The strategic hilltop citadel of Rocca di Cerbaia, Tuscany

The Rocca di Cerbaia is a medieval fortress situated 400 meters above the Bisenzio River, in the town of Cantagallo, Tuscany. Constructed in the early 12th century by the feudal Alberti family, the castle was strategically positioned to guard the 'strada di Lombardia' and was the residence of the Counts Alberti, granted to them in 1164 by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Throughout the 13th century, it became a focal point in the turbulent struggles between the Alberti lords and the rising civic power of the nearby town of Prato.

The castle is intertwined with the life and works of Dante Alighieri, who references it in both his Inferno and Purgatorio, highlighting the violent deeds of some members of the Alberti family. Today, the partially restored Rocca di Cerbaia, first fortified by the commune of Florence and later owned by the Novellucci and Eldmann families, offers visitors a glimpse into medieval life and architecture.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons