Rocca Federico II
Rocca Federico II
4.5
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4.5
258 reviews
Excellent
113
Very good
110
Average
27
Poor
7
Terrible
1
JJJC_Family
Virginia793 contributions
June 2022
I have seen many great viewing points in Italy and elsewhere and this rightfully belongs on that list. Indeed, I had read it was very nice and the desk clerk at our hotel said it was the best thing in town to see ( actually, the only thing worth seeing, according to him, but I disagree on that. Several worthwhile places, actually. ), So I was prepared for a pleasant experience. What I got was a stunning 360 panorama that seem to stretch forever. It was lovely and enchanting. Truly one of the best in Italy. One of those times when Rick Steves hit it on the nail. So if you can squeeze a few hours for a side trip, or even an hour, it's worth making a detour here or even if you are going to Pisa or Lucca from Florence, it makes an excellent pit stop. And while there supplement your viewing experience with a run up the very nearby Torre di Matilde. While a tad less impressive than Federico, if it were the only tower in town you would still be supremely satisfied. Together, they give you a fairly comprehensive look see of the surrounding area and from slightly different angles.
This gets my top tier recommendation ( admittedly a fairly large and growing tier the more I travel ). I have absolutely no doubt you will be glad you made the time to visit this gem and all that this compact town has to offer.
This gets my top tier recommendation ( admittedly a fairly large and growing tier the more I travel ). I have absolutely no doubt you will be glad you made the time to visit this gem and all that this compact town has to offer.
Written 14 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brun066
Florence, Italy13,517 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
The traveler who runs - by train or along the highway - the way from Florence to Pisa or vice versa, for a long time can see, high on the hills south of the Arno Valley, this tower, and realizes he is near San Miniato. The tower then is the visual symbol of the city.
But we can regard it as the symbol of San Miniato in a broader sense; that is, as it indicates the unique features of this city, atypical among those of Tuscany.
San Miniato is atypical, in that in a region with a famous and splendid history for Middle Ages municipal autonomy ("Comuni"), it has long remained a stronghold of the feudal Holy Roman Empire (significantly, it has long been known as "San Miniato al Tedesco", which means more or less "San Miniato belonging to the Germans").
San Miniato in fact since the time of Otto I of Saxony (emperor in 962 AD) became the seat of the "Imperial vicar" in Tuscany (ie, the representative of the Holy Roman Empire's power in the region). And when the emperors are traveling to Tuscany, often they reside here.
The building of the tower by the Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen (1223) is thus consistent with this long-term logic.
Therefore the development of San Miniato as an independent municipality is slow and contrasted, and even the Church has a weak power. Suffice it to say that a major city such as San Miniato doesn't become home to the bishopric until the early seventeenth century.
Unfortunately, the tower was destroyed by the German army retreating in WW II (1944), and then rebuilt. But at least the value of a symbolic landmark, according to what I've tried to deploy, remains intact.
But we can regard it as the symbol of San Miniato in a broader sense; that is, as it indicates the unique features of this city, atypical among those of Tuscany.
San Miniato is atypical, in that in a region with a famous and splendid history for Middle Ages municipal autonomy ("Comuni"), it has long remained a stronghold of the feudal Holy Roman Empire (significantly, it has long been known as "San Miniato al Tedesco", which means more or less "San Miniato belonging to the Germans").
San Miniato in fact since the time of Otto I of Saxony (emperor in 962 AD) became the seat of the "Imperial vicar" in Tuscany (ie, the representative of the Holy Roman Empire's power in the region). And when the emperors are traveling to Tuscany, often they reside here.
The building of the tower by the Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen (1223) is thus consistent with this long-term logic.
Therefore the development of San Miniato as an independent municipality is slow and contrasted, and even the Church has a weak power. Suffice it to say that a major city such as San Miniato doesn't become home to the bishopric until the early seventeenth century.
Unfortunately, the tower was destroyed by the German army retreating in WW II (1944), and then rebuilt. But at least the value of a symbolic landmark, according to what I've tried to deploy, remains intact.
Written 14 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CoreTravelEurope
68 contributions
July 2015 • Family
San Miniato was like 10 minutes drive from our apartment so we went to see some stuff. When we got there, there wasn't any tourist or something like that. Streets were empty, but it was still beautiful. We walked for 30 minutes to the top, and it was worth it. The view is amazing. You can see a very big part of Toscany. It was just..wow!
Written 6 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FamilyGCLJ
Celle, Germany45 contributions
A short walk to the top of San Miniato will bring you here. Great views of the surrounding area but there is a small charge to climb the tower if you feel the need to go higher.
Written 13 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jesmond S
Pembroke, Malta140 contributions
Feb 2020
It was worth a visit from Pisa (by train and bus) to San Miniato - Rocca Federico is at the top of San Miniato and offers a wonderful view of Tuscany. Worth the walk up the hill.
Written 16 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave M
Dunblane, UK154 contributions
July 2019 • Couples
Looking for somewhere off the beaten track and found San Miniato.
Caught the train from Pisa and then a taxi up from San Miniato train station (€12) to the old town. Walked to the top of the hill and scaled the tower (€3.5/p) and rewarded with superb views.
Well worth a visit but note that the buses don’t seem to run on Sundays, hence the taxi.
Caught the train from Pisa and then a taxi up from San Miniato train station (€12) to the old town. Walked to the top of the hill and scaled the tower (€3.5/p) and rewarded with superb views.
Well worth a visit but note that the buses don’t seem to run on Sundays, hence the taxi.
Written 21 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
aewilliams22
68 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
Worth the climb for a great 360 view of San Miniato & surrounding areas. Still a good view at the bottom of the tower for those not wanting to make the climb. Sturdy stairs in the tower - well maintained.
Written 23 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kjetil E
Montecarlo, Italy873 contributions
Nov 2019
Interesting view point. Looking in all direction and see a lot of Tuscany. Being there in late autumn was special. Heading back in the summer to look at different colors.
Written 16 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Perry G
Blairgowrie, UK397 contributions
June 2019 • Friends
unfortunately arrived just as they were closing the tower. It is still a nice view from the plateau where the castle used to be.
Written 30 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
angie c
Buderim, Australia234 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
Unfortunately the original tower was destroyed by the Germans in 1944. The present tower is a faithful reproduction then of the original. It stands 30 metres tall, 129 steps up two levels and once at the top you get a panoramic view of the Tuscan countryside. Originally it was part of a two-walled circular defence system and then later it was used to house political prisoners.
There are quite a lot of fairly wide, shallow steps up from the Piazza and it is absolutely well worth the effort even if you don’t go up to the top of the tower (which costs 3 euros, 50).
At the base of the tower is a wide open grassed space with magnificent views but very little shade.
There are quite a lot of fairly wide, shallow steps up from the Piazza and it is absolutely well worth the effort even if you don’t go up to the top of the tower (which costs 3 euros, 50).
At the base of the tower is a wide open grassed space with magnificent views but very little shade.
Written 27 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dove si può parcheggiare nelle vicinanze? C è un parcheggio gratuito o a pagamento?
Written 31 July 2020
Olá , gostaria de saber como faz para ir de Florença até San Miniato, Obrigada.
Written 9 April 2018
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