The fortress of Montemurlo stands majestically on a dominant position in the plain between Florence, Prato and Pistoia, surrounded by an enchanting tree-lined garden and a holm oak forest. Until 1537, an imposing wall with four doors enclosed the small village, which included a parish church, the municipal headquarters and homes. Today, you can still admire the castle, known as "Rocca", the municipal headquarters, the parish church of St. John the Baptist beheaded, the remains of the ancient walls and three doors, of which only one is original.

The structure retains the appearance of a fortress, with its ancient crenelated tower, while the south side of the building has an unusual shape and is made of stone. The original drawbridge was replaced by a double staircase, designed by Giorgio Vasari the younger and subsequently modified during the 19th century, when the property passed to the Gherardi family of Pistoia. It is precisely here that the historic battle of Montemurlo took place on the 2nd of August 1537, in which Baccio Valori, Filippo Strozzi and Anton Francesco Albizi led a conspiracy against Cosimo de' Medici, but were dramatically defeated. From that moment the fortress, like much of Tuscany, became a solid Medici stronghold.

The fortress represents one of the four fortifications encountered along the Route of the Fortresses, a path that connects Montemurlo to the Bisenzio Valley.

Currently privately owned, visits are possible by agreement with the owners.