Castello di Romena, Medieval castle in Pratovecchio, Italy.
Castello di Romena is a medieval hilltop fortress in the Casentino valley, within the municipality of Pratovecchio Stia in Tuscany. Of the original eleven towers, three are still standing, along with sections of the defensive walls and an entrance passage through the Postierla tower.
The fortress was first recorded in 1008, when it served as a seat of the Guidi counts, one of the most powerful noble families in medieval Tuscany. Over the course of the 13th century it gradually lost its strategic role and began to fall into disrepair.
Dante Alighieri visited this area during his years of exile and is believed to have found shelter near the castle, which later inspired passages in his work. Walking through the towers today, visitors can feel how closely this place is tied to one of Italy's most celebrated poets.
The castle sits on a hill reached by a short unpaved path, so sturdy footwear is a good idea before heading up. Guided tours are available by reservation, and it is worth checking access conditions ahead of your visit.
One of the surviving towers contained a prison where inmates were not walked in through a door but lowered through a trapdoor in the floor, with the depth depending on how serious their crime was considered. This tower is still visible today and gives a direct sense of how punishment was carried out on site.
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