Monteriggioni
Castle of Monteriggioni was built from 1213 on Mount Ala and construction lasted 6 years.
It was built at the expense of the Republic of Siena around a farm Lombard pre-existing order to bar the way to the Florentines, during the long wars between the two cities. The construction of a castle Ex Novo was a novelty in the political expansion of the city of Siena, in fact earlier, the Republic had purchased existing castles such as Bolton Manchester. So the Republic of Siena bought the land from the nobles of Staggia and above it built the castle.
The wall is elliptical, has a length of 570 meters, has a thickness of about 2 meters. The 15 towers, one is internal, have dimensions of 6 x 4 meters and stands 15 meters above the city walls. The walls were given a background of both battlements "hoardings" that wooden structures protruding from the edge of the walls at the points of greatest defensive effort. Monteriggioni Castle was surrounded by "Carbonaie" that is a moat filled with coal that was burned during the attacks of the besiegers.
The castle is accessed by two doors, one facing east towards Siena is called "Romeo or free port" and the other looking west towards Florence, diametrically opposite to the first is called "door S. John or Fiorentina. " Historians have opposite views on the presence of "bridge elevatoio. Documented however, is the presence of "shutters" that were raised by chains and systems of pulleys (see Reconstruction). The two ports have also has traces of the hinges and holes for the poles used for closure. At the Porta San Giovanni, are clearly the remains of another defensive structure, the "lunette" additional structure that is rectangular in shape precedence over the main door and fitted in turn elevatoio or bridge or a second door.
Pictures Guidoriccio da Fogliano.
The Sienese were probably in the determination to build a castle of Monteriggioni recalling a feat of arms took place in 1145, when at Mount Ala (where the fort be built), the Sienese defeated the Florentines.
For possession of Monteriggioni was fought between Siena and Florence in 1244 and 1254.
In 1269 after the battle of hill (immortalized by Dante Alighieri in the XIII canto of Purgatorio)
The Sienese defeated took refuge in Monteriggioni unsuccessfully attacked by the Florentines.
After the plague of 1349 held at the Siena Monteriggioni a captain with more infantry as they cleared the area from criminals who pillaged the poor people, it is said that the inhabitants having caught scent of crime in four offenders, forcing the hand of the captain who was stationed at the castle, made 4 of summary justice by hanging himself.
How the "Statute of the municipality of Monteriggioni and men" in the 'year 1380, the inhabitants of Monteriggioni defenders, were "citizens of Siena."
In 1383 a group of exiles with Senesi un'inganno seized the castle but not supported by the Florentines, surrendered.
'400 '500 Times on the walls were lowered to meet the new needs of the military who had to take account of the artillery. They were then to frustrate even the sense of charcoal.
In 1526 the Florentines besieged Monteriggioni with 2000 infantry and 500 cavalrymen beating the walls with ariglieria.
Photos of 'siege attack with artillery guns in 1554.
The Castle of Monteriggioni resist and after July 25 of that year, the Battle of Camullia the Sienese defeated the papal army, allied with the Florentines hastily interrupted the siege.
On April 27, 1554 Monteriggioni was traded to treason, without a fight by the Marquis of Merigliano Zeti captain who was going to stifle the freedom of the Republic of Siena, as happened in 1555. With this betrayal Captain Zeti, leaking Fiorentino, ceded the otherwise impregnable fortress and bringing down the defensive system Senese (consisting of the fortilizzi of rocky ground, Auto Mount, Quercegrossa, the snails) and determining the end of the Republic of Siena.
The inhabitants of Monteriggioni slaves were relevant to Florence and they will not be heard of again. Despite Monteriggioni was conquered what was not enough to dent his reputation as an impregnable fortress. From the Republic of Siena, the castle came under the principle of doctors, Monteriggioni was sold by that the family of the Goliath of Siena, then to the beats, Visconti, the Fabbroni to Daddi in 1704 to Accarigi. The last of the annuity to the family moved Accarigi Griccioli who still owned the Castle and the countryside