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Castle of the Guidi Counts in Poppi

Castles

Castle of the Guidi Counts in Poppi

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Castle of the Guidi Counts in Poppi

Recommended by 35 cyclists out of 36

Cycling is not permitted at this location

You'll need to dismount and push your bike.

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Location: Poppi, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy

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Top cycling routes to Castle of the Guidi Counts in Poppi

103

riders

1. View of Poppi – Castello di Poppi loop from Porrena

48.7km

04:46

1,360m

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

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Hard

4.8

(5)

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2. Arno River Cycle Path – Vallombrosa Abbey loop from Bibbiena

73.1km

05:29

1,350m

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Hard

4.5

(6)

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3. Casentino Cycle Path – Gravel cycling path Fiume Arno loop from Puglia-Ceciliano

73.7km

04:47

710m

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Hard

Tips

AlbertoSordi

November 28, 2019

From the website ilbelcasentino.it/castello_poppi.html

Poppi Castle is considered the symbol, not only of this town, but of the entire Casentino. It is in fact visible from a large part of this valley in eastern Tuscany in the province of Arezzo. It often appears different to us, depending on the time, environmental conditions and seasons, but always suggestive and fascinating.
It was built between the end of the 12th and the beginning of the 14th century by the noble Guidi family and is the "youngest" castle among all those built by this powerful family in Casentino, a Tuscan land renowned for its castles. This relative youth, the care and solidity with which it was built are certainly the main reasons why the Poppi Castle, apart from the tower which at the end of the 19th century was the subject of a reconstruction of its upper part, today presents itself in a very close to what it might have been like in the medieval period.
From panoramic views of Poppi the castle already shows its grandeur, this becomes increasingly greater as we get closer. Observed from the gardens in front, it communicates the strength of its powerful stone structure as well as the elegance of its overall shape and of some of its architectural elements such as the tower, the battlements and the mullioned windows decorated with noble coats of arms. Given the stylistic asymmetry with which its facade presents itself, two architects are cited, but without documented historical evidence, for the castle project: first Lapo di Cambio and then Arnolfo di Cambio. The latter would have used the Poppi Castle, in particular the tower, as a prototype for the construction of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.
A bust of Dante Alighieri placed in the square in front recalls the connection of the Supreme Poet with this historic building, in 1310 he was hosted here for a year by Count Guido di Simone da Battifolle during his exile from Florence. Dante seems to have composed the XXXIII canto of Hell in this period.
To access the Castle of the Counts Guidi of Poppi, you cross a small bridge over a dry moat which introduces you to the "ammunition", a square-based building used as an armed guard for the castle. After crossing this small building we find ourselves in the external courtyard that goes around the Guidi palace, in this space there is an elegant well.
Before entering the castle, let's stop for a moment in front of the entrance door and look upwards. We will feel "awed and dominated" by a bas-relief depicting a large lion and by the 50 meter height of the mighty tower. Height reduced by about ten meters at the end of the 19th century after the structure was seriously damaged by lightning. On that occasion the elegant crown of Ghibelline battlements was replaced with a belfry.
As soon as we enter the castle we find ourselves in the internal courtyard. Our gaze will instinctively turn upwards attracted by the vertical development of the building, the wooden galleries, the harmonious staircase built at the end of the 15th century based on a design by the architect Jacopo di Baldassarre Turriani, an extraordinary work from a technical point of view ...

Translated by Google •

BeCycling

November 3, 2023

The climb to reach the castle will initially make you regret not staying in the valley, but the square, the gardens, and the view over the Arno valley and the mountains of the Casentinesi Forests will repay the effort. The castle has a square tower and can also be visited inside, where it houses a library, a chapel and a historical museum.

Translated by Google •

Andrea Righini

August 22, 2025

I recommend a stop with a visit to understand the battle of Campaldino

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Elevation 420 m

Weather

Friday 12 December

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Max wind speed: 4.0 km/h

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Location: Poppi, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy

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Castle of the Guidi Counts in Poppi

1. View of Poppi – Castello di Poppi loop from Porrena

2. Arno River Cycle Path – Vallombrosa Abbey loop from Bibbiena

3. Casentino Cycle Path – Gravel cycling path Fiume Arno loop from Puglia-Ceciliano

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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