Medieval castles

Description

During the Middle Ages, precisely between the 11th and 13th centuries, more than 80 castles are attested by documentary sources in the territory of Mugello and Val Di Sieve. Of some of them we have only a few clues since over time the ruins were transformed or incorporated into the building fabric of today's towns. Be that as it may, it is possible to infer from the documents that they were small fortified nuclei in which the local lordship resided, while the rest of the population, devoted to agriculture and animal husbandry, lived outside the walls, taking refuge inside the castles in case of need. The earliest historical records we have in this regard revolve around the important feudal families of the Guidi and Ubaldini. The oldest castles in this territory arose near ancient Lombard military garrisons. But functions of control and administration were also performed by the parish churches, which are of ancient origin in this territory. The term "plebs" from which "parish" derives did not only indicate the building and the community of believers, but also the territory that was under its jurisdiction.