Montecchio Vesponi’s Castle

Montecchio Vesponi Castle, thanks to its state of conservation, is considered among the most suggestive of all Tuscany. It was built on a hill betweeen Val di Chio and Valdichiana; its position constituted an important strategic point for the control of the ancient route between Arezzo and Cortona and for the entire valley.

It still presents a city wall, 263 metres long, interspersed with nine watchtowers. Close to the formwork there is a square tower, 30 metres high, which makes the fortress well detectable throughtout the surrounding area. The name “montecchio” comes from the latinus word “monticulus” and refers to the modest height of the hill on which the castle stands. The nickname Vesponi, instead, could be a contraction of the name of a noble aretin family, the Guasconi, who owned the castle in the eleveenth century. The fortress was firstly mentioned in 1014, when the abbey of Farneta gave it to the Marchesi of Monte Santa Maria.

Later, the castle was often contested between Arezzo and Florence, whose aims were the affirmation of their influence on the territory. The Florentines indeed prevailed during the Campaldino Battle, back in 1289.

The strenghtening works  made in that period gave the castle its current aspect: no significant changes were made to the towers and to the walls after the thirteenth century. This makes the castle a pure example of Tuscany’s thirteenth century architecture.

The landscape where the Montecchio Vesponi’s Castle fits, of indoubtable beauty, has been the background of several films and documentaries and is currently subject of UNESCO candidacy.