Accarigi Castle

The Castle is not signposted and does not appear on maps. From the Siena Nord exit, follow the SS674 until the roundabout that leads to the SS2 Cassia Nord. Continue until you reach the junction with the SP101, then take it. After about 4 km, near an Autolinee Toscane bus stop, turn right onto a white gravel road marked by the sign “Strada di Pian del Lago – house numbers 6–10."

The ruins of the Castello degli Accarigi are located in the Montagnola Senese, about 10 kilometers from Siena. They are the remains of an ancient medieval fortified site that most likely formed part of the territorial defensive system of the Republic of Siena, a network of castles, towers, and military outposts that between the 13th and 15th centuries controlled the countryside and protected the main access routes to the city.

Large sections of the perimeter walls are still visible, with some arrow slits and remains of Guelph battlements, elements typical of medieval military architecture linked to the Sienese building tradition. Within the area, it is also possible to distinguish the remains of a well and several structures now partially buried, which attest to the former organization of the fortified complex.

The castle's position within the wooded and hilly landscape of the Montagnola Senese suggests a strategic function for territorial control. This area was crossed by ancient medieval routes that connected Siena with the Val di Merse, the Maremma, and the western areas of the Sienese territory. The Montagnola was also rich in mineral resources and stone quarries, exploited since antiquity, factors that made a widespread system of outposts and defensive structures necessary for the economic and military control of the area.

Within this context the Castello degli Accarigi was part of a network of fortifications present in the area, including important castles such as Montarrenti, one of the main medieval outposts along the route that connected Siena with the Tyrrhenian coast; the Castello del Poggiarello, located near Sovicille and still well preserved today; and the Castello di Capraia, another strategic stronghold for controlling the internal routes of the Montagnola. These structures, together with other small fortified sites and watchtowers, formed an integrated system for the control and defense of the Sienese territory.

The Accarigi family, an ancient and noble Sienese lineage, has been associated with the castle at least since the 14th century. The Accarigi played a significant role in the political life of the city, belonging to the Guelph faction and participating in the Government of the Nine, the oligarchic regime that led the Republic of Siena during its period of greatest prosperity between 1287 and 1355. The family also owned important urban properties, including a palace in Piazza del Campo.

Despite its close proximity to the city, the site remains little known and poorly documented, with limited historical information available. The castle stands on private property, and it is therefore advisable to request permission before visiting the ruins with care.

Finally, it is important not to confuse these ruins with the Castelletto Accarigi located near Montalcino: they are in fact two distinct structures, belonging to the same family but located in different areas of the Sienese territory.

Photos by Giacomo Santinelli