The ruined tower of the castle

Civitella in Val di Chiana is a village perched on a hill. From a distance, it is rather pretty and is dominated by a ruined castle.

Like many towns in this area of Tuscany, it went through many changes of rule, probably more than other larger towns, dating back to the Etruscans, then the Romans, Lombards, the Bishop of Arezzo' estates, but then was destroyed in the wars between the Guelphs and Guirberllins in the 13th century. It was then came back under the then Bishop of Arrezo, who rebuilt it. In 1384, it was annexed by Florence, then captured by Siena, to be recued by the Medici family, until it came under the Duke of Lorraines estates as part of repayments by the Medicis of debt owed, until, phew, it became part of the Kingdom in Italy in 1861.

However, its tumulteous history did not end there as during the Second World War, on the 22nd June 1944, 244 of the population were killed by the Nazis, including men, women and children, in reprisal for the killing of two German soldiers by partisans. The castle was used by the Germans as a regional headquarters as it has comanding views in every direction and was consequently bombed by the Allies, but never rebuilt.

The town, not surprisingly, has not really thrived through the centuries, but it is pretty and there is enough to see for an hour or two. Unfortunately for us, whatever food and beverage outlets there were, a restaurant and wine bar, were not open for lunch, but efforts have been made to enhance the environment with the addition of sculptures.

(Click on pictures for larger size and full aspect)