How it all began…
Castello Montelifre is a historic castle, owned by the Martinozzi family since 1348.
…Martinozzi bought the Castle from the Tolomei family.
The Martinozzi´s were originally from Montepulciano.
Montelifré was near to the road from Orbetello to Siena, and because they were salt traders it was an attractive and convenient location.
It was a lot of work maintaining the property and managing the land. People who worked for Montelifre also lived within the castel walls. Some of these people are still alive today.
There was even silk production in Montelifre in the 19th century.
The Family Martinozzi moved from Montepulciano to the republic of Siena in about 1300, where “Sir Betto Martinozzi” obtained the citizenship.
The Martinozzi Family held many important posts in the government of Siena.
Niccolò, di Angelo was the Ambassador for Queen Giovanna II of Naples. He remained at her service and obtained, as a sign of gratitude, the hereditary title of Count in 1430.
After Siena fell, the family passed into the service of the Medici.
Many of the Martinozzi´s chose a military career. Their service was recognized in 1753 when they were inscribed in the Golden Book of the Sienese Patricians.
The family had many Saints, including the Franciscan friars Giovanni and Bartolomeo Martinozzi, who suffered martyrdom in the 14th century.
In addition to the characters mentioned, another Bonaventure, a Cassinense monk, who was a distinguished theologian, law reader in the Sienese study and pro-Vicar General in the Archdiocese in 1775, is worthy of note. He was mayor of Ferrara and like Duke Ercole I d'Este he had him very dear and appointed him his Secret Advisor at the end of the 16th century.
And the rest is History…
The get more information and more detailed stories of that time, we are happy to be visited here in Castello Montelifre, Montalcino, Italy.
