The Middle Ages

Castello Sant’Ellero, overlooking the Arno Valley from the top of a hill, was built in Early Middle Ages to defend the Benedictine abbey of Sant'Ilario in Alfano.

The Castle is positioned on a hill overlooking the town bearing the same name, which was one of the most important communication routes until early 20th century: it was in fact one of the crossing points of the Arno river for ships, before bridges were built. The central tower and some parts of the walls are the only surviving sections of the original walled fortification, which was turned into a manor house in the following centuries. In the Villani’s Chronicles, the author Giovanni Villani tells how in 1267 the Castle had to withstand and then surrender after the siege of the Florentine Guelfs supported by the French armies of Charles I, King of France, who killed a number of Ghibellines from the highest Florentine nobility who had sought refuge after fleeing from Florence. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, the Castle underwent several major works to turn it into a wonderful manor house.

The Church also underwent some major works to reduce it in size thus creating the new rooms, and terraces were created in the Gardens overlooking the valley and enriched with beautiful fountains.

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