Ghino di Tacco and the Rocca di Radicofani

Rocca di Radicofani - The Rocca di Radicofani is a historical fortress of a purely defensive type built on a pre-existing castle of medieval origin in Radicofani, a village in Val d'Orcia. The history of the Rocca is closely linked to that of Ghino di Tacco, a sort of 'Italian Robin Hood' who lived in the Rocca di Radicofani in the 13th century. Ghino was a Ghibelline originally from Sinalunga, who hated the Sienese because when he was a child they had beheaded his father and uncle, brigands, in front of him.

That day little Ghino swore revenge, especially against Benincasa da Laterina, the judge who passed the death sentence; he fled to the Val d'Orcia, where he took refuge in the Castle of Radicofani which became his home called the 'Eagle's Nest'. Ghino began his career as a bandit, but to each unfortunate he used to leave something to live with, even inquiring about what were the real possessions of the victim. This earned him the reputation of a gentleman brigand. Our gentleman brigand finally managed to avenge his father and uncle by killing Benincasa during one of his raids, beheading him and exposing his head on the highest tower of Rocca dei Radicofani. Ghino's character is narrated both by Dante (Purgatorio, Canto VI) and by Boccaccio (II story of the 10th day of the Decameron).