Historical and Tourist Notes
Radicofani is located halfway between Florence and Rome, between Tuscia Viterbese and the Land of Santa Caterina, one of the five municipalities of the Val d’Orcia, a World Heritage Site since 2004. It stands on a rocky cliff that touches the sky.
The place has been chosen by man since time immemorial, as control and defense of a vast territory. The cliff dominates the valleys of Orcia and Paglia, crossed by the Via Francigena, which in Radicofani found a fortified and safe place, and by the Vie Traverse between Umbria and Maremma.
Radicofani was formed from four suburbs, one of which, Viclanus, had Etruscan-Roman origins. They were the Longobards to structure the territory; in fact, the toponym Radicofani derives from the name of the Longobard king: Rachis, from which “Rachis hofen” = “Court of Rachis”.
Remembered already in 973 “cum suo castro”…with its fortifications. Its history is inextricably linked to the Via Francigena, perhaps it was Sigeric’s “Sce Petir in Pail”, but we have no certainty. Other ancient characters remember him: Nikulas of Munkathevera in 1154, Philip Augustus king of France in 1191, Abbot Emo in 1212, Archbishop Eudes Rigaud in 1254…. Disputed by local squires, it was purchased by Pope Eugene III in 1153. In 1154 Pope Adrian IV built a real castle.
At the end of 1200 it is the outpost of the famous bandit-gentleman Ghino di Tacco remembered by Dante and Boccaccio. It was rented by the Republic of Siena in 1411 and passed to the Medici in 1559. In 1255 there were six Spedali for pilgrims: Xenodochio of Muliermala, Spedale di Fonte Ceccola of Camaldolesi monks, Spedale di Spineto of Vallombrosani monks, Spedale di S. Maria of Cistercensi monks, Spedale di Bonaionte, and the “Domus Leprosorum”.
Radicofani has maintained intact its medieval character, the imposing Fortress dominates the Borgo Maggiore whose main street is the Via Francigena. Between the medieval palaces and the ancient Spedali, opens the square S. Pietro with the Churches of S. Agata, and S. Pietro Apostolo of the XIII° century, that guard five works of the Della Robbia. Under the Borgo the Romantic-Esoteric Garden “Bosco Isabella”, built between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century by Senator Odoardo Luchini and his daughter Matilde, painter of the Macchiaioli, with essences from all over the world and a path that refers to the Masonic Temple, there is a pyramid built together with the garden…remains of an Etruscan place of worship and remains of a Sienese fortress of 1400. Very interesting is the “Osteria Grossa”, which functioned as a Post and Customs Station, from the end of 1500 to the end of 1800.
Built by Ferdinando I of the Medici, together with a beautiful fountain for the use of travelers. Famous people such as Mozart, Dickens, Pius VI, Pius VII, Ferdinand I, Cosimo II and Thomas Gray have stayed here. Also not to be missed are the oratory of S. Maria Assunta of the 15th century, the Praetorian Palace of the 13th century, the suburban church of the Madonna del Roccheto of the 12th century, the ancient Jewish Quarter, the Luchini Palace which was the seat of an “elite” boarding house for people linked to culture between the years 1920/1940, the Spedale di S. Not far from Radicofani is the hamlet of Contignano, which lies in the heart of the Val d’Orcia, it too has maintained its medieval character with its gates, the Tower and the Parish Church of S. Maria Assunta, the Hospital and the Commandery of the Order of S. Stefano.
Learn more: municipality of Radicofani

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