Castiglione d'Orcia

Castiglione d'Orcia
—  Comune  —
Comune di Castiglione d'Orcia
Coat of arms
Castiglione d'Orcia Location of Castiglione d'Orcia in Italy
Coordinates: 43°1′N 11°37′E
Country	Italy
Region	Tuscany
Province	Siena (SI)
Frazioni	Bagni San Filippo, Belvedere, Campiglia d'Orcia, Masse, Montieri, Osteria Gallina, Ripa, Rocca d'Orcia, Vivo d'Orcia
Government
• Mayor	Fabio Savelli
Area
• Total	141.7 km2 (54.7 sq mi)
Elevation	540 m (1,770 ft)
Population (31 December 2004)
• Total	2,530
• Density	17.85/km2 (46.24/sq mi)
Demonym	Castiglionesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	53023
Dialing code	0577
Website	Official website

Castiglione d'Orcia is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Siena in the Italian region of Tuscany, located about 90 km southeast of Florence and about 40 km southeast of Siena, in the Val d'Orcia, not far from the Via Cassia.

Castiglione d'Orcia borders the following municipalities: Abbadia San Salvatore, Castel del Piano, Montalcino, Pienza, Radicofani, San Quirico d'Orcia, Seggiano.

History

The settlement is mentioned for the first time in 714, when it was a possession of the Aldobrandeschi family. In 1252 it became a free commune, but lost its independence in the following century to the Republic of Siena, which entrusted it to powerful families like the Piccolomini and Salimbeni. Later, Castiglione was part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and, from 1861, of unified Italy.

Main sights

• Rocca (Castle) of Tentennano, overlooking the frazione of Rocca d'Orcia. It was the centre of the struggle between the Salimbeni and the Republic of Siena, which re-acquired it in 1408. In the 16th century it was again contended between Siena and Florence
• Rocca Aldobrandesca.
• Romanesque churches of Santa Maria Maddalena and Santi Stefano and Degna. The latter houses a Madonna with Child by Simone Martini and a Madonna with Child by Pietro Lorenzetti.

Demographic evolution

External links

• Official website of town
• images of Castiglione d'Orcia