Here are just a few of the casltes and fortresses around Florence and elsewhere in Tusacny that make up the rich history of Italy, with owners like Medici's, Pazzi, Ricasoli and so on.   You may either dicscuss and  choose an itinerary with Artan or just enclude it in in one of your wine tasting or shopping tours.

Bibbiano's Castle overlooks the Ombrone Valley and the underlying town of Buonconvento, just south of Siena, in the Val d'Arbia.  

Dates back to the year 850, as property of the Longobard count Guinigi di Reghinari at the time of emperor Ludovico II. 

 

Poppi's Castle is the most important medieval monument of the whole Casentino area, it lies on the banks of the Arno river.   Unlike all the other castles and architectures of the zone it wasn't  ruined by time, having always been used as residence of the local political or administrative power, in fact it is still today the seat of the Comune of Poppi.
  

Brolio castle is situated in the center of the area of Chianti that belongs to the province of Siena, overlooking boundles vineyards.   Since 1141 the Ricasoli distilled their famous wines, storing them in the cellars inside the great thick walls of the fortress. 

Lucignano Fortress belonged to the Siena town until 1176 before Florence took over. 

It is one of the most extraordinary examples of medieval urbanism because of its elliptical plant with concentric rings. 

During the half of the 16^th century, a mighty Medicean rampart was added by Cosimo. 

Paneretta fortress was formerly a simple late medieval stronghold on the border between Siena and Florence with a quadrilateral structure. 

In 1577 the Paneretta became property of Ludovico Capponi that undertook great works for changing the structure of the castle in country residential villa and in 1669 the castle passed onto the Riccardi family that remained its owner until 1871, when completed its definitive transformation in the villa, the Paneretta became property of the Strozzi.    

Today the castle-villa is seat of the farm that brings the same name manufacturer of an excellent wine Chianti Classico.

Verrazzano Castle -  the explorer and cartographer, Giovanni di Pier Andrea di Bernardo da Verrazzano was born at the estate in 1485.   From his travels to North America, in 1520 and through to 1525 where he charted the east coast, he became famous.   The Verrazzano Narrows bridge in New York City carries his name. 

You may visit the gardens, the centuries-old ageing cellars and as a curiosity, the wild boars which are reared naturally in the surrounding woods.  Together with their wines and all the various products of the Farm, can be tasted.

Trebbio Castle is only a short distance from Florence and is situated in the lovely hamlet of Trebbio built as a small fortress by Pazzi Family in 1184, and later extended (14^th and 15^th century).    The complex has a rectangular shape, articulated around the courtyard approachable exclusively through a gate protected by a tower

It's fame is due to the "Pazzi Conspiracy", a plot organized by the Pazzi family in 1478 in order to kill their old enemies Giuliano and Lorenzo de' Medici.       

Wine tasting with Chianti Rufina and Chianti Colli Fiorentini. 

http://www.vinoturismo.it/

Meleto Castle stands in the heart of Chianti Classico originally belonged to the Benedictine monks of the Coltibuono Abbey.  The Castle still has its massive 15 ^th century fortifications with an imposing cylindrical tower built as protection against artillery fire.    But there is also the aristocratic nobile grace of the villa, with its sequence of furnished and decorated rooms, and an unparalleled 18^th century theatre. 

Alberto Firidolfi's daughter, Lucrezia and, in 1852, Baron Bettino 's daughter Elisabetta, held their weddings here and wedding functions still continue until today.   Also available  - food and wine tasting.