drive to spend some time by the beach, with its cafes and interesting old fishing villages such as Tuoro or Passignano sul Trasimeno. A range of water sports are available by the lakeside and boat trips will take you to visit the charming Maggiore island, known for its lacemaking tradition.
All around your holiday castle you have plenty of opportunity for interesting excursions both in Umbria and Tuscany, whose border is located only a few miles away. Some of the most charming Umbrian towns such as Perugia, Assisi, Spello and Gubbio are all less than 1 hour from Castello Il Borgia whereas Cortona and Southern Tuscany can be reached in only 30 minutes. Spending your holiday at Castello il Borgia will give you the unique chance to experience the best of both worlds, in the very heart of Italy.

INSIDER TIPS
“

This Exclusive period castle (once property of the notorious Borgia family) is set in a great location, right at the heart of Italy, but only about few miles to Lake Trasimeno where there are nicely-kept beaches with playgrounds for children. This lake is popular with families as the water is deceptively shallow and warms up nicely in summer. The lake towns of Tuoro and Passignano are charming and have all the local amenities and restaurants that you may want. You're spoilt for choice for places to visit, with Siena, Perugia, Assisi and Arezzo all within easy reach for a day trip. Guests staying at this castle can experience the beautiful Umbrian and Tuscan countryside at its best, with its charming medieval villages, vineyards and olive groves. For your shopping you have: The Mall Outlet, Dolce e Gabbana Outlet, Prada Outlet, Val di Chiana Outlet. Among the events you may wish to attend are: Umbria Jazz in Perugia in July, Palio di Siena in July and August, Eurochocolate in Perugia in October.
https://www.qualityvillas.com

Castello il Borgia 

Montecchio Vesponi is a small village part of the municipality of Castiglion Fiorentino, province of Arezzo. Located 4 km south of Castiglion Fiorentino, lies in a hill at the bottom of Chio valley, 364 m above sea level, there resides 1200 inhabitants.
The first dwellings on Montecchio hill date back to etrush-Roman era, a pagan sanctuary might have been built there. Around the 9th century the castle was built, part of the fee of the Marchiones family and related to Farneta abbey. Other related feudals were the Orselli and Panzoni of Cortona or the Da Vitiano. At the beginning of 13th century it became allied to the municipality of Arezzo and the castles of Mammi and Monticello. In around 1234 it was bought by the municipality of Arezzo which settled more people there, made it a municipality under its influence and a stronghold against Castiglion Fiorentino and Cortona.

In 1281 Arezzo enlarged the castle walls completing the fortress which is visible today, making it is similar to Montecolognola and Monteriggioni, and settled families in the interior. In 1289 after the defeat suffered by Arezzo in the battle of Campaldino it passed to Florence. It switched back to Arezzo in 1303 and at the beginning of the 14th century was a stronghold against Perugia.

In around 1383,the Arezzo military being weak and without control of its territory, the castle was occupied by John Hawkwood, known in Italy as "Giovanni Acuto", who settled there. Upon his death (1394) Montecchio became again the property of the municipality of Florence and was used by florentine administrators.

It was mede part of the Castiglion Fiorentino municipality in 1774 with administrative reform of Leopold II, Duke of Tuscany.

In the 19th century the castle, formerly subdivided in many small properties, was bought by a Servadio banker who started restoration work. It was later sold to the Budini and Gattai family which restored the tower and continued consolidating the walls. It was then abandoned. It became the property of cont Orietta Floridi.

Montecchio Vesponi

The Castle of Antognolla, on the north slopes of Monte Tezio, owns its name to one of the most  ancient and noblest family from Perugia, the Antognolla or Antognolli, who lived in Porta Santa Susanna district since the XII Century.

The date when the Castle was built is not exactly certain; the first written notation on it date back to 1174, when the existence of a monastery dedicated to St Peter is reported, monastery of which only a crypt dedicated to St Agata remains.

A real milestone of the castle is the” bolla pontificia” (Papal Bull) of 1399 with which Pope Bonifacio IX made of the so-called county of Antognolla a real feud, giving it to Ruggero di Antognolla and his heirs, for services rendered to the Holy See.

Between the XV and XVI Centuries, the Castle saw many plots and sieges due to the struggle for supremacy of the various noble Peruginian families. In 1480, it was conquered by the Baglioni family, lords of Perugia, because of the opposition to their rule by  Niccolò Antognolla. For this very reason both Bernardino and  Ieronimo di Antognolla took part in XVI century  to the slaughter of the Baglioni. Due to this, one of them was beheaded and the other sent to exile till 1523. The Antognolla Family owned the Castle till 1605.

In 1628, the Castle and the whole county was  bought by the nobleman Cornelio Oddi from Berardino, Cesare, Nicolò and Fermo Antognolla, rendering it a holiday resort.

