Suvereto was founded on a hill, not far from the sea, of the Val di Cornia, and the Rocca Aldobrandesca with its architectural modifications marks the centuries of its ancient history. The first mention of Suvereto was of year 973. This era of the settlement (10th-11th centuries) a village of wooden huts developed at the top of the hill with very few constructions in rough stone. Suvereto was at that time already under the rule of the noble feudal family of the Aldobrandeschi, who were in control also of great areas and lands in southern Tuscany and Maremma, it was the most northern stronghold of this vast environment extending from the river Fiora to the Cassia Road. During the 12th century significant changes took places on the hill, a quadrangular tall tower in fine worked stone was built, more for military than for residential purposes. In the same time a small town developed on the terraced land at the slopes of the hill. The buildings were set in concentric circles reaching the up the perimeter walls of the fortification. With the construction of towers and fortresses in stone the Aldobrandeschi reinforced their supremacy on the territory. In the 13th century the tower, that was no more updated to the defense needs of the time, was lowered and partially rebuilt adding a bastioned scarp to the walls. At the beginning of 14th century (in 1308 according to an inscription found on the west gate) started new works of strengtheningand expansion of the fortress, a large trapezoidal building was added on the north side of the tower with scarp walls on the east and west sides and a monumental Gate on the north, endowed with a beautiful roman arch and a stone staircase. The internal area was protected by a covering over two wooden floors, anchored in the inner part to two stone columns. These developments can be attributed to the changed Political scene: through the concession of the 'Charta Libertatis', recognized by Ildebrandino degli Aldobrandeschi, the community of Suvereto became a municipal entity but at the same time the city of Pisa established its growing power on the territory, until the definitive demise of Aldobrandeschi. After these works the new Rocca became seat of a Pisan garrison. The Rocca was object of other changes, but its slow military decline leads to the definitive abandonment in 17th century. During 19th century was converted in civil house, in 1950, already partially ruined, was dismantled. In the last years the mighty rests were purchased by the Municipality, restored and reopened to the public.

La Rocca aldobrandesca di Suvereto si trova nell'omonimo borgo medievale, in posizione dominante rispetto all'intero abitato. Cenni storici La rocca fu costruita dagli Aldobrandeschi attorno alla seconda metà del XII secolo, nel luogo in cui sorgevano strutture fortificate risalenti al IX secolo. Contemporaneamente, furono anche iniziati i lavori di costruzione della cinta muraria difensiva che, dalla Rocca aldobrandesca, si snodava attorno a tutto l'abitato: le mura furono terminate nel 1308, come testimonia un'iscrizione collocata su una delle due porte di accesso al borgo. Nel corso dei secoli, la fortificazione ha conosciuto periodi di degrado seguiti da interventi di restauro, fino alla sua completa dismissione, avvenuta tra la fine del Seicento e gli inizi del Settecento. In seguito, la rocca fu trasformata in abitazione, suddivisa in più unità e nuovamente abbandonata verso la metà del secolo scorso. Fortunatamente, i lavori di restauro portati avanti tra la fine del Novecento e gli inizi del nuovo millennio hanno permesso di recuperare il monumento architettonico. Aspetto attuale La Rocca aldobrandesca di Suvereto si presenta come un imponente complesso fortificato, costituito da una torre a base quadrata, a cui è addossato un palazzo. Le strutture murarie si presentano in pietra, con alcune feritoie che si aprono ad altezze diverse lungo le pareti della torre; in alcuni punti è presente un basamento a scarpa. Il portale di accesso al palazzo, preceduto da una breve gradinata, si caratterizza per un pregevole arco a tutto sesto.

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