The "Spedale" of Altopascio

The Spedale of Altopascio was built around the XI-th century as a fortified castle and it was surrounded by a ring of walls.

The Knights of the Order gave hospitality and medical cares to the pilgrims. From then Altopascio represented the emblem of the hospitality.

Today it is still possible to see the remains of the ancient fortification and the three gates to enter the town.

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The gates have particular features both in the colour of their material building and in the decorations of their portals.

One gate opens on the Piazza Ospitalieri where is a "domus" (house) saving the feature of its original building.

Once it was the residence of the Knights of the Order of Altopascio.

Inside the building, that today hosts the "Documental Centre about the Ancient Community", it is also possible to see some clay potteries portraying the symbol of Tau (an ancient Greek letter) and numerous finds dating back to XIII-th and XIV-th centuries.