Castello di Brolio

A few kilometers beyond Castello di Meleto a road branches off southeast towards Castello di Brolio (8km/5mi), an impressive sight in its elevated position on a 530m/1,739ft-high ridge. The history of this mighty fortress, the archetypal Chianti castle, is closely linked to that of the Ricasoli family, rulers of the region from the 13th century. As a strategic stronghold close to the Florentine/Sienese border, the castle was repeatedly engulfed in bitter fighting. Badly damaged on numerous occasions, the last being at the hands of the Sienese in 1529, it was extensively rebuilt in the 16th century. In about 1860 Bettino Ricasoli (1809-90) commissioned Pietro Marchetti to transform the fortress into the imposing red brick Neo-Gothic castle seen today. The great dining hall with its Flemish tapestries, suits of armor and family coats of arms is particularly noteworthy.