Bricks repairs in the coursed limestone walls of this formidable fortress high above the Val d’Orcia in southwestern Tuscany, Italy. The 1200s Rocca di Tentennano at Rocca d’Orcia, by Castiglione d’Orcia, twice surrendered after treacherous guards opened its gates to enemy forces, but it never succumbed to a siege.
Rocca d’Orcia, Val d’Orcia, Tuscany, Italy: traitorous guards twice betrayed the feudal lords who owned the 13th century Rocca di Tentennano, but the formidable fortress was never taken by force. Following extensive restoration work, with coursed limestone walls repaired in brick, the central tower built to a pentagonal plan once more stands whole on its rocky crag high above the Orcia Valley, offering visitors superb views of another nearby medieval fortress as well as Monte Amiata and the countryside around Siena. The Rocca was founded as rings of defensive walls, surmounted by a tower ultimately rebuilt as a pentagonal keep. The hamlet of Rocca d’Orcia below it is within walking distance of the larger settlement of Castiglione d’Orcia with its own hilltop medieval stronghold, the Rocca Aldobrandesca. The Aldobrandeschi family once owned this castle as well as the one at Castiglione d’Orcia. It then passed to Ardenga lords who became the Counts of Tentennano. In 1207, the family issued the Charta Libertatis, acknowledging their subjects’ rights, but in 1251, the castle fell into the hands of the Republic of Siena. After time as a free municipality, the Sienese granted it to the Salimbeni family as collateral for a loan of 20,000 florins. In 1274, the Salimbeni gained the castle outright, but then went to war with Siena. In 1377, the future saint, Catherine of Siena, visited the castle to persuade the Salembini to make peace, but the conflict lasted until 22 September 1419, when the gates were secretly opened to Sienese troops at night. Cocco dei Salimbeni retreated to the keep with his family and supporters, but had to surrender when his followers switched sides. The Sienese defended their new stronghold against rival states, but when Florence finally defeated Siena in 1555, ownership passed to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. By then, the castle had lost its military relevance.
Size: 4190px × 2788px
Location: Rocca d’Orcia, Val d’Orcia, Tuscany, Italy.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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