Templar Castles: Castello della Magione, Italy

On the outskirts of the town of Poggibonsi in Tuscany sits the Castello della Magione. At first glance, the Castello appears to be nothing more than a small rural farm complex, but on closer inspection, it is revealed to house a former Templar church and a hostel building dating back to the time when the complex was used by the Templars to house pilgrims on their way to Rome.

Though not obvious from the ground, when seen from the air, the Castello takes on a tight fortified shape, hence why it is known as a castle.

The complex is near the ancient crossing of the Via Francigena over the Staggia River, near the Bonizio bridge, now destroyed.

After the fall of the Templars, the castle passed through many hands. It is now home to a lay order of the Catholic Church known as the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ.

The Templars may be long gone, but at Castello della Magione, holy knights still worship within one of their buildings seven hundred years later.

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