Castello della Magione

The Castello della Magione, also known under the name of Magione di San Giovanni al Ponte di San Giovanni or Spedale in Gerusalemme alla Magione is a medieval Romanesque castle in Poggibonsi. It originally belonged to the Knights Templar, and in 1979 the newly founded Order of Militia Templi is over, it serves as the headquarters today. In addition, pilgrims are housed traveling along the Via Francigena to Rome at Castello della Magione.

Location

The castle is located in the south of Poggionsi, near the present highway through the town and 3 km from the city center. In the West Staggia, over a bridge which resulted in the Middle Ages near the castle runs.

History

The castle dates from the 11th century and was donated in 1140 by Gottifredo and Arnolfino di Cristofano the monastery of St. Michael at Poggio Marturi. This gave the castle the Knights Templar, who used it as a base on the Via Francigena and there also housed pilgrims. After the dissolution of the Knights Templar in 1312 the plant passed into the possession of the Hospitallers. This they converted over time to an estate and used this to 1752. Subsequently it was borrowed to various owners, including the Corsini family. In the wake of the decline of the Order of Malta, which began in 1798 with the expulsion from Malta, the castle was built in 1817 profaned and became the property of Corsini. These leased the castle from 1866 on. As a result, the complex was reduced to the farm and fell prey to decay. Only in the middle of the 20th century, there were the first attempts, the Castello della Magione to obtain and restore. In 1979, the system of Marcello Alberto Cristofani, founder of the Militia Templi, purchased with private funds and extensively renovated.

Architecture and plant

The castle has been preserved only in parts. The remaining buildings - the chapel, the residential buildings and the current administration building of the Grand Masters - are held in the Romanesque style.

The chapel of St. John in Jerusalem began with the construction of the castle received, with the exception of the bell tower that is missing today. The renovations were also Burgundian and Cistercian influences on the architecture to days. After the completion of the renovation work, she was ordained in 1982 by Archbishop Mario Jsmaele Castellano and has since been used again for worship.

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