サンジミニャーノの洞窟・トップ14

A castle that's perhaps a little less well-known, but no less important. It's worth a visit inside; it's a magical place if combined with a good guided tour. We found ourselves at the door, and by chance, a lady who loved her job guided us with stories and anecdotes, transporting us back to a time long gone. Thank you 👏👏

Castelvecchio in Val d'Elsa is an archaeological site with the ruins of a medieval castle, located near San Gimignano, in Tuscany. It is part of the Castelvecchio Nature Reserve, known for its diverse flora and fauna, including rare bird species such as the peregrine falcon.

The majestic and powerful fortress was built on the highest point of the city. Today it is used as a state prison.

Panoramic viewpoint with stone tower can only be reached on foot from the ruins.

The Roccaforte di Staggia Senese, also known as Castello di Staggia, is an impressive medieval fortress located in the municipality of Poggibonsi, in the province of Siena. The fortress dates back to the 10th century and has a rich history of conflict between the cities of Florence and Siena. The castle was expanded and fortified in the 14th century by the Franzesi family, and later by the Florentines, with the help of the famous architect Filippo Brunelleschi. The walls of the fortress are still largely intact and offer a fascinating insight into medieval military architecture. Today, the Rocca di Staggia is a popular tourist destination, where visitors can enjoy guided tours and events in a historical setting.

Very worth seeing, you have to see it

Palazzo Pretorio, the most representative monument of Certaldo, was the ancient residence of the Alberti counts, built around the end of the 12th century on the ruins of the ancient houses of this family. The prisons, the audience hall, the archive, the chapel and the private quarters of the Vicars can still be visited today. On the facade and inside the palace there are numerous coats of arms, each of which represents the effigy of the family of each Vicar who governed and lived here. In the Palace you can admire frescoes and sinopias from the 15th and 16th centuries. For further information: https://www.comune.certaldo.fi.it/it/page/palazzo-pretorio

Beyond the beauty and history of the place, it offers the possibility of doing healthy outdoor sports. In fact, there is a free equipped area with around ten exercise machines of various kinds which also allow you to play sports in company.