HISTORY:The origins of the Castle date back to Etruscans, that erected this gorgeous fortress to protect themselves from enemies’ attacks.The boundary walls tell about Hannibal, who chose this place to fight the consul Caio Flaminio in 217 a.C., about CharleMagne, who was the first well known owner, about the Lord of Santa Maria, which received it as a present, about Federico Barbarossa who conquered it before the Ranieri Family.But the first who became Lord of the Castle was Andrea di Giacomo di Montemelino who had been vested with the property rights by Pope Gregorio IX and whose family have had possession of the castle until 1678.Montemelino, of german origin, hosted and helped Federico II fighting the Perugini, who finally destroyed the Castle.In 1334 The Tarlati family, lords of Arezzo, conquered the Castle where in 1383 Fortebraccio da Montone will be hosted too.Fifty years later the Casali, Lords of Cortona, bought it for 400 gold “fiorini” but they lost it in 1408, when Kind Ladislao di Napoli conquered both the Castleo and Cortona.Around one year time the Castle changes owner from Ladislao di Napoli to the Florentine forces first and the Montemelinos then.In 1643 Ferdinando II De Medici, lord of Tuscany, occupied the Castle during the invasion of Stato Pontificio and then sold it for 13000 “scudi”.The Castle also became fortress of the Napoleonic Empire, but finally came into the Ranieri family’s hands who transformed it into an farm estate whose production was famous and widely appreciated.The road that linked Rome to Florence passed close to the Cortona Castle. This is the reason why famous artists like: Goethe, Byron and Hawthrone visited the Castle.
THE CASTLE:Perhaps we could spend a lot more words to describe this precious thing, but the poet Giosuè Carducci enclosed his first impression when he saw it in 1877 in a few words saying it was a “falcon surveying its prey”.Even though the structure has been revisited many times, especially because of all the historical events happened, the Castle still keeps its original circular structure with high boundary walls (Average height 8m), embattles, gunports, the walls’ curtain that is the main defence from outside, a wonderful church in grey stone and old terracotta, old watching towers and a prison. The transformation from military fortress to luxury estate like it is now, has been operated by opening large windows on the buildings and by replacing the old drawbridge with a large iron gate.The restoration has been carried out under the supervision of the Minister of Culture and according to modern anti-earthquake techniques.Ceilings have been reinforced with a concrete steel that warrantees to the entire structure the solidity of a brand new building without having changed it.STRUCTURE:The Castle is made up of 5 buildings in all: the main palazzo, the guest house, the private chapel, the prison and the car port.All the buildings have been made in grey stone.MAIN PALAZZO:Disposed on five floors comprises: wide hall, guest’s house, workshop, keeper’s apartment, cellar and two bathrooms for guests on the ground floor.On the first and second floor we find the owner’s apartment and on the third there’s a wide library with portraits’ gallery.On the fourth floor, where the restoration has not been completed yet, it is possibleTo create five further rooms with bathrooms.GUESTS HOUSE:Diivided into four independent apartments with laundry room/closet. Still on this building there is an old bred oven.CAR PORT:Once used for horses, now is able to hold up to six cars.ST.NICOLAS CHURCH:Dating back to 1230 is still consecrated.Along the boundary wall lie four watching towers, one of which is suitable to create a lovely apartment with view on the lake.The garden of 1500 square metres is set within the property walls. But the property also comprises 13 hectares of land including olive grove, pine wood, oak trees, holm-oaks, cypress trees and junipers.
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