Driving from Cortona to Arezzo, just before Castiglion Fiorentino, turning a curve and you are faced with the Castle of Montecchio! It really does appear almost like a dream.
The castle was originally built in the 10th century and enlarged and fortified over the years when it was under the control of Arezzo.
It’s location on a hill provided an ideal spot for watching over the Chiana and Chio valleys therefore being a strategic outpost for controlling the area and important towns such as Cortona and Castiglion Fiorentino.
As the castle passed between owners and control, each new owner added to the castle and it’s walls and in 1281 the walls were enlarged following the line of the hill with 9 towers, with today only 8 still standing.
The castle has always been a point of contention, passing from rule of Arezzo, Florentine and Perugia but in 1384 a solider John Hawkwood became known as the legitimate owner and the castle and Arezzo became part of the Florentine Republic.
In 1441 the castle fell into a long phase of ruin until 1641 when Tommaso Capponi took control of the castle.
In 1774 Montecchio stopped being a municipality and was engulfed in Castiglion Fiorentino.
In the 1870’s the castle and it’s farm were purchased and restoration works were started. It changed hands again over the years but in 1979 it was sold to the Floridi Viterbini family who still own it today. They started another restoration project.
The castle, it’s city walls and towers are in good shape along with the keep and judges house, courthouse, however the farmers houses and church have been lost.
Today the castle is used as a place for events, commemoration, school visits and projects and archaeological excavations are carried out to understand more of it’s history and origins.
Guided tours are available (email: associazione.incastro@gmail.com Tel: 331 9418621) of the fortified complex which take place once a month and gives the visitors a chance to step back in time and soak up the medieval atmosphere of one of the most well kept castles in Italy.
Team, 18/04/2024 10:56:44
_1024x768.JPG)
.JPG)
