Located on the ridge of a hill that divides the Arno valley and the Solano valley, Borgo alla Collina is in a panoramic position with views of the entire Casentino, where you can enjoy the territory in all its beauty: castles and parish churches, mountains and forests stand harmoniously side-by-side.
Once owned by a branch of the Guidi Counts in San Niccolò, Borgo alla Collina dominated over a large fief that was part of the Florentine Republic starting in the early 1400s. The municipality of Borgo alla Collina conserved its autonomy and statutes between the 15th and 18th century before being absorbed into the municipality of Castel San Niccolò following the Grand Ducal reforms in 1776.
The “borghetto” is particularly interesting for visitors, which conserves a dense weave of alleys lined by houses that lean against one another, a typical characteristic of medieval villages. The area is dominated from above by the castle, built in the 11th-12th century. The castle’s square watch tower has conserved its beautiful charm, while the central section of the fortress, restored following its destruction during World War II, is a stunning sight. At the end of the 15th century, castle was given to Cristoforo Landino, a humanist and secretary for the Florentine Republic, as thanks for his work.
Porta di Orgi can be found in what remains of the castle’s historic walls, the only gate remaining of the original four. It was through this door that locals could reach the Oratory of Sant’Agata di Orgi on the banks of the Arno, built in the 10th century and renovated in the 16th. The oratory conserves the Orgi Christ, a crucifix brought out for processions when there were famines.
