Latitudine 42.88697 Longitudine 11.91545 Alt. 650m above sea level.
Located mid way between Rome (170km) and Florence (150km), Fighine is within easy reach of the historically interesting towns of Siena, Orvieto, Montepulciano, Pienza, Citta della Pieve, and Perugia. The nearby spa town of San Casciano dei Bagni (8 min drive) is home to Italy’s foremost award-winning spa Fonteverde, as well as an array of traditional Tuscan restaurants, and a variety of shops.
Perched on a dramatic Tuscan hill, on the border of Tuscany and Umbria, dominating the countryside that surrounds it, historic Fighine offers breath-taking views over southern Tuscany.
History
Fighine was in an excellent strategic position in a watershed between the valleys of the Paglia and Chiana, the village was first mentioned in relation to the Pieve of Santa Maria “de Fighine” in a judicial decree of 1058, while the castle was actually mentioned in an edict of 1266 by which the emperor Federico of Suebia (Schwaben) officially handed it over to the Viscount of Campiglia.
It’s position made Fighine the object of dispute between commanders of mercenary troops and local noblemen until the Pope gave it to the Manenti family, who were Counts of the Guelf faction.
In 1446, after gaining control of the castle, the Republic of Siena undertook large-scale works of enlargement and reinforcement of the fortified structures but the work was interrupted in 1451 because of its occupation by papal troops. Pope Pius II restored Fighine to the Sienese only 12 years later. Eventually, with the annexation of Siena to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, it became the property of the Grand Duke Cosimo dei Medici.
The castle has always been an important feature for the area, suffice it to say that, in the books present in the historical archive of the Comune, the locality is quoted as comparable with Orvieto.
The present structure of the upper part maintains the quadrangular form with three corner towers: the square one, also called the “Old Tower” is much higher than the others, the octagonal one is in the northwest corner and the smaller semi-octagonal one alongside the main gateway of access to the hamlet. The one and a half metre thick defensive walls, starting from the square and semioctagonal towers, are interrupted by small round turrets and, although ruined, still surround the hamlet.
In the section where the gateway into the hamlet is situated, the walls are still of the original height and retain traces of small stone buttresses which support the external walkway around the battlements. The main body of the fortification (towers and exclusive residence) has steep walls crowned with small buttresses.
We will have exclusive use of the Castle from 23/8/19 to 26/8/19.
Getting to Fighine:
Hiring a car is the best way to get to/ from Fighine.
Directions from the A1 Autostrada:
- Exit the A1 autostrada at Fabro.
- On leaving the Fabro toll station follow the signs to Palazzone.
- Just before the village of Palazzone you will see the sign Castello di Fighine. Take this left turn for approximately 500 metres.
- Follow the road to the right then pass the church on your left hand side.
- Bear left up the hill and continue for 3.5 kilometres where you will see a small chapel on your right.
- The road to Fighine is up to the left
Don’t forget – most UK phone contracts now allow inclusive data roaming in Europe. It may be worth using Google maps to help with directions! You could even download the offline map from the UK before you travel.
The nearest train station is called Chiusi-Chianciano Terme and has direct trains from Rome – taking around 1 hour 40 minutes. From here you can hire a car, get a taxi or ask someone to pick you up should you not wish to drive. It is approximately 19KM from Fighine/ 25 minutes.