Situated in a wooded valley among the Tuscan hills near Anghiari, the Castle of Galbino is a majestic historic building with roots in the 11th century. Built in a strategic position along the Sovara stream-a tributary of the Tiber River-and near the ancient Via della Libbia, the castle was tasked with controlling the connections between the Valdarno of Arezzo and the upper Tiber, in synergy with the nearby fortress of Montauto.
Originally conceived with a defensive function, the castle was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1178. It was the nobleman Federigo Barbolani of Montauto, lord of the imperial fief, who transformed it between the 16th and 17th centuries into a noble residence. The Barbolani family maintained ownership until the 18th century, when the castle passed, by marriage, first to the Velluti Zati, dukes of San Clemente, and finally to the Baldeschi counts.
The architecture of Galbino Castle reveals the evolution of its role: from medieval fortress to stately villa. The structure has a square plan, with an elevated central tower and four elegant cylindrical towers at the corners. Embellishing the complex are Renaissance and Baroque windows, as well as a loggia with stone columns that runs along the main facade, giving the castle a harmonious and refined appearance.
Today, the Castle of Galbino stands as an impressive and evocative residence, set in a typical Tuscan landscape of olive groves, woods and gentle slopes, a silent witness to centuries of history and transformation.
Photo by castlesintheworld