Gargonza Castle
The castle of Gargonza is a fortified village located in the municipality of Monte San Savino, in the province of Arezzo.
History
Of medieval origin, the first mentions date back to the thirteenth century. Because of its strategic location, the fortified village of Gargonza was long at the centre of conflicts between Guelphs and Ghibellines. In 1304, according to some historians, it hosted Dante Alighieri, who took part in a meeting between the Florentine and Arezzo Ghibellines. A few years later, the castle was besieged by the Florentines; in 1381 it passed to the Republic of Siena, only to be occupied again by the Florentine militia. In 1433, the revolt of the local population caused a harsh repression by the Florentines, who razed the village to the ground, leaving the tower at the top of the town standing.
In 1546, the castle passed to the Lotteringhi della Stufa family; during the 18th century it became the property of the Corsi marquises, becoming an agricultural estate. In the first half of the 19th century, the village housed over 500 people.
In the second half of the 20th century, after the depopulation of the village, the castle was restored by Count Roberto Guicciardini Corsi Salviati and adapted for tourism.
Description
The village stands on high ground, dominated by a rectangular crenellated tower. In addition to the keep, traces of the ancient fortified system remain of the walls and a 13th-century gate; the gate leads to the main square, near which, beyond the well, stands the church of Saints Tiburzio and Susanna (13th century, restored in 1928 by Giuseppe Castellucci).
WikipediaWebsite:https://gargonza.it/
