Castles of Tuscany

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Tuscany トスカーナ州の城　日本語PDFダウンロードはこちらから

Tuscany is filled with wonderful castles that narrate the story of the region. Built ages ago by powerful families to protect the underlying landscape and people, they are emblematic of the power of the families themselves. These castles, fortresses, strongholds, fortified cities, towers, and walled villages accompany the visitor from above in space and time. They are guarding coasts between Maremma and Costa degli Etruschi, on the summit of green hills of Chianti, near the main junctions of ancient trade or pilgrimage routes as in Val d’Orcia and Lunigiana, and hidden among mountain valleys as in Casentino and on the slopes of Mount Amiata. From the Middle Ages through the centuries, they offer those who wish to discover them a history rich in charm, mystery, and legend. You can feel part of history and ancient traditions by participating in costume re-enactments and historical pageants, or "super trendy" in the perfect combo of ancient and contemporary, visiting one of the many places of contemporary art that host, live like in a fairy tale at one of the many houses that, in step with the times, have become places to stay.

From north to south, east to west, their variety always guarantees an exclusive way to discover Tuscany, seeing it from the top of walls and towers, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, in contact with the great stories, and immersed in the refined elegance that has made Tuscan lifestyle famous. Whether you are looking for a slow-paced vacation to connect with nature and on the paths of ancient roads, or if you prefer a dynamic journey, perhaps as modern knights riding the latest model of bicycles; this can be a dream trip, perfect for saying "yes" to a lifetime of memories. Whether you are in search of stories, myths, or legends that make history with a capital "H" intriguing, or traveling with children in search of magical and immersive places, and with a hint of thrill and adventure…

If your dream is a stay somewhere marked by exclusivity, surrounded by the elegance of mansions, among frescoes, unique details, refined touches and antique furnishings, in total relaxation of gardens that are an oasis of peace, pampered by caring and kind attentions. Finally, to savor the offerings of a region abundant in local products celebrated worldwide, a cuisine that becomes an ambassador of recipes and flavors of a robust tradition, capable of manifesting itself in countless delightful variations – all meticulously preserved and jealously guarded...

For all this, it seems that the castles of Tuscany have been waiting for you for centuries, ready and anticipating your arrival.

1. The Casentino and the Castles of Dante. The beautiful castles of Poppi, Romena and Porciano, belonged to the powerful family of counts Guidi, from the Middle Ages, they look from the top of their towers at the unspoilt landscape of the Casentino and preserve the memories of the stay of Dante, where he composed some parts of his famous Inferno.
2. Lunigiana and Garfagnana: castles, strongholds and fortresses between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Built to protect these borderlands and along the route of ancient paths, the Castles Malaspina of Fosdinovo, Lusuolo, Piagnaro, dialogue with the strongholds and fortresses of the Dukes of Este in Garfagnana: the Fortress of Verrucole, the Rocca of Estensi and the Rocca Ariostesca.
3. Embedded villages and fortresses along the Francigena as Monteriggioni, with its 14 towers on the walls where time seems to have stopped at the courtships of ladies and knights; timeless as the views from the Fortress of Radicofani and Tentennano that open onto the UNESCO heritage of the Val d'Orcia.
4. Relax, romance and wine tasting through the castles of Chianti, among rows and olive groves, where a visit to the winery can turn into an immersion in contemporary architecture, as well as a moment of relax spent in the shade of an Italian garden, can become an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
5. From the mountains to the sea: Amiata castles and fortresses on the Tyrrhenian Sea. On the slopes of the Amiata the Piancastagnaio Fortress, that of Arcidosso and the ruins of Castell'Azzara tell the story of the territory and the powerful counts Aldobrandeschi. Still inland, the Sillana Fortress already feels the scent of the sea, like the strong forts built in defense of the coast: the Rocca di Populonia and that of Castiglione della Pescaia and, in the Argentario, the Fortezza Spagnola and the Forte Stella.

1. visittuscany.com