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Inhabitants in 1991: 2.389
 The
municipal territory of San Quirico d’Orca extends for 42,17 square
kilometres between the plain and the hill which divides the valley of
the river Tuoma from the Val d’Orcia. Frontier castle, then Vicariate
Seat, then Marquisate, it was raised to community in 1777.
Inhabited probably from the Etruscan times, San Quirico is recorded
for the first time in a document from 714 as village organised
around the parish church of San Quirico in Osenna, font of long controversy
between the Siena Diocese and that of Arezzo from whom it depended; in
XI century it was partly feudal to the Count Ardengheschi family.
 Between
XI and XII century the castle, subjected to Imperial authority
became the residence of a Vicar nominated by the Emperor; but, after alternating
events which saw Siena in battle with Orvieto and Montepulciano for its
possession, the Imperial domination of San Quirico was substituted by
Siena (who already in 1180 had obtained the surrender of the rights
from Imperial Arch-chancellor Cristiano di Magonza) and in 1262 made
it Vicariate Seat; in 1385 Siena citizenship was accorded to the inhabitants.
In the course of the 1400s it was several times restored and its fortifications
strengthened. During the war of Siena they declared themselves in favour
of the hostile forces against the republic, even becoming the logistic
base of the Ducal army and becoming definitive part of the Mediceo
State in 1559. In 1667 San Quirico as Marquisate was conceded in feudal
by Cosimo III to Cardinal Chigi, and remained with its family until 1749.
Places to visit:
Palazzo Chigi, erected at the end of the 1600s by Carlo Fontana
for Cardinal Flavio Chigi. It suffered considerable damage during
the second world war.
Ss Quirico e Giulietta, collegiate constructed on the place
of a preceding parish church. It was remodelled in its present day
aspect in XIII century and restored after the war. The interior preserves
works of art. |
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of
Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e
Giuridici
Picture by Sandro Santioli
Translated by Ann Mountford
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Gallery: Val d'Orcia
