Castle of Spedaletto

The battlement of the western bastion .	The eastern front.

The ancient castle of Spedaletto rises in the Valdorcia along the road that bring from Bagno Vignoni to Pienza. It can be found around three kilometers before the alternative with the Cassia road (SS2).

The main gate defended by the keep.

The breteches and the coats of arms of the inside gate.

In the Middle Ages the importance of the Orcia Valley was tied mainly to the 'Francigena', principal European Road, that crossed the valley longitudinally for all its length. Besides the large diffusion of urban centers and castles there were numerous 'Spedali' (Hospitals) stands along the important artery or in its proximity's. The castle of Spedaletto is a grandiose strengthened complex built in the 12th century from the religious Ugolino da Rocchione as place of reception for the wayfarers and pilgrims. Since 1236 the complex was administered by the Spedale of S.Maria della Scala in Siena and it was called 'Spedale of the bridge on the river Orcia'. In fact behind the castle the Francigena Road crossed the river Orcia thanks to an ancient bridge, whose ruins are today still visible in the middle of the water course. This position made the 'castle' strategically important and, also due to wealth gained through varied donations, its presence began to bother the nearby vassals. The Spedale also entertained important wayfarers such as Charles II Of Angio and Pope Pious II.

The central part of the small fortress in the inner courtyard.

The chapel, immediately to the right of the principal entry.

The castle, as it must be considered for its appearance, has a square plan with towers at every angle, machicoulis with beautiful brackets in stone and battlements along the entire perimeter, a splendid strengthened gate with a mighty keep for its defense. Traces of the 'modifications of the end of the 15th century are evident like the light bastion nature of a large part of the construction circuit and the loopholes for artillery introduced at many points. In the first inner courtyard we find immediately to the left of the gate the Gothic church of the Spedale with a splendid façade enriched by a rose window and a portal with Gothic arch, on the right a second entrance gate, adorned with coats of arms in stone, lead into the inner ward of the fortification, from which is accessed the keep and the wall walk.

The complex is in a good state of maintenance. Restoration also is underway as I write this, although the owner has turned it into a farm, but the castle is can be freely visited.