Galatrona Tower
The ruins of an important castle in the Val d’Ambra
The Galatrona Tower, located about 500 meters above sea level, is visible from almost all of Valdarno and Val d'Ambra, and is what remains of one of the most important castles in the area. The oldest records of the structure date back to 963, but almost with certainty the area was also a settlement in Etruscan times: the name itself seems to derive from Canastruna.
Originally there were two towers in the castle, and this is also documented in a depiction preserved in the Romanesque parish church of St. John the Baptist in Galatrona not far away: in this canvas it is clearly seen how the castle is topped by no less than two towers. The fortress and tower's history are troubled. The nearly 27-meter-high watchtower building has experienced attacks at various times in the history of this territory, which has been caught in the middle of the struggle between Florence and Arezzo as well as that between Florence and Siena.
Today the tower is no longer in the hands of the occupying enemies, but rather has been reborn with a multimedia tour that tells the very story of the events surrounding Galatrona and its castle. From the top of the tower, after climbing its five floors of stairs, there is a 360-degree panoramic view of Valdarno and the Chianti Mountains. It is open for visits from April to October, generally on Saturdays and Sundays.
