Clan Rising
Castello di Montegufoni today

Italy · Restored

Castello di Montegufoni

Montegufoni Castle (Castello di Montegufoni) is a Tuscan castle near Montespertoli, southwest of Florence. The present complex grew from medieval origins and was reshaped into the unified, ochre-plastered residence seen today; it has a tall crenellated tower and an inner courtyard and contains a private church and several named halls and galleries. In the 20th century it became a cultural residence and was later restored for hospitality use.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1921

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1921

What Castello di Montegufoni looked like in its prime.

A tall, square stone tower with a multi-stage shaft rises above a low, ochre-plastered courtyard block; the tower culminates in a crenellated upper stage modelled on Arnolfo’s Palazzo Vecchio with a large open arched belfry and blind machicolation-like corbels beneath. The courtyard façades are smooth yellow plaster with small, stone-framed rectangular windows and a low terracotta-tiled roof. The ensemble reads as a compact fortified residence opening onto an enclosed, rectangular court.

Its story

The story of Castello di Montegufoni.

Montegufoni stands on the ancient Via Volterrana, the road taken by Charlemagne and other emperors travelling to Florence or Rome. The first Lords of Montegufoni were the Ormanni, the noble family who built the first castle; after a period in ruins it passed in the 13th century to Gugliarello Acciaioli, whose descendants grew enormously rich on their bank and transformed Montegufoni into a walled complex of the central castle and the "seven old villas".

In 1386 Donato Acciaioli, Duke of Athens, Senator of Rome and Gonfaloniere of the Republic of Florence, built the tower that still dominates the castle. Montegufoni remained one of the most famous meeting places of Florentine high society through the 17th and 18th centuries, until the economic decline of the Acciaioli forced its sale to the Baracchi family.

In 1909 the eccentric Englishman Sir George Sitwell fell in love with the derelict castle and bought it in the name of his son Osbert, later the 5th Baronet. The Sitwells made it an important cultural centre, inviting artists, especially American and English, until Sir Reresby Sitwell, 7th Baronet, sold the castle to Sergio Posarelli in 1972; it has since been restored for hospitality use.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1921.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Castello di Montegufoni, including 5 interiors: banquet hall / 'the theatre' - interior, private chapel (hall transformed into chapel) - interior, la galleria (the armory/gallery) - interior and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Courtyard approach (inner court) - exteriorTower belfry and crenellations - exteriorCourtyard of the Dukes (central court) - exterior/interior-facingBanquet Hall / 'the Theatre' - interiorPrivate chapel (hall transformed into chapel) - interiorLa Galleria (the armory/gallery) - interiorSala delle Maschere (room of masks) - interiorChurch of San Lorenzo - interior

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Whose castle

Clans who held Castello di Montegufoni.

The families that held Castello di Montegufoni for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Ormanni

    The first Lords of Montegufoni; the noble Ormanni family built the first castle.

  • Acciaioli

    Held by the Acciaioli from the 13th century until their economic decline in the 18th; Donato Acciaioli, Duke of Athens, built the great tower in 1386.

  • Sitwell

    Bought by Sir George Sitwell in 1909 in the name of his son Osbert; sold by Sir Reresby Sitwell, 7th Baronet, in 1972.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Castello di Montegufoni.

Palazzo Pitti, ItalyMuseumPalazzo Pitti17 km awayPonte Vecchio, ItalyBridgePonte Vecchio17 km awayUffizi Gallery, ItalyPalaceUffizi Gallery17 km away

Questions about Castello di Montegufoni

What is the history of Castello di Montegufoni?

Castello di Montegufoni has medieval origins, with the first castle built by the Ormanni family. Florentines attacked it in 1135, after which it lay in ruins until the 13th century, when Gugliarello Acciaioli acquired it. The Acciaioli family expanded the site, and around 1650 connected seven separate buildings into the unified castle seen today. In 1909 Sir George Sitwell bought it for his son Osbert, and it later became a cultural centre.

What is inside Castello di Montegufoni?

Inside Castello di Montegufoni are the Banquet Hall, also called the Theatre, the private chapel, La Galleria, and the Sala delle Maschere. The castle also contains the Church of San Lorenzo and an inner courtyard. The chapel occupies a hall that was later transformed, while the Theatre overlooks the Courtyard of the Dukes.

Why was Castello di Montegufoni built, and what was it used for?

Castello di Montegufoni was built as a fortified residence and later expanded into a walled complex. The Acciaioli family transformed it into a central castle with seven smaller buildings, while later restorations connected these structures and gave the ensemble its unified appearance. In the 20th century it became a cultural centre, and it is now used mainly for ceremonies and conferences.

Where is Castello di Montegufoni?

Castello di Montegufoni is near Montespertoli, about 20 kilometres southwest of Florence in Tuscany. It stands on the ancient Via Volterrana, the road connecting Florence with Volterra and formerly used by travellers heading towards Florence or Rome. The castle is in the hamlet of Montegufoni, a fraction of the municipality of Montespertoli.

When was Castello di Montegufoni built?

Castello di Montegufoni was first raised in the 10th or 11th century, although its exact creation date is unknown. The present complex developed in stages: the Acciaioli family expanded it from the 13th century, Donato Acciaioli built the tower in 1386, and around 1650 the separate buildings were connected into one castle.

Was Castello di Montegufoni ever attacked or besieged?

Castello di Montegufoni was attacked by the Florentines in 1135. They attempted to raze the castle to the ground, and it was subsequently left in ruins until the 13th century, when it became the property of Gugliarello Acciaioli. The supplied account does not describe any other siege or state that the castle fell during the assault.

Which family or clan held Castello di Montegufoni?

Castello di Montegufoni was first held by the Ormanni, who built the first castle. The Acciaioli held it from the 13th century until their economic decline in the 18th century, when it was sold to the Baracchi family. Sir George Sitwell bought it in 1909 for his son Osbert, and Sir Reresby Sitwell sold it in 1972.

What did Castello di Montegufoni look like in its prime?

Castello di Montegufoni is a compact fortified residence with a tall, square stone tower rising above an ochre-plastered courtyard block. The tower has a crenellated upper stage, a large open arched belfry and corbel-like details beneath. Smooth yellow courtyard façades have small, stone-framed rectangular windows and low terracotta-tiled roofs around an enclosed rectangular court.

Is Castello di Montegufoni still standing, or is it a ruin?

Castello di Montegufoni is still standing and has been restored. Its present unified form resulted from the restoration around 1650, when seven previously separate buildings were connected. Sergio Posarelli restored the castle again after acquiring it in 1972, and it is now divided into apartments and used mainly for ceremonies and conferences.

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