History
The medieval tower of San Polo, dating back to the 12th century, is the most significant architectural element of the village, which is now completely abandoned. Originally a sturdy four-level defensive structure with wooden floors and a gabled roof, it is currently in an advanced state of decay, covered in climbing plants, and subject to progressive collapses.
Rectangular in plan, the tower measures approximately 8.12 x 6.09 meters and reaches a maximum height of 12.5 meters. Its walls, built with local stone, exhibit a rather irregular construction technique, with roughly worked ashlars and leveling courses to correct imperfections. However, the main structural elements, such as the cornerstones and the arches of the openings, demonstrate greater precision in execution, typical of medieval constructions between Florence and Siena.
A peculiar feature of the tower is the presence of three doors on the main façade, positioned at different heights, one of which is now almost buried. These openings likely served to compartmentalize the interior spaces for defensive purposes. Access to the upper floors was via removable ladders, which could be withdrawn in case of attack to hinder enemy entry. The internal wooden floors rested on stone corbels, allowing for the dismantling of the floors when necessary for defense.
The tower was part of a network of border fortifications scattered throughout the area, connected by a fire or smoke signaling system. The village is located on a small hill overlooking the Argenna Valley to the east, while the Pesa River flows to the north. On the opposite side of the Argenna Valley ran the Via Maremmana.
When the defensive need diminished, the tower was adapted for residential use, undergoing structural modifications such as the construction of a barrel vault and the addition of a fireplace. With the abandonment of the village, the deterioration of the wooden structures accelerated the building's decay, leading to the collapse of significant portions of the masonry.
More info & notes
San Polo in Torre is located near the medieval village of San Donato in Poggio, in the Municipality of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa (FI), in the locality of Montecchio. It can be reached via the white road (Strada di Montecchio), which branches off to the left shortly after the Pieve di San Donato when traveling along the provincial road from Florence to Siena.
I recommend parking your car near the Antica Fornace di Montecchio and continuing on foot along the white road to the village. It is a short and easy walk of about 2.5 km (round trip) along a section of the Via Romea Sanese.