*The Tower of Galatrona
A Medieval Tower at Galatrona (12th century)
Galatrona Tower seen from access road (photo:Castelli.Toscani.com)
Perched on top of the skyline of the Siena hills, the tower of Galatrona is the only vestige left of a castle that once marked the boundary between the territory of Siena and that of Arezzo until it was captured by Florence in 1335. Used as a fortified outpost, by the 15th century the castle had been surrounded by a fortified village, incorporating some twenty humble dwellings of farmers. At this point in time its role was to protect local inhabitants from marauding bandits and the pitiless passage of mercenary armies, and to keep watch on Florence’s restless neighbour, Siena. In the first half of the 16th century, the castle and the whole of the Valdambra (the Valley of the Ambra river that leads down to Siena) saw battles between the Medici and Siena, ending in the defeat of the latter and Siena’s definitive subjugation to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany (1555).
Today the tower has been restored and can be visited. You can drive (in a jeep) up to tower itself, leave a normal car 500 meters downhill and walk up, or hike all the way, past the medieval church of Galatrona (do not miss the elaborate Della Robbia baptismal font, in white glazed terracotta) and up a narrow and scenic road. During visiting hours you can climb to the top for a view that stretches over the entire Valdarno, gaze down on the vineyards of the 17th-century villa of Petrolo (home of a prize-winning super Tuscan wine called Torrione, after the tower), and admire the wooded hills of the Chianti to the West.
On YouTube look up “Torre di Galatrona” for two videos, one of which features bicycle enthusiasts and a dizzying 360° panorama from the top of the tower, and the other an historical re-enactment with participants dressed in medieval costume, interspersed with views of the tower, its surroundings and various access routes.
For a list of the towers and castles (many in ruins) scattered throughout Tuscany, see:
http://www.castellitoscani.com/italian/indice_alfabetico.htm
Baptismal Font by Della Robbia (photo: GruppoGeoBlogspot.com)
The Torre di Galatrona is OPEN April through October
Every Saturday afternoon 15:00 – 17:00
Every Sunday 10:00-12:00 & 15:00-19:00
For information (in Italian) contact the “Amici del Torrione” tel. 055/9707336 – cell. 333/3768631
20 April 2019 3:28|
My nephew’s wedding supposedly is being held on the tower top. Is there a railing alongside the staircase? Is it a spiral staircase?The wedding party/guests are 60 years of age to 88.
20 June 2019 8:40|
I cannot imagine that a wedding could be held on the top of the tower, as it is not particularly big nor “safe” in terms of access. As most medieval towers in Italy, it is a bit of an adventure to get to the top. That is part of their charm …..