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Paganico was chosen by the Republic of Siena to be the location of a “borgo franco”, or tax-free town with a castle to be built by the local population and considered exempt from duties and tax by the ruling city. The city walls are still integral and hold four gateways, one on each side; Porta Grossetana, Porta Gorella and Porta Senese were built by the Republic of Siena in 1334 on the remains of the previous walls dating to 1278. The Church of San Michele Arcangelo is interesting, in late Romanesque style, commissioned in 1296 by the religious Order of the Umiliati and partially rebuilt in 1345.
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The town of Pitigliano is particularly fascinating rising magnificently on a high cliff of tufa rock. The beautiful ashlar gateway bearing the Orsini family’s coat-of-arms leads into the the old town centre, or Cittadella, a series fortifications now largely restored, commissioned by the Orsini family in 1545 to strengthen the fortress. The Fortezza Orsini is of medieval design but was completely rebuilt in the 16th century. In the historic centre stands the Duomo on the site of the ruins of a parish church, whose late-baroque facade dates to the 18th century. Near the Porta a Sovana gateway visitors can still see the ruins of part of the Etruscan city walls in blocks of tufa stone. The cellars dug into the tufa rock, many of which date to ancient times, are interconnected by a series of underground tunnels.
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This is a most charming medieval village facing the sea on the southern side of Mount Argentario. Owned by the Aldobrandeschi family, it was occupied by Siena from the second half of the 14th century and in the following century became part of the Spanish State of the “Presidio. The Spaniards fortified its defences by building a series of five fortresses; Forte Stella, Forte Filippo, Forte Santa Caterina, Forte Santa Barbara and the Rocca. The Rocca was built on an existing medieval construction and its walls surround the present town.
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This old fishing village today is a world-famous seaside resort. Although once home to ancient sea-faring peoples there are sadly no traces left of the Phoenician, Greek and Etruscan inhabitants while there are numerous Roman ruins. Confirming the presence of the Romans in this area are the ruins at Valle and at Santa Liberata, dating to around the 1st century A.D.
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A few kilometres from Castiglione della Pescaia travelling towards Follonica is the road which leads to Punta Ala, one of the most exclusive holiday resorts of the Tyrrhenian coast, nestling in a magnificent natural setting. The castle was built by the Grand Dukes of Tuscany in the second half of the 16th century to defend the area against the constant Turkish attacks from the sea.
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