Property of the Ricasoli family, Brolio Castle dates back to the upper Middle Ages, and owes its name to the Lombard term brolo (enclosed green space). In the second half of the 15th century, the castle was transformed on a project by Giuliano da Sangallo into a powerful construction with an irregular polygonal plan, five bastions and a lookout tower. Once it lost its military function, it was transformed into a genteel residence. In 1835, by order of baron Bettino Ricasoli, a building designed by architect Pietro Marchetti was erected in the fortified complex.

The disposition of green areas by botanist Simone Ricasoli consists of two areas dating to different periods. The sixteenth-century Italian garden is characterised by little lanes and box hedges, while the nineteenth-century romantic park around the castle has various botanical species from many parts of the world, and planted by Ricasoli himself. Also particularly interesting are several specimens of monumental fir tree which today have reached a height of 30-40 metres.