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Visit Colle di Val d'Elsa Bastione di Sapia castello vista drone

Bastion of Sapia

Bastion of Sapia

It is a restored ancient military building, strengthened by a tower. From here it is possible to have a wide view towards the Borgo di Santa Caterina, San Francesco’s convent and the Duomo cathedral. The name of the structure is due to the character that Dante Alighieri describes in the XIII Purgatory story. Sapìa was a Sienese noblewoman of the Salvani’s family, aunt of Provenzano Salvani, commander of the army during the battle of Colle in 1269 and wife of Ghinibaldo Saracini, a Sienese noble who went from being in the ranks of the Ghibellines to the Guelphs.

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Visit Colle di Val d'Elsa Bastione di Sapia vista drone

This decision led to their expulsion from Siena and the consequent need to find a refuge in the Florentine territory: Colle di Val d’Elsa, the place where Ghinibaldo became podestà. The envy that Sapia felt because of this change, of a different life and no longer in the city, led her to Dante’s Purgatory among the envious.

Bastion of Sapia
Via del Castello
53034 Colle di Val d’Elsa (Siena)
Toscana – Italy