Castello della Magione
The Castello della Magione , also known as Magione di San Giovanni al Ponte or Spedale di San Giovanni in Gerusalemme alla Magione, is a medieval Romanesque castle in Poggibonsi . It originally belonged to the Knights Templar and in 1979 it was transferred to the then newly founded Order Militia Templi , to which it now serves as its headquarters. In addition, the Castello della Magione also hosts pilgrims who travel to Rome on the Via Francigena .
location
The castle is located in the south of Poggibonsi, near today's expressway through the town and about 3 km from the city center. In the west runs the Staggia , over which a bridge ran near the castle in the Middle Ages.
history
The castle dates back to the 11th century and was donated by Gottifredo and Arnolfino di Cristofano to the monastery of St. Michael at Poggio Marturi in 1140 . They handed the castle over to the Knights Templar , who used it as a base on the Via Francigena and also hosted pilgrims there . After the dissolution of the Knights Templar in 1312, the property became the property of the Hospitallers . Over time, they converted this into an estate and used it until 1752. Subsequently, it was loaned to various owners, including the Corsini family. In the course of the decline of the Order of Malta , which began with the expulsion from Malta in 1798, the castle was profaned in 1817 and became the property of the Corsinis. These leased the castle from 1866 on. As a result, the complex was reduced to the farm and fell into disrepair. It was not until the middle of the 20th century that first efforts were made to preserve and restore the Castello della Magione. In 1979, Marcello Alberto Cristofani , the founder of the Militia Templi, bought the facility with private funds and extensively renovated it.
Architecture and layout
The castle complex is only partially preserved today. The remaining buildings - the chapel, the residential buildings and today's office building of the Grand Master - are in the Romanesque style .
The Chapel of San Giovanni in Jerusalem has been preserved since the castle was built, with the exception of the bell tower, which is now missing. During the renovation work, Burgundian and Cistercian influences also came to light on the architecture. After the renovation work was completed, it was consecrated by Archbishop Mario Jsmaele Castellano in 1982 and has been used again for church services ever since.
References
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b The Castello della Magione in Poggibonsi (Siena - Italy) . Retrieved February 17, 2010
Coordinates: 43 ° 27 '25.02 " N , 11 ° 9' 30.73" E