Castello dell'Acciaiolo, Medieval castle and villa in Scandicci, Italy
Castello dell'Acciaiolo is a rectangular castle complex in Scandicci featuring two entrance towers and Ghibelline battlements topped with stone. The site also contains a central keep and remnants of a 17th-century garden decorated with mosaic work.
The castle was built in the 14th century by the Rucellai family and passed through multiple hands before Roberto Acciaioli bought it in 1546. Each change in ownership brought different uses and modifications to the structure.
The castle transformed from a military stronghold guarding the Arno River into a noble residence where the Acciaioli family conducted farming and lived as landowners. This shift from fortress to country home shaped how the building looks and was used.
The castle sits near Florence and is accessible via main roads to Scandicci from the city center. Access may be limited since the site operates for educational and research purposes under municipal management.
The north tower still bears the coat of arms of the Davizzi family, one of whose members named Neri was exiled from Florence for poisoning his captive wife. This heraldic mark serves as a reminder of a dark chapter tied to the building.
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