This hill town, formerly a medieval castle, is full of history and tradition. The streets, the paved alleys and the
buildings are harmoniously arranged in concentric semi-circles, and city walls enclose the old town.
The area is rich in metals which have been worked since ancient times - the furnaces discovered in the Val Fucinaia
go back to the 7th or 8th century B.C. Artisans workshops, museums and eating places face onto the squares.
Palazzo Pretorio, the ancient seat of political and military power, houses a historical archive and a museum of
interesting archaeological finds. The Palazzo also makes an evocative setting for the public Wine Centre – a shop window for the exceptional wines of the Costa degli Etruschi and a centre for the promotion of the Val di Cornia’s wine growing and producing industry.
The churches are of particular interest, among them the Church of San Giovanni – a splendid example of
Tuscan-Romanesque style – and the Church of San Lorenzo, built inside the city walls and dating back to the 12th century.
Theatrical productions are held in the elegant 19th century Teatro dei Concordi.
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