When looking for an ideal place to book a vacation in a place that is warm, sunny, and steeped in history, the first place that should come to mind is the hills of Tuscany. The villas in the region are the perfect accommodation base from which to visit the ancient cities of Florence and Pisa to explore the rich artistic culture, but when venturing into the smaller towns, your itinerary should include at least some of the many castles. historical. dotted by the rural landscape of the region.

With seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the history to be discovered in the area is endless. As a starting point, head to see Cacciaconti Castle, Rocca de Tentennano, and Brolio Castle, all of which will be a short drive from any of the Tuscan villas.

The castle of Cacciaconti

When on a mission to explore castles with easy access from your villas in Tuscany, your itinerary should definitely include a day trip to the medieval town of Trequanda. It is here that the road from Siena historically passed to Chiusi and became an important place of power. Sitting high on a hill above the city, the castle was built in the 13th century by the powerful Cacciaconti family. The walls surrounded the city with five towers and three gates that were attached to the main circular tower of the castle. Two of the three gates remain along with some vestiges of the original walls, but the castle was damaged in WWII and much of it has been restored.

Rocca of Tentennano

Rocca d’Orcia was established as early as 853 AD, however, it was not until the area came under the rule of Siena, in the year 1200, that the castle of Rocca de Tentennano was fortified and built. The castle was in the hands of the upstart Cocco Salimbeni, who abandoned it in 1419; it was used for military purposes until the 16th century, when Siena bowed to Florence. (The castle came under the power of Florence when the troops from Siena deserted and simply opened the gates.) Over time, the castle was gradually forgotten, and today it is mainly visited by people who want to explore the history of the area and enjoy beautiful views. from the valley. Visitors can really get a feel for what an old castle fortress looked like as it hasn’t changed in hundreds of years.

Brolio Castle

When staying in any of Tuscany’s wonderful villas, vacation plans should definitely include visiting a few castles and trying some wine, and it’s even better when the same place can provide both! In southern Chianti, Brolio Castle can do just that. Begun in the Middle Ages, the castle was at the heart of the region of bitter conflict between Florence and Siena – throughout history and up to World War II, the castle saw many battles and suffered extensive damage. In modern times, the castle has been expertly rebuilt around its authentic ancient features, such as medieval bastions and unique 19th-century Tuscan details. When you visit Brolio Castle, you will not only be able to take a tour of the fortress, but you will also find yourself in the largest vineyard in the Chianti Classico region. It is an absolute pleasure to taste the wines produced here, which have been developed since the Ricasoli family took possession of the castle in the 11th century.