The ancient walls

In the early 1300s, when faced with the threat of Henry VII’s army, Florence needed to strengthen the defenses of its territory, including the castle in Montelupo. In 1312, measures were taken to prevent the houses in the town from facilitating a potential siege of the castle: overhanging roof parts were removed and those houses that stood too close to the walls were demolished.

At the time, only the castle uptown was fortified. Around 1325, during the conflict between Florence and Lucca, the rest of the town, known as the “borgo”, likely suffered damage from enemy raids due to its lack of strong defenses. The river Arno also flooded later in 1333, deeply affecting the borgo, but not the castle uptown. Finally, in 1336, Florence decided to build walls around the borgo, which was by then in an advanced stage of construction: these walls would unite the castle and the borgo behind a single defensive line, traces and remains of which are still visible today.

Discover the heart of Tuscan ceramics among museums, workshops, public art, and authentic views. Stroll through the historic center, visit the exhibitions, and let yourself be guided by the colors of tradition. Experience something unique, tailored to the time you have.