4 places to visit in Castiglione della Pescaia

Palazzo Centurioni is a historic building located in the historical center of Castiglione della Pescaia, just within the city walls. Constructed in the Renaissance period, the Palazzo consists of an imposing architectural complex with a rectangular plan. The main facade is entirely coated in plaster then decorated with characteristic ashlars around the windows and front door. All exterior elements are harmoniously connected to each other, fully respecting the architectural style of the Renaissance. Currently, the Palazzo is used to host various exhibitions and cultural events open to the public.

Casa Rossa Ximenes, located not far from the historic center, is a building designed by Leandro Ximenes in 1765 on the commission of Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo, who took on the first reclamation works in the Maremma area. At the time of its construction, thanks to its structure resting on three arches, the building allowed for the regular outflow of water from the swampland, contributing to the reclamation of the area. Today, the Casa Rossa Ximenes houses the multimedia museum dedicated to the Diaccia Botrona reserve.

The Hermitage of San Guglielmo di Malavalle is an architectural structure constructed during the Middle Ages, today nestled in a dense and lush forest. The building, which can only be visited from the outside, has an architecture entirely consistent with those of medieval Benedictine monasteries, with a Romanesque-style church dating back to the 13ᵗʰ century inside. In addition to being an important archaeological record of Castiglione della Pescaia’s history, the hermitage is also a key religious stop for pilgrims due to the presence of the tomb of Saint William of Maleval.

Isola Clodia is a small hill at the northern end of Diaccia Botrona on which are the remains of an ancient Roman villa that, over time, was incorporated into a Benedictine Abbey, the remains of which are visible to this day. The abbey, built in the early medieval period, features a Romanesque-style church with a single nave ending in a semicircular apse.

The name (translating to “Clodia Island”) is quite unusual for an area located inland but comes from the fact that at one time, the hill was completely surrounded by the waters of Lake Prile, making it look like an actual “Island.”