The Oddi owned the Castle till 1836, when it was acquired by the Marquee Giovanni Battista Guglielmi. He changed the castle considerably in order to make it a as well as a holiday place. In 1921, the Guglielmi family sold the property to the IFI society (Istituto Finanziario Industriale – Industrial and Financial Institute) of the Agnelli Family.

Recently it has been renovated and transformed into a luxury hotel.

http://turismo.comune.perugia.it

Castello di Antognolla

l castello di Montalera è una castello fortificato del X secolo sito su di un'altura, affacciata sul lago Trasimeno, nei pressi di Panicale in provincia di Perugia.

Il toponimo Montalera è fatto risalire dagli eruditi sette - ottocenteschi ad una accezione mitologica greca: il monte di Era, monte cioè dedicato, sin dall'epoca etrusca, ad Hera (Giunone), la sposa di Zeus (Giove) il re dell'Olimpo.

Castello di Montalera

Il castello di Murlo è un insediamento fortificato sito a nord di Perugia a metà strada tra Antognolla e Migiana di Monte Tezio.
Il complesso costituisce l'evoluzione di un antico castello medievale, sorto su un precedente sito di epoca romana, del quale oggi rimane solo il mastio quadrato, dell'XI secolo, ed alcuni tratti delle spesse mura di cinta.

Antichi manoscritti [1], come anche la tradizione orale, riferiscono che “si trovavano frequentemente nei contorni di Murlo avanzi d'antichità dai quali si può congetturare che ivi fosse nei più remoti tempi qualche luogo considerabile”. Altra fonte manoscritta riporta il ritrovamento in Murlo da parte dei conti Oddi di una lapide con un'antichissima iscrizione in latino, che fu donata dalla famiglia Oddi al Monastero di San Pietro di Perugia per collocarla nel portico dello stesso tra le altre antiche iscrizioni.

L'antichità dell'insediamento trova altresì conferma nella presenza, nelle vicinanze di Murlo, sulla cima del Monte Elceto di Murlo (m. 620), dei resti di una fortificazione montana di epoca protostorica, facente parte - insieme all'insediamento sul Monte Civitelle ed a quello sul Monte Acuto – di una rete di “castellieri” protostorici aventi funzioni di guardiania e di controllo dei sottostanti fondi vallivi e stradali.

Nel 1087 il castello viene menzionato in una pergamena dell'abbazia di Santa Maria di Valdiponte, riportante, tra i testimoni di un atto di enfiteusi, un tal «Johannis de castro Murli». In seguito l'insediamento dovette perdere per qualche tempo importanza ed essere parzialmente abbandonato poiché nelle fonti successive i focolari di Murlo risultano sempre censiti insieme a quelli del vicino villaggio rurale di Somonte (villa Somontis), sviluppatosi intorno alla chiesa parrocchiale di San Savino, “a poche centinaia di metri dal castello di Murlo”.

Il castello compare nella carta di Ignazio Danti del 1577, affrescata nella Galleria delle Carte Geografiche del Vaticano.

Nel 1580 Murlo viene attaccato ed occupato dal condottiero Alfonso Piccolomini, conte di Montemarciano.

Dal XIV al XVIII secolo fu feudo della famiglia Oddi di Perugia. Sforza Oddi, celebre giureconsulto del XVI secolo, è vissuto a Murlo per lungo tempo e vi ha composto i suoi insigni trattati De Juramento e De Restitutione in Integrum, confessando egli stesso che se queste opere sono di qualche utile agli studiosi della legge e di qualche onore alla patria se ne deve tutto il merito alla solitudine della sua villa di Murlo e non allo strepitio della Città o dei Ginnasi.

Successivamente il complesso e la vastissima tenuta sono passati ai de Fonseca Pimentel ed ai Carabba Tettamanti Radziwill.

Castello di Murlo

It is a castle on the slopes of Monte Tezio at 580 meters altitude and, as other castles in Umbria, it begins as rural open village (without enclosure). It was fortified later on with thick walls and supporting towers in order to defend the crops, the cattle and the inhabitants of the area.

During the XV Century it was named as castrum. Historical sources show that the building of the small fortress started in 1455 and that further works were made thanks to fundings from Perugia Municipality between 1473 and 1481. Anyhow the Castle was still unfinished.

Recently, after years of complete abandonment, restoration works started during the ‘80s of the XX Century. The first arch of the portico on the left was added, but the different construction phases are still easy to be seen.

The original core is at the north east corner, initially a fortified house, probably, to which later on the three annexes and the two angular towers were added. The original entrance was the one on the east side, whose door was surmounted by some brackets supporting the defence apparatus. The present door, on the west side, as well as the portico and the above loggia, was built afterwards; same time for the external windows made through a cut of the walls.

Recently the structure has been recovered and organized partly as accommodation facility, partly as private residence.

http://turismo.comune.perugia.it