The 1400s Munition Tower or Antiporta della Munizione of the medieval Castle of the Guidi Counts or Castello dei Conti Guidi, at Poppi, Tuscany, Italy. The tower is approached by a stone bridge. The castle, built around 1274, resembles Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio town hall. It may have been a prototype for that 1299 design by Arnolfo di Cambio.
Poppi, Tuscany, Italy: the Antiporta della Munizione (Munition Tower), approached by a stone bridge, once formed the first line of defence of the medieval Castello dei Conti Guidi (Castle of the Guidi Counts). The deep, wide moat was spanned by a drawbridge that could be raised to prevent attacking forces reaching the Lion Gate into the fortress home of the Guidi family, rulers of the Casentino region. The castle was built around 1274 for Count Simone di Battifolle, head of the powerful Guidi clan. Externally, it resembles Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio town hall, and it may have been a prototype for that 1299 design by Arnolfo di Cambio. The Antiporta della Munizione was added in the late 15th century as an outer defence tower. Before the castle stands a plinth bearing a bronze bust of the poet Dante Alighieri (c. 1265-1321), in recognition of his role in the nearby Battle of Campaldino in 1289. Dante, then aged 24, is believed to have fought in the victorious Florentine Guelph cavalry against the Ghibelline forces of Arezzo, a triumph that made Florence the leading power in Tuscany.
Size: 2832px × 4256px
Location: Castello dei Conti Guidi / Poppi Castle, Poppi, Tuscany, Italy.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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