The Castle of Poggio alle Mura dates back to around 1500 and there are still some underground passages dug into the tuff visible. It is very characteristic of these areas and the surrounding area is a pleasure to run immersed in the nature of these magnificent hills!

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Davide Fioraso

February 13, 2023

The Poggio alle Mura Castle is also known as Castello Banfi, as it is the property and headquarters of the famous wine company. It was erected, in its current form, in 1438. It is certain that the construction of the first fortified nucleus in this place preceded the year one thousand. Some underground passages dug into the tuff and still visible, as well as some stone urns and ceramic vases found during the last restoration, lead us to presume, in fact, the existence of a settlement already in the Etruscan era. The first official mention is from 1318, the year in which Poggio alle Mura appears in the descriptive land register of the time - the "Table of Possessions" - as administratively inserted in the Curia of Camigliano.

The strategic position between Siena and the Maremma, and the fertile lands that surround it, have made the Poggio alle Mura Castle a coveted and disputed property for a long time over the centuries. After the aforementioned reconstruction of 1438, so important as to make it one of the largest castles in the Sienese countryside, other works were carried out during the 17th century. A wing of the fortress was mined during the last world war and rebuilt as part of the recent magnificent restoration undertaken with the last change of ownership, which took place in 1983. The restoration work desired by the Mariani family, and begun immediately after purchase, they brought it back to its former glory.

Reading the fortified structure is not the simplest due to the architectural stratifications that have occurred over the centuries. The castle, of a more or less regular square shape, is structured around a courtyard: 3 sides are occupied by various buildings, the fourth is closed by a curtain wall. On this front opens the main door surmounted by a protruding defensive system. A crenelated tower stands out from the complex. Along the external perimeter you can, in some places, still notice the sloped base and the beautiful tower at the northern corner, the only one with still its original medieval appearance. On the north side there is a second door, which is accessed thanks to a stone ramp resting on two large arches. The courtyard of honor is a splendid example of Renaissance architecture with low arches on octagonal pillars, a large fireplace, ribbed vaults, decorated rear windows and a Medici coat of arms dating back to the 16th century, following the fall of Montalcino. Some loopholes can still be seen, today located just above ground level. This testifies to the raising of the area in front of the walls: originally access was via a ramp. With the subsequent addition of internal buildings, a second service portico was created, without decorations. Today the castle houses the Glass and Wine Museum.

castellobanfiwineresort.it/it/borgo/castello-di-poggio-alle-mura

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Elevation 250 m

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Saturday 6 December

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15 %

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Max wind speed: 4.0 km/h

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Location: Montalcino, Siena, Tuscany, Italy

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