Istia d'Ombrone () is a small town in southern
Tuscany
Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The capital city is Florence.
Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its in ...
, Italy, a ''
frazione'' of the ''
comune
A (; : , ) is an administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions () and provinces (). The can also have the City status in Italy, titl ...
'' of
Grosseto.
History
In the area surrounding the centre of Istia there have been found some ruins of ancient habitations dating back to the
Etruscan era in the area of ''Poggio Cavallo''.
It was inhabited also during the
Roman era, as testified by some construction materials reused in later periods to build the walls of Istia. In that period there was also a series of roads which crossed the area allowing communication with the
Lake Prile and with the hinterland. However the centre of Istia arose as a settlement fortified along the Valley of
Ombrone and from 862 was owned by the bishops of
Roselle, which had feudal rights with the title of counts and so here they established a residence. Later it passed to the family of the
Aldobrandeschi, becoming in 1226 a free Comune with the acceptance of the relative statute. In 1274 it was assigned to the County of Santa Fiora at the moment of the division of the goods and the territories controlled by the Aldobrandeschi family. In the
Medieval period the centre became also home to a residence of bishops, after the passage of the diocese from Roselle to
Grosseto.
In the course of the 14th century it passed under the control of
Siena
Siena ( , ; traditionally spelled Sienna in English; ) is a city in Tuscany, in central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. It is the twelfth most populated city in the region by number of inhabitants, with a population of 52,991 ...
, enduring a very serious demographic decline between 1331 and 1353, also because of the diffusion of the
Yersinia pestis which occurred right at the end of that period. In the 15th century Istia had become a feud of the
Piccolomini family, even though it continued to maintain the status of free Comune and having a high degree of autonomy within the
Republic of Siena. After the final political fall of Siena, Istia become part of the
Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Consequently, there was another demographic fall which stopped only during the course of the 18th century, after the beginning of some restorations done by will of the Lorena.
During the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, on 22 March 1944, the
Maiano Lavacchio massacre took place into the nearby countryside.
Main sights
The town walls, nearly completely destroyed in 1137 by
Henry X, Duke of Bavaria, were rebuilt only under the Sieneses. Some ruins of the ''Portaccia'' and the ''Porta Grossetana'', which backs to the ''Palzzo della Giustizia'' dating to the 1400, are conserved. The residence of the bishop-counts, the ''Palazzo di San Salvatore'', was afterwards transformed into a fortification by the Sieneses. In the town there are also two churches, one within the walls and the other on the outside of the walls in front of the Porta Grossetana.
Military architecture
*''Walls of Istia d'Ombrone'', fortified walls of the town.
*''Porta Grossetana'', one of the two original doors along the ancient walls, made in medieval times, almost certainly around the 12th century .
*''Cassero Senese'', also known as ''Episcopal Palace'', was built in the first half of the 13th century, as a place of temporary residence for bishops of the
Diocese of Grosseto. With the passage of Istia d'Ombrone under the control of Siena, the building was transformed into a ''cassero''.
*''Porta Senese'', the door in the north-east side of the walls, it was built during the 12th century with the tower in which it is incorporated.
Palazzi
*''Palazzo di Giustizia'', a courthouse built in the 15th century.
*''Spedale dei Battenti'', a sort of hospital, built in 1321 to provide assistance. It is now used for residential purposes.
Churches
*''Church of San Salvatore'', dating to the 13th century, was many times restored in the centuries to come. It conserves a wooden sculpture dating to the 1400 of the
Sienese School, a contemporary painting of the ''Madonna con bambino'' by
Giovanni di Paolo and another painting by
Vincenzo Tamagni of 1528.
*''Church of San Sebastiano'', once dedicated to Saint Stephan, placed in the little square outside the walls.
Missing architecture
*''Oratorio di San Gherardo''
*''Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata''
*''Chiesa di San Donato''
Bibliography
*Aldo Mazzolai. ''Guida della Maremma. Percorsi tra arte e natura.'' Florence, Le Lettere, 1997.
*Giuseppe Guerrini. ''Torri e Castelli della provincia di Grosseto (Amministrazione Provinciale di Grosseto).'' Siena, Nuova Immagine Editrice, 1999.
*Carlo Citter. ''Guida agli edifici sacri della Maremma.'' Siena, Nuova Immagine Editrice, 2002.
See also
*
Grosseto
*
Maremma
*
Alberese
Alberese () is a rural town in southern Tuscany, a '' frazione'' of the ''comune'' of Grosseto. It is situated 20 km south-east of the capital, in the heart of the Maremma Regional Park. This area includes the surrounding rural territorie ...
*
Batignano
*
Braccagni
*
Marina di Grosseto
Marina di Grosseto () is a popular tourist destination located twelve kilometers from Grosseto; it is an important seaside resort in Grossetan Maremma. Once a fishing village, it is known for its hilly hinterland, rich in macchia and wide beach ...
*
Montepescali
Montepescali () is a small town in southern Tuscany, Italy, a '' frazione'' of the ''comune'' of Grosseto.
The site, from which the scenic panorama of the coastal strip and the Tuscan Archipelago up to Corsica can be seen, is also known as "Terra ...
*
Principina a Mare
Principina a Mare () is an Italian '' frazione'' of the ''comune'' of Grosseto, in the province of the same name.
Overview
The centre, less populated during winter, is mainly made up of houses of holidaymakers, hotels and a campsite. It is fr ...
*
Principina Terra
Principina Terra () is a village in southern Tuscany, a '' frazione'' of the ''comune'' of Grosseto.
Overview
The frazione is situated south-east of the capital, nearly halfway between the residential centre and the coastal localities of Marina ...
*
Rispescia
Rispescia (), or Santa Maria di Rispescia, is a small town in southern Tuscany, a '' frazione'' of the ''comune'' of Grosseto, situated about 10 km south-east of the capital, right outside the Natural Park of Maremma, near the frazione of Al ...
*
Roselle, Italy
Roselle () is a '' frazione'' or village in the ''comune'' of Grosseto. The archaeological remains of the ancient city of Rusellae are located to the northeast of the modern settlement.
See also
* List of Catholic dioceses in Italy
* Alber ...
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Istia D'ombrone
Frazioni of Grosseto
Castles in Tuscany