Fortezza e museo di Radicofani
Medieval fortress on the basalt spur above the Val d'Orcia, with underground passages, bastions and a history museum in the Torre del Cassero.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Radicofani fortress stands on a basalt spur about 900 metres high, dominating the Val d'Orcia and the Via Francigena. Its origins go back to the Carolingian era; in 978 the castle passed to the monks of Abbadia San Salvatore, and in 1153 it was bought back by the Papal State. Pope Adrian IV strengthened its defences to counter the advance of Frederick Barbarossa.
In 1297 the “gentleman bandit” Ghino di Tacco seized it; he is recalled by Dante in the Divine Comedy and by Boccaccio in the Decameron. In 1411 the fortress passed to Siena, which fortified it and held it as its last defensive bulwark during the war against Florence, until its surrender in 1559. Cosimo I de' Medici then commissioned the architect Baldassarre Lanci to build a new, imposing fortress. In 1735 the deliberate explosion of the powder magazine caused almost total destruction of the complex, which was then abandoned.
Restored from the 1980s onwards, the fortress now offers a visit route that includes the underground passages leading to the five bastions, the firing positions and the walkways along the walls. In the Torre del Cassero, the oldest part, a history museum spread over three floors displays archaeological finds from a Late Bronze Age settlement (12th–10th century BC) discovered on the hill of Radicofani. At the top of the tower, the crenellated terrace offers a 360° view over the Val d'Orcia.
Highlights
- Illuminated underground passages and five bastions
- History museum in the Torre del Cassero, over three floors
- Finds from a Late Bronze Age settlement
- Crenellated terrace with 360° views over the Val d'Orcia
- Link with the legend of Ghino di Tacco
- Founded
- 2000
- Visitors per year
- approx. 25,000
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 5 · Free admission for children under 6. |
Tickets from €5 include the fortress park and the museum.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The route includes the underground passages, the firing positions, the bastions, the walkways along the walls and the climb to the tower; access depends on weather conditions. |
|---|
