Some roads connect towns, and some roads connect eras. The Route of the Fortresses belongs to the second category: it starts from Marciano della Chiana and crosses the agricultural heart of the valley, following towers, walls and fortresses that for centuries guarded contested borders.
From the Tower of Marciano to the Fortress of Civitella
The journey begins at the fortress of Marciano, linked to the Battle of Scannagallo in 1554, and continues through Badicorte, Spoiano and Albergo. The plain gradually gives way to the hills of Civitella in Val di Chiana, where the Rocca still dominates the village. Here stone is not a mere backdrop: it preserves traces of ancient history, from Etruscan settlements to the wounds of the Second World War.
Woods, castles and return to the starting point
Past Cinigiano, the landscape becomes shadier and the route enters the woods surrounding the Castle of Gargonza. It then reaches Monte San Savino, with the silhouette of its tower and the irresistible appeal of porchetta, before continuing towards Lucignano and its medieval cassero. The final kilometers lead back to Marciano, closing a loop that alternates silence, open views and towns with a strong identity.