31/08/2024
The Castle of Montecchio Vesponi, located at the southern entry of the Chio Valley on a 364-meter-high hill, is a well-preserved medieval fortification in the province of Arezzo, Tuscany. Its massive 263-meter walled enclosure, complete with battlements and towers, includes a prominent keep and a slender 30-meter square tower visible from afar. Named after the Guasconi family, who owned it in the 11th century, the castle’s strategic position on the road between Arezzo and Cortona made it a focal point of conflict between Arezzo and Florence. After the Aretine defeat at the Battle of Campaldino in 1289, it became a Florentine fortress. Its current form, with intact towers and walls from the 13th century, exemplifies Tuscan fortified architecture. Though it lost strategic importance over time, the castle remained renowned and became the stronghold of the famed mercenary captain John Hawkwood, known in Italy as Giovanni Acuto, at the century's end.
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Name | Montecchio Vesponi Castle 🏰
Country | 🇮🇹 Italy
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