Rocca of Piancastagnaio
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The fortress with the rests of curtains and towers
of the city walls. |
The main front of the Fortress with on the left the
gate of access at the city. |
Piancastagnaio rises on the slopes of the Mount Amiata and can be reached
following the Cassia road up to the alternative for Abbadia S.Salvatore/Vetta
Amiata/Piancastagnaio.
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Since the 11th century the area of southern Tuscany around the castle of Piancastagnaio
was the object of the expansionist politics of the powerful feudal family of
the Aldobrandeschi. The whole territory is rich in historical remains tied to
these potentates. Between the possessions of the Aldobrandeschi, Piancastagnaio
was almost always the site of allotted to the noble family from the monks of
the abbey of S.Salvatore since the beginning of the year 1000. Subsequently
it was claimed from the Viscounts of Campiglia and during the 13th century it
became object of ulterior disputes between the cities of Siena and Orvieto.
The Orvietani gained control of the powerful fortress in the 1303 and maintained
it for around fifty years. At this point they entered in the quarrel with the
heirs of the Aldobrandeschi, the Orsini of Pitigliano, to oppose the new aims
of the Senese Republic. Only between the years 1415 and 1430 Siena finally succeeded
to taking possession of Piancastagnaio, that was attached to the Capitanato
of Radicofani. In 17th century the settlement became a Granducal fief and finally,
with the Leopoldine reforms, the chief town of the the same community.
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The internal front with the keep.
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The country town has a circular form, once had surrounding wall enclosure
with alternating square towers and four gates. The walls and the gates have
been almost entirely demolished, with the exception of few lines, but in the
highest point of the inhabited area rises still today the mighty Fortress Aldobrandesca.
The construction has a square form and is endowed with tall and strongly inclined
walls. From the enclosure rises two towers , the greatest, either as thickest,
had functions of keep, the other, in the opposite angle, defended the underlying
gate of access to the city. The whole complex was endowed with machicoulis and
battlement, still today almost intact. The Fortress is under good condition
thanks to careful work and restoration will be finished this year.
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