Medieval Castles Pictures

from Maremma, Italy

Part One

Medieval castles pictures from Maremma in Italy, where centuries long battles for wealth and power between ruling medieval families and French, Spanish, and Barbary Coast pirate attacks led to the construction of many castles, fortresses and towers.

Maremma has over one hundred castles from the middle ages built on important strategic sites. Collected here are some stunning pictures of them taken by talented amateur and professional photographers alike. I hope you enjoy them.

This is Part One. Quick link to Medieval Castle Pictures Part Two.

NOTE
All of the photographers who have taken these pictures have kindly given me their permission to include their photographs in these pages: please respect their copyrights and mine.

The stunning photograph above is of Scarlino Castle in Maremma Grossetana and was taken by Gabriele.

The Pictures of Medieval Castles

Click on each of the photographs to view higher definition and larger images.

Castello del Boccale

OK, this, the first castle in the Gallery - Castello del Boccale - isn't medieval! It's original construction began in the sixteenth century with the erection of a watchtower by the Medici famliy: but the site was that of a middle ages structure built by the Republic of Pisa. In any event, I couldn't leave it out as the pictures are great!!

It resides along the coast of Maremma Livornese in the cove of "Cala dei Pirati" or Pirates Cove...

Castello di Fosini

Castello di Fosini is perched on limestone cliffs within the "Reserva naturale Cornate e Fosini" - home to rare endemic fauna and flora and the silver mines of Poggio Mutti. From the first recorded ownership of the castle by the Bishop of Volterra, and thence upon his death to the Bishop Hildebrand de Pannocchiesi, it changed hands between feudal families many times. And it is haunted...

Castello di Montemassi

Castello di Montemassi is a medieval fortification (12th century) situated on the summit of the hill on which the village of Montemassi resides, with a sweeping 360 degree view of the plains and hills of Maremma Grossetana. Ruined it may be now, but the castle is still imposing and adds a special dimension to this lovely place...

Il Castello di Montepò

The Castello di Montepò is situated in countryside north of Scansano. Its original fortified structure was built in the year 1000 close to an old a church, but in the middle fourteenth century under the rule of the "Signore di Cotone" - Lords of Cotone - it was rebuilt...

Castel di Pietra

Castel di Pietra dominates the valley of the River Bruna and was built to ensure the control of mining activities in the southern metalliferous hills of Maremma Grossetana. But it is for a medieval murder mystery within the Pannocchieschi family for which it is infamous...

Castello di Piombino

Castello di Piombino jutts out into the sea and marked the south-east limits of the city of Piombino. Originally built by the City of Pisa in the thirteenth century, and then known as "Cassero Pisano", between 1552 and 1557 Cosimo I de Medici added a star shaped fortress - the "Fortezza Medicea"...

Castello di Sassoforte

The first "Castello di Sassoforte" was constructed by the end of the 11th century and belonged to the influencial medieval Aldobrandeschi family who leased it to their vassals until the first half of the 14th century...

Castello di Scarlino

A medieval fortification established on the site of a Bronze age village with the rare combination of both angular and round corner towers and five irregular sides. Also known as "La Rocca Pisana" and "La Rocca Aldobrandesca". Il Castello di Scarlino

La Rocca Aldobrandesca:
Castello di Talamone

Lying on the southern border of the Parco Naturale della Maremma, La Rocca Aldobrandesca was built in the mid-thirteenth century as a look-out and defensive fortress for the "Porto di Talomone" harbour below. Extensions and further fortifcations were undertaken during the following two centuries, but repeated Barbary pirate attacks during the first half of the sixteenth century devasted the castle and it fell into ruin...

La Rocca di Campiglia Marittima

In a strategically high and beautiful location in Maremma Livornese, La Rocca di Campiglia Marittima was home to an important medieval aristocratic family of Della Gherardesca. These "conti di Campiglia" - Counts of Campiglia - employed the talents of specialized master builders from Pisa and built an impressive residence with extensive fortress walls with bastions, towers, a palace, castle keep and internal cistern...

Go to Part Two: more Medieval Castle Pictures from Maremma...