Radicofani is a small Tuscan hill town situated to the south of Val D’Orcia. It’s most distinctive feature from a distance is the large castle tower, sitting on the highest point of the hill. The castle is very old, being first mentioned in 978AD, however the current buildings mostly date from the 16th century, when it was taken over by the Duchy of Florence. Unfortunately when we visited the castle was closed to visitors, either because of safety concerns or restoration work. There is a fine view of the town with its crowning tower from the Belvedere Con Fontana – a simple lay-by on the SP478 road, about 4km before reaching the town.
Radicofani from the Belvedere Con Fontana
A portrait view shows the elevation of the town rising above the intervening valley. Radicofani sits at a height of 780m and for many years defended the border between the Duchy of Florence and the Papal States.
Radicofani From The Belvedere Con Fontana
The Town
With its hilltop location, there is a fine view westwards towards Monte Amiata, which at 1738m is the dominant mountain in this part of Italy.
View To Monte Amiata
The town is quite small and can be explored in an hour or so, but as it is off the tourist track it offers a quiet get away compared to some of the busier towns around Val D’Orcia. The parish church, Pieve di San Pietro, is dedicated to Saint Peter and whilst mention of a church here goes back to about AD1000, the current building dates from the early 13th century, though it has been modified since then. The Romanesque facade of the church fronts onto a small square.
Pieve San Pietro Apostolo
The church interior has been re-modelled in a more gothic style with pointed arches. Notable are some terracotta figures by the notable Florentine sculptor Andrea Del Robbia and the crucifixion scene by Benedetti and Santo Buglioni, which can be seen in the image below. All these works date from the latter half of the 15th century.
Pieve San Pietro Interior