The castle of Brolio is similar to the emblem of the Chianti, a sort of banner, the standard-bearer of an entire army of Fortresses, many of which have forgotten their original characteristics. This is due to the fact that when you see it from far away, it looks powerful, solid, arrogant, redundant. You then discover that this is not how things really are. You discover that that circle of walls which is an irregular indestructible pentagon of stone, encloses within its boundaries a peaceful life brimming with activity. But these wads are the same as those existing at the end of the 15th century when the castle was destroyed by one of the numerous armed attacks made in those centuries, in this case by the Aragonese troops in favor of the Kingdom of Naples. These walls which trace the irregular pattern of a pentagon and are connected to five towers, develop on a perimeter of almost 500 meters all along the passageway. From this privileged position, can clearly be seen another red brick structure which is obviously inspired by the Sienese taste in building belonging to a period much closer to our times. After the entrance square, you have to raise your eyes to see the original castle-keep, the place where the owners of the castle, in ancient times, repeatedly locked themselves in an extreme defense against the enemy of the moment. Hence the 15th century walls, a castle-keep over two hundred years old and living quarters were entirely rebuilt in the 19th century. The most recent part may be difficult to combine but a Sienese architect’s efforts to blend the preexisting structures is evident and so particular as to resemble a small castle bunt in a larger one. The small castle is actually a bulding with neo-Gothic forms with Guelph crenellated towers, two-mullioned and three-mullioned windows and all the list of building terms in that neo-medieval style that had come back into fashion almost two centuries ago. Today, the gates of this large castle are opened by the members of the Ricasoli Firidolfi family themselves who have lived there since 1141. The rooms are mainly a new 19th century version. Everywhere can be found banners, armour, tapestry, sab vaults and the stern faces of ancestors among whom that of Bettino Ricasoli, “the iron baron” who played such an active part in the creation of the Unity of Italy and who, as a brilliant oenologist, wrote the recipe of Chianti wine. Then there is the rich library, with a collection of books of inestimable value and also the archives of the history of this important family.
–
See also:

Monna Lisa’s House, Montefienali: The Return from Oblivion, Castle of Meleto, Farmhouses in Chianti, The Church of San Polo

or go back to Houses of Chianti