Castel Guerrino

Castelguerrino, now identified as a peak of 1117 meters between the Giogo Pass and the Futa Pass, is a place that carries an important historical legacy. Located strategically on the Tuscan-Romagnolo Apennines, Castelguerrino is a symbol of a network of connections and conflicts that crossed the Mugello region, linking Tuscany and Romagna. The peak is mentioned in medieval sources as one of the strongholds of the Ubaldini, an ancient feudal family that ruled the territory between Firenzuola and the Mugello. Its rugged position was ideal for controlling the most frequented communication routes in the Early Middle Ages, such as the "Passo della Vecchia" and the "Passo dell’Osteria Bruciata," which crossed the "Alpes Ubaldinorum." Castelguerrino was situated along the itinerary that connected the Montaccianico Castle to the Montegemoli Castle, making it a crucial location for controlling the Apennines. Among the documents that tell its story, there is a record of an inspection by the Officials of the Mugello Castles on June 17, 1350. During this inspection, the construction of a 15-braccia high tower (about 9 meters), equipped with a wooden balcony and a defensive palisade, was ordered, symbolizing the need to strengthen the castle's defenses during a period of conflicts. The tower, guarded day and night by two sentries, was a key structure to protect the entire area. The history of the castle intertwines with that of the powerful Ubaldini family, who fortified it in 1117 and used it as a refuge after the defeat of Monte Accianico in 1151. However, in 1359, after the Florentines conquered Tirli, the fortress was demolished. In 1402, Giovanni Ubaldini, captain of the Duke of Milan, rebuilt a wooden bastion on the mountain during the war against Florence, but this structure was also destroyed at the end of hostilities. Today, on Mount Castelguerrino, traces of the castle's foundations and a cistern can still be observed. The summit, consisting of two peaks, shows signs of ancient constructions: one part seems to have been modified by man, while the other, more natural, is preceded by a depression that could have been a defensive moat. The fortress stood on the Apennine watershed, near the Fonte Manzina Pass, a crucial point for connections between Tuscany and Romagna. From Mount Castelguerrino, a panoramic view can be enjoyed over emblematic places like Monte Gazzarro and the Passo dell’Osteria Bruciata, witnesses of a millenary history.