|  Inhabitants in 1991: 4.401
 The
municipal territory of Piancastagnaio extends for 68,70 square kilometres
in a mountainous zone on the south eastern slopes of Monte Amiata. Feudal
centre then Medieval Podesta office since the XIII century, it became
capital of the Grand Duchy Feudal in XVII century and then Community Seat
in 1778.
Piancastagnaio is recorded from the end of the XI century for
the conflict over its civil jurisdiction which arose between the Aldobrandeschi
family and the Abbey of San Salvatore del Monte Amiata; The dispute, in
which even the Visconti di Campiglia d’Orcia were involved, continued
in the XIII century when Piancastagnaio had by then become an important
castle constituted as municipality. For some time it gravitated towards
the orbit of the Orvieto republic regarding politics, and was occupied
by the same in 1303 and remained with them until almost the middle
of the century. Still contested by the Orsini di Pitigliano heirs of the
Aldobrandeschi, and by Siena, who in the course of the XIV century had
intensified their expansionistic attempts, between 1415 and 1430 Piancastagnaio
freely subjected themselves to the Siena republic. In 1456 Siena, to whom
Piancastagnaio remained tied until the XVI century, ordered and took care
of the restoration of the castle walls. Today, a well maintained fortress
remains, three towers and some traces of the walls. In 1601 the Grand
Duke Ferdinando I conceded the territory (which from 1559 had become part
of the Duchy of Cosimo I) in feudal to the Marquis Giovanni Battista
Bourbon del Monte, to whom is owed the construction of the imposing
palace outside the walls. In 1778 the feudal was suppressed and
the territory of Piancastagnaio reorganised inside the Grand Duchy
State. During the war of liberation the zone was the seat of an intense
partisan activity.
Places to visit:
Aldobrandeschi Fortress, placed at the entrance to the ancient
village, it shows the mighty tower organised as a museum.
Madonna di S. Pietro, 1500 sanctuary outside the town. |
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e Giuridici
Translated by Ann Mountford |
