Built during the 15th century as a fortified farm, the Castello di Cosona stands along Provincial Road 71 in the municipality of Pienza. The complex underwent major transformations over the centuries, culminating in an early 20th-century renovation designed by Sienese architect Arturo Viligiardi.
What to see
The fortified layout consists of interconnected buildings framing a total of 15 sides. A square tower rises on the western front of the structure, while the courtyard contains a well-cistern built in 1659 and restored in 1913 for rainwater collection. A rectangular 19th-century granary displays two heraldic coats of arms belonging to the Forteguerri family, who commissioned the addition. Inside a former agricultural annex, a private chapel was created during Viligiardi's 1913 renovation project.
Visiting
The castle serves as the hub of a working farm estate and operates as an agritourism facility. Its seven independent guest apartments were originally home to local sharecropping families until the 1970s.
Our editors' tip
Look closely at the 19th-century granary to spot the two Forteguerri family coats of arms carved into its facade.