Cassero Senese

The Cassero Senese is a medieval Sienese gate-tower incorporated into Grosseto’s sixteenth-century Medici defenses. Its travertine masonry and surviving gate preserve a visible link between the city’s Sienese and Medici periods.

Why it matters

The Cassero formed part of Grosseto’s medieval defenses. After the Medici began a new circuit of walls in 1565, the older structure was absorbed into the Bastione Fortezza, where it remains a distinctive part of the fortified complex.

What to notice

The tower combines adjacent sections of equal height and includes a gate with an antiporta. Its travertine construction, pointed arch and Sienese arms distinguish it from the surrounding brickwork. The nearby Bastione Fortezza includes Piazza d’Armi and the Chapel of Santa Barbara.

Context and history

Built by Siena in 1344–45 beside the Porta di Santa Lucia, the Cassero served as a lookout and controlled entrance. Its subsequent incorporation into Grosseto’s Medici walls began in 1565. The Comune and the Soprintendenza restored it in 1980–85; restoration of the Bastione della Fortezza followed in 1994–97.