Castles to see near "Il Borgo"

The scenery of Casentino is typical of Middle Ages: many important castles in a dominant position, encircled of small villages with narrows streets, colonnades, palaces, fortress with thick walls and small windows. The castles were built at about 500 -600 meters, so that all building have a little wood around, fields, grass, rivers but also not too far away from the centre for trading. The castle was the centre of power and control of the feud: the most famous landowner were counts Guidi.

 Porciano castle (www.castellitoscani.com/utalian/porciano.htm) (km 2) remarkable example of tower-palace. From the village you can admire the magnificent panorama. Inside there are a whole of archaeological finds and a collection of tool from the rural culture. The castle is private property. Visiting on reservation 0575-583533.

 Il palagio fiorentino was until the '400 a residence of Conti Guidi but it was completely destroyed in 1440. At the beginning of 1900 was rebuilt by Carlo Beni. At the moment is property of City hall and it is place of meeting and exhibitions. In the superior rooms there's the museum of modern art, where you can find works of Pietro Annigoni, Remo Brindisi, Pietro Cascella, Giovanni Colaccicchi, Primo Conti, Leonardo Cremonini, Antony de Witt, Salvatore Fiume, Bruno Innocenti, Mino Maccari, Marino Marini, Quinto Martini, Pietro Parigi, Giò Pomodoro, Ottone Rosai, Bruno Saetti, Sergio Statizi, Emilio Vedova. Tel. 0575.583388 www.museionline.it . Inside the palagio there's the museum Carlo Beni tel. 0575.504596 www.museionline.it.

 Romena castle (km 1.5) in a nice position, here Dante was living for a short period and he found inspiration for his masterpiece. From the fortress built around 1000, it conserves still the donjon, the postern, the tower and the quarterdeck. Info:0575.581353 0575.58633.

 The ancient castle of Leone that in 1191 Federico Barbarossa gave to conti Guidi was built in XII century and still today the tower with the ancient bell is perfectly conserved. The chapel of castle, S. Agate church, is not too far away and on the architrave of the front door there 's an inscription, which is dated in 1300.

 The castle of San Niccolò (XI century) with the clock tower is situated over Strada in Casentino. In origin it was property of conti Guidi, from '400 to '700 it was property of Podestà and than it became a private house. We suggest, to who wishes to visit it, to catch up the castle by foot trough the old streets. Inside the tower of the clock there was a bell and today it is conserved in the city hall of strada. Opening sat and sun - info 0575-572961. 

 The castle of Poppi, built in XII century it arrives nowadays nearly intact, except some restructure of the last century. It is situated on an outstanding position, it can be seen nearly everywhere with its high tower and the typical squared plant, encircled by a moat. Here is situated the library Rilliana, with 70.000 volumes, 600 incunabulum and 800 manuscripts. In the chapel there are some frescos of Taddeo Gaddi. Opening: 9.30-12.30 - 15.00-18.00 info 0575-529964. biblioteca Rilliana winter opening: 9.30-12.30 14.30-17.30 summer opening: 9.30 -12.30 16.00-19.30 INFO 0575-529964 

 Serravalle castle is the only castle where it still conserves the building act in 1188. Today we can admire the squared tower, one of the most important testimonies of architecture of casentino.

 Fronzola castle was one of the most important castles in Casentino, today there are just few ruins but it deserves as well to be visited. Tarlati Tower and the door of Fabbri, that were part of quarterdeck, are today the only testimony of Bibbiena castle, which was property of bishops of Arezzo. It is not possible to visit it inside. Gressa castle (Bibbiena). The bishops of Arezzo were used to have holidays in this castle. Today you can see a part of the wall, which encircled the castle, and the tower of the quarterdeck. From the access door you can enjoy a fantastic view until the declivity of Pratomagno. The castle of Chitignano or castle Ulbertini (Chitignano) is one of the most ancient buildings of Casentino. There are conserved still the prisons, the army's rooms, the quarterdeck, the guards. Visiting on reservation 0575.291492.

 The castle of Castel Focognano is mentioned in 1022 like castrum of the monastery of Santa Flora e Lucilla di Arezzo, after it was owned of Ubertini's family and Tarlati's family and finally it was of the property of the republic. From the castle it remains two towers with seven sides, high about 11 meters.

 The castle of Chiusi della Verna or Castle del conte Orlando was a huge building and today remains just some part of the walls. The history of this fortress began with Carlo Magnus who gave in 802 the castle to his servant. After Conte Orlando of Cattanei gave this field to S.Francesco http://www.castellitoscani.com/italian/chiusi_verna.htm  

Contacts: Il Borgo di Ombretta Stoppioni Via di Caiano 66/b Caiano - 52018 Castel San Niccolò - Arezzo - Tuscany - Italy

 Tel. +39 0575 553027 - Fax +39 0575 553002 - email info@borgocaiano.com - Partita IVA 05150970480