1,000 years of history of Castello di Montecchio

Although we do not know when, or by whom it was built, the Castrum Montis Guisponi (Guisponi garrison/castle on the mount) will shortly celebrate one thousand years of recorded history.

It is first mentioned in a document in the year 1014 when the Holy Roman Emperor Henry II conveyed the privilege of control to the nearby and powerful Abbey of Farneta.

Situated on an isolated lower hill at the edge of the Val di Chiana, Tuscany, the Castle was an important part of the history of the area.

Its importance was increased by the fact that for much of the year the surrounding area was swampland, as appears on Leonardo da Vinci's survey maps. The area in winter became impossible for the movement of large armies as they were delayed, forced to take the higher and dry ground and march beneath Montecchio's impressive walls. For this reason, it was long fought over between Arezzo, Florence and Perugia.

In 1234 the Castle was owned by the Marchesi Del Monte family, who transferred the possession to Arezzo. The Aretines may have rebuilt and enlarged, it but they certainly strengthened it.

Until 1381 there were successive ownership battles and disputes between the above city states until finally the ownership settled with the Florentines. It was they who contracted it to the English mercenary, Sir John Hawkwood/Giovanni Acuto when he became the Captain General of the Florentine army.

 Following Hawkwood's death, the Castle went into decline as Cortona assumed more importance. After the swampland had been drained, its people moved down into the valley and onto the reclaimed land. The Castle, having lost its local self-government, fell into disuse and eventually disrepair.

After the unification of Italy in 1860 Castello di Montecchio Vesponi enjoyed a renewed period of glory when the Sienese banker, Giacomo Servadio, acquired the Granducal farm of Montecchio. Looking up to the top of the hill from his villa, he conceived his "Gothic dream": acquired the Castle, house by house, ruin by ruin, then installed the main gate and topped the wall with merlons. But he died before completing his dream

After the sale to the Gattai family in 1890, Maria Gattai, who was much more practical, undertook the essential reinforcement of the lookout tower.

[ Back to top ]

Since acquiring Castello di Montecchio in 1979 and now for nearly thirty years the latest owner, Orietta Floridi Viterbini, has made the restoration of the fabric of Montecchio her life's work.

She has worked around the restoration with a decidedly cultural approach: guided tours, exhibitions, concerts, theatre, historical commemorations, cooperation with Italian and foreign universities and schoolchildren studying the Middle Ages. For this Orietta has received an international prize, for her work in restoring the Castle and finding new uses for it.

The Castle was enrolled into the Golden Register of Historic Homes of Italy (Albo d'Oro delle Dimore Storiche d'Italia).

This programme, thanks to the many friends of the Castle, is very active today.

The Castle is again fulfilling its natural role as a central point of the Val di Chiana. It welcomes swarms of happy and interested children, Italian and foreign university students, including some from the more distant and exotic countries, teachers, scholars and lovers of Italy generally.

[ Back to top ]

PAST

PRESENT