Vicopisano lies on a hill at the eastern foot of the Pisan Mountains, on the border between Pisa and Lucca,. As a frontier station, it was led over the centuries to continual reinforcement of its fortifications. In time the castle came to be surrounded by a large number of buildings, including many towers, with stone being the predominant material used in
The town wall was built in different periods datable from the 13th to the 15th century. Part of the wall has retained the older embattlements, blocked at a later period. Near the Torre delle Quattro Porte is a fairly long stretch of wall, reinforced by two cylindrical towers used to keep the whole stretch under artillery fire. Two identical towers are located on the opposite side of the wall.
Via Lante is one of the main streets in Vicopisano and has always been one of the most populous neighbourhoods in the Borgo (village). Halfway down the street is the Torre dell’Orologio, which has been dealt with at length in the section dedicated to Vicopisano towers.
The medieval buildings in this area are comparable to the edifice located in the Viale Brunelleschi. There were apparently no towers in this area, all medieval buildings being mostly of the domus type. In the second part of the street, despite the presence of 12th-century buildings, there is a majority of brick houses, a building solution which began to spread in the 13th century.
The street is also the point of arrival of ‘chiassi’, the steep stone-paved alleys which connected the Borgo Maggiore to the top of the castle. Some of these alleys come out between the houses; others pass under the houses, forming barrel vaults and offering charming glimpses of the village. Many of these spots have recently been restored and paved with verrucana stone.
Particularly beautiful is the ‘Torre d’Oro’ (Gold Tower), a recently restored tower house owing its name to the warm colour of its stones. Nearby are the remains of the ‘Torre d’Argento’ (Silver Tower), built of silvery schistose stone.
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