Welcome to Castello di Poppi
The beautiful Castello dei Conti Guidi, or in English—the Castle of the Guidi Counts. It is one of the most well-preserved and important castles in Tuscany, and was owned by one of the largest feudal families of Tuscany, the Guidi family. The Guidi lived in the castle for almost 400 years, with its' origins dating back to at least 1191. The castle is thought to be the inspiration for the 'Palazzo Vecchio' in Florence and the Italian poet Dante Alighieri fought in the Battle of Campaldino near Poppi Castle in 1287is the historic capital of Casentino and was awarded the title of ‘Most Beautiful Town in Italy’ in 2003. Its famous Guidi Castle is a landmark in the area and its characteristic square tower can be seen from all over the valley. The castle was designed by Arnolfo Di Cambio and is considered a prototype for his plans for the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. In the evening the castle is floodlit - a beacon for the traveller. Thanks to continual restoration over the years, especially in the last century, the castle is in excellent condition. In its courtyard, the ‘Rilliana’ Library features hundreds of medieval manuscripts and incunabula (ancient manuscripts written on parchment scrolls). Another feature of the castle is the family chapel with a cycle of 14th-century frescoes ascribed to Taddeo Gaddi, a pupil of Giotto. The Poppi castle is one of four. The second in Romena, with its large grassy courtyard and tall towers overlooks the valley from above the town of Stia. The nearby Pieve di Romena church is an extraordinary example of Romanesque architecture. The third castle is Porciano and the fourth is Gressa, both visible on clear days even from Poppi. Their interconnection was fundamental to the security of Casentino in ancient times, as each castle guarded a corner of the valley from enemies coming from Florence, Arezzo or from the mountains.
