The keep

The entrance way to the inner ward.

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Buriano is located about 18 km inland from the town of Castiglione della Pescaia. From Castiglione follow the SP3 until you reach the great roundabout of Macchiascandona. From here you will take the SP43 until you find the crossroad that lead to the town. The ruins of the castle dominate the town from the highest point on the hill.

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» Where is Buriano located

Buriano is located on the southern slope of Poggio Ballone, two kilometers south-east of Vetulonia, and dominating from above the eastern plains of Grosseto and also the ancient Prile. There is a spectacular view from fortress of the entire area included by Vetulonia, Sestinga and Roselle.

Buriano was built in the middle ages and was mentioned already in the year 973. It belonged to the Counts Aldobrandeschi, before it passed on to a local family named Lambardo who had control of the castle until 1332 when they gave over its power to Siena. In 1389 the castle was owned by the Appiano family of Pisa, who later will succumb to attacks and sackings by the Sienese. At the end of the century it was included in the Principality of Piombino, for a long time satellite of the Spanish 'Stato dei Presidi'. It became part of the Granduchy of Tuscany only in 1814.

A large part of the historic nucleus, of which some fragments of the surrounding walls are visible, some houses that are built on the ancient square towers and a town gate, are all from the Renaissance period.

The Fortress is in ruins – in documents from the 18th century it was already described as being abandoned. Build with calcareous stone e dating in its oldest portion from the 12th century, it was a polygonal complex with fortified walls and an inner courtyard, the keep was constructed with at least two storeys. Entrance was from a postern that gave onto a hall with cross vaults, today partially intact. On the exterior western front, a square tower rises. In the courtyard there are ruins of various buildings, almost completely buried, witness to the strategic importance of the site. There is free access to the site.

From the Romanesque period of Buriano, parts of the Pieve di Santa Maria in Arcione, on the exterior of the castle, are still visibile. This was built around the year 1000 but restructured in later years because of extensive damage.

The Romitorio di San Guglielmo is located south of the town and was dedicated in 1597 by Father Giovanni da Batignano. The church was built in a rustic style during the 16th century on the site where an apparition of the Madonna appeared to St. Guglielmo. This small, religious building was restored during the 18th century and is still a an important site for religious pilgrimages.