My first time in Radicofani dates back to about 4 years ago. I remembered a small village, typically Tuscan, that enchants with its silence and its tranquillity.
Country of medieval times, it was built around its castle which, however, is from the Carolingian period (and therefore before the village). Given its location along the Via Cassia between Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany, the town of Radicofani has represented for centuries a crucial stronghold for those who wanted to control the territory. For almost two centuries the village remained under the control of the Republic of Siena and the Papal State, with the two intermezzos of the government of Ghino di Tacco. Who was it? Some call it “the punisher of injustices and powerful”, others speak of it as a “daring bandit”:
his reputation as a Ghibelline rebel, a “brigand gentleman” based on Radicofani, has been mentioned by both Dante and from Boccaccio. But, in the end, what to see during a visit to the village? Evidently the palaces of medieval times, such as the Palazzo Pretorio, the parish church of S. Pietro Apostolo (dating back to the thirteenth century), and the church of Sant’Agata, patron saint of Radicofani. On a hill, which dominates the small village, is located the “Rocca” of Radicofani (defensive castle).
Built shortly after the year 1000, visible from miles away, has “controlled” the border between the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Papal States. It was repeatedly remodelled and renovated until it was partially demolished in the eighteenth century and then finally restored in the twentieth century. Once inside, there is a path that allows you to discover the fortress and what remains of the ancient ramparts. Inside the fort, a museum has been set up on three floors. You can climb up to the top of the tower (the only one left standing), from where the view ranges from Mount Amiata to the Apennines, arriving at Lake Trasimeno and Lake Bolsena (without forgetting the splendid view of the Val d’Orcia).
Entrance ticket: 4 euros per person.
How to get there: I personally suggest getting there by car. For those who prefer the trek, there is a pedestrian path. There is a relatively large parking lot, so you should not have problems to park even on the busiest days.
Opening hours: The Archaeological Park is open in winter only on Saturday and Sunday. From April it is open every day from 10:00 to 20:00. Always open on holidays. Inside the park, there is a Bar / Steak House. For all the additional information I refer you, of course, to the official site of the fortress.