Castello di Montefiridolfi, Medieval castle in San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Italy.
Castello di Montefiridolfi is a medieval fortress in San Casciano in Val di Pesa with a trapezoidal shape and two inner courtyards. One courtyard contains an artesian well, and the original stone walls throughout the structure preserve the building techniques of the era.
The Buondelmonti family owned the fortress from 1015, establishing their power in Tuscany. By 1480, it served as an ammunition depot before gradually losing its military importance.
The castle reflects how defensive structures transformed into private residences for the nobility. This shift reveals changing needs when warfare gave way to peacetime living in Tuscany.
The site lies about 25 miles from Florence and sits amid farmland and vineyards. It includes a private park, wellness center, and swimming pool, making it a quiet retreat away from busier areas.
An underground tunnel runs for several hundred meters from the castle down to the river valley below. This hidden passage once served as an escape route connecting the fortress to the lowlands.
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