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PIANCASTAGNAIO
At the south-east slopes of the Amiata you find Piancastagnaio,
located on a panoramic plateau, dominating the valley. The historical
centre of Piancastagnaio faces the rock precipices both on the west
and the south side, while the other parts features residential areas.
As the other villages of the Amiata, Pincastagnaio was for a long
period contended between Siena, Abbadia San Salvatore and the Aldobrandeschi
family, until it became part of the Grand Duchy of tuscany in 1766.
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The
rock is dominated by a powerful tower, while the historical centre
is divided in three parts, Castello, Borgo, Voltaia. The heart of
the village is the castle with two towers. It features a rectangular
plant and a marvellous courtyard surrounded by the road which leads
to up to the smallest tower, a fantastic example of couples of barrel
vaults. The main part of the castle, which also features the legendary
drawbridge, dates back to the 12th century, though it was enlarged
and restructured in the 15th century.
The boundary wall still protects the historical centre of Piancastagnaio
and, even though it is enclosed in the more recent buildings, it is
well-preserved. The four gates, Fiorentina, Borgo, Porticciola and
Voltaia, can still be seen today.
The religious architecture features the Chiesa di San Pietro,
which once was part of the Abbey. The Romanesque plant was partly
modified during the restructure in the 16th century, when the precious
frescoes were added. The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta was raised
in 1279 and rebuilt in the following centuries. The church is situated
in the main square of the village and holds three chapels and a small
theatre. Outside the walls of the castle you find the Convento di
San Bartolomeo, founded 1278 by the Bishop of Siena. The inside is
from the 17th century and preserves remains of frescoes of the Sienese
school from the 14th century. |
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