Path of the Rocche (Fortresses) of the Valdichiana in the Arezzo area
The following path has been created by La Chianina ASD, the association that founded the Chianina Ciclostorica, an annual event with pre-1987 racing bikes and clothing that attracts fans from all over Italy.
This itinerary in the history of the Valdichiana in the Arezzo area represents a journey that will let you know up close the events that marked this area and the monumental charm of the wartime buildings that still characterize the architectural profile of the villages.
The itinerary begins at the fortress of Marciano della Chiana which, with its tower, has been a majestic witness to important events in this territory's past, such as the Battle of Scannagallo (August 2, 1554) in which Tuscan troops defeated the French-Sienese militia. With the warlike past behind it, today the tower is a cultural center that hosts events and exhibitions that enliven the social life of Marciano and the entire territory.
We leave Marciano della Chiana behind us by taking the Pozzo provincial road towards Badicorte and then continuing towards Spoiano and Albergo, passing through the agricultural heart of the Valdichiana. As we get closer to Cinigiano the profile of the Rocca of Civitella in Val di Chiana becomes more and more defined, an eternal place filled with human stories. Indeed, if the Fortress of Civitella could talk, it would surely be able to tell us what history is, because here history has left its mark: from the Etruscan origins, passing through Longobard rule, the contention between Arezzo and Siena sung by Dante, until World War II.
Past Cinigiano a stretch of dirt road awaits us. We are in the woods surrounding the Gargonza Castle, which will accompany us to the village of Monte San Savino. Gargonza Castle is the third fortress we will encounter on our route. It is a real fortified medieval village that welcomed a special guest: Dante Alighieri. In fact, it is said that in 1302 Dante stayed here with other Florentine exiles.
We continue, leaving the Gargonza Castle and the woods behind, to arrive in Monte San Savino, a village with a fairy-tale appearance given by the castle tower and the ensemble of its historic town center. Here you cannot miss a gourmet stop to recharge your batteries with porchetta, the town's signature product.
After passing Mount San Savino, the ring of fortresses continues on provincial road 19 towards Lucignano, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy and the last stop before returning to Marciano della Chiana. Here you will notice the cassero tower that recalls the medieval origin of the village. The keep dates back to the 14th century, when Lucignano was under Sienese rule, whose function was exclusively defensive. However, in the aftermath of the defeat of the Sienese at the Battle of Scannagallo, the cassero took on the function of a grain storehouse and later, in the mid-19th century, housed a theater.
We continue for 7 kilometers in the last stretch to return to the starting point.