The medieval center maintains a harmonic series of parallel alleys interrupted by slopes, small squares (the evocative Piazzetta degli Ortaggi) and stairways. In 1600, Porta Spennazia was built to join the current corso Nasini, through a long stairway, (born by covering the moat which surrounded the walls) to the Piana (main road of the ancient village, where various artisan workshops were set up starting in the XVI century). The modern urban expansion, determined the Hei elopment of a structure based on a system of three avenues, characterized by an open plan and interrupted by gardens and squares which run along side the medieval center. The main squares of the town are: Piazza tonda or delle Storte, where the Palio of the contrade is held in september during celebrations to honor the Madonna delle Grazie, celebration which dates back to mid XVIII century lan ed on the Piazza del Campo di Siena model, and where a peperino obelisk dominates in the center and dates back to 1883 (the first in Italy to honor Garibaldi) and Piazza Madonna, delimited by the seventeenth century palazzo Cerboni, by the chiesa dell'Opera and by the oratory della Madonna delle Grazie.


Palazzo Nerucci - Art Collection

The building dates back to 1554 and it is completely restored in the last years. It has a colonnade with excellent frescoes. Today this palace is the cultural and artistic center of the town – the most important meeting and exhibitions are housed here.

The Nasini family were painters originally from Castel del Piano who worked mainly on Mount Amiata, between the 1700s and the second half of the 1800s. They were very prolific artists and it can be said that there is no church, oratory or small chapel in this territory that does not have one of their paintings. [1] Palazzo Nerucci - Art Collection


Palio delle Contrade

Castel del Piano hosts one of the country's oldest horse-race events, dating back to the 15th century. The Palio delle Contrade is a three-day event accompanied by colourful festivities. The palio was raced for the first time in 1402. The city is divided into four contrade (quarters) which take part in the palio.
On 6 September the horses are chosen and assigned to four participating and rival contrade (districts) and there's a street procession dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie.
On 8 September there's another street parade with music, followed by the blessing of the horses. The official horse race takes place at 6pm.

Map Castel del Plano pdf

Comune

The public swimming pool Campo di Sole in Castel del piano, (via dello Stadio), is within easy reach of Casa Santa Pia (18 km).

Montenero and Montegiovi

Montenero and Montegiovi are two outlying wards of the Comune of Casteldelpiano built on the top of two hills. For lovers of winter sports, in few kms from the village there is the reascending installation from Prato delle Macinaie to the top of Monte Amiata with 15 kms of ski-slopes and ways for long-distance ski sunk in the centuries-old beech-wood.
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The town of Montenero d’Orcia is positioned half way between Mount Amiata and the upper Maremma region, on an isolated hillside 388 m (1.200 ft) above sea level. Since 1956, it is part of the municipality of Casteldelpiano.
In the year 1000, the counts Aldobrandini of Santa Fiora had a castle built there to function as a sentinel over the river Orcia, owing to the threat of Siena’s increasing expansion. Still today, it is possible to admire the ancient castle-village with its gates (Porta Leone and Porta Medici), with its interesting piazzas: that of Poggio Valente where you can see the remains of the battlements of the old castle, and that of the well which was constructed by the Medici family.
The Pieve di S. Lucia was built in the 12th century and was strongly modified in the 20th century. It houses well-restored 14th century part of the crucifix by Ambrogio Lorenzetti.

Montenero d'Orcia - Museum of the Vine and Wine

The museum is inside the Monte Cucco wine trail. It shows the local wine production in connection to the modification of territory and the evolution of cultivation and harvest.

Segglano

Segglano is situated 7 kms north of Castel del Piano.
Among the most important monuments to see in Seggiano we point out here the Santuario della Madonna della Carità (Our Lady of the Charity Sanctuary), the Chiesa di San Rocco (Saint Rocco Church), the Parrocchiale di San Bartolomeo (Saint Bartolomeo Parish) and the Castello di Potentino (Potentino Castle).
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