Castello di Capraia, Medieval castle in Sovicille, Italy

Castello di Capraia stands on a steep hilltop surrounded by dense woods and features three defensive walls along with a crenellated building containing pointed arch windows. Visible remains include sections of the original fortification walls, a large portal entrance, and structural elements from different periods of construction.

Capraia is first named in a document of 1 December 731, when Warnefrido, gastald of King Liutprando, assigned it to the newly founded monastery of Sant'Eugenio near Siena within the court of Orgia. The Ardengheschi counts built the castle at the end of the 12th century, against Barbarossa's 1158 ban on fortresses in Sienese territory. On 20 September 1554 the Marquis of Marignano sent 4,000 foot soldiers and two heavy cannon against it; the garrison refused to surrender, the walls were scaled, and the occupants were killed, including Gionta di Guidoccio Giunti and his wife.

Inside the church of Capraia, a late-18th-century plaque marks the burial of Alessandro Borghesi, a Sienese priest and patrician whose family bought the dilapidated village in the 18th century. The castle itself became a small agricultural estate after the fall of the Republic of Siena.

The site is best reached on foot through wooded hills, where the steep terrain requires sturdy footwear. The ruins are open to the elements, so visiting during good daylight hours helps with exploration and sun or rain protection is wise.

In 1554 the castle was held by Gionta di Guidoccio Giunti and his wife. When Marignano's 4,000 infantry and two heavy cannons stormed it, the defenders were killed to the last, owners included; the massacre persuaded later villages to surrender on terms.