Pereta Castle

Pereta is found along the SS323 about halfway between Magliano in Toscana and Scansano.

Thanks to its strategic position on a highland at the center of an area always contested between the most important local lords, the Aldobrandeschi, and Siena, Pereta was already an important military center in the 10th and 11th centuries. In 1238, it was besieged by the Sienese army during the attack on the nearby town of Sovana, but by 1262, the territory was recaptured by the Aldobrandeschi, who then divided its rights with the Church of Rome.

By the end of the 13th century, Nello Pannocchieschi ruled Pereta, even if in this period Siena wanted to take over the control. In 1330, the rights of the Church were handed over to the Lord of Pisa, Fazio Novello di Donoratico, while just a few years later, in 1345, the Aldobrandeschi handed over all of their territories to Siena. Shortly after, the castle was under the rule of the Sienese.

The village is made up of two distinct nuclei. The older one, from the 13th century, is surrounded by an elliptically shaped wall that is still recognizable even if partially incorporated into the houses that make up a part of the walls. The buildings go up the slope to the top of the hill and finish with a very fine tower, whose actual form is from the 15th century. It is 29 meters high, and today it is named the “Clock Tower”. The tower is square-shaped and built with sandstone. The numerous external slots make almost certain of the previous existence of some jutting wooden structures. One of the ancient entrances is still visible within the urban area in front of the Pieve of Santa Maria.

The ancient nucleus is surrounded by a second circle of walls, in which are visible two towers, one square and one round, and a gate with an ogee arch, the base of which is greatly tilted because of the large amounts of changes made in the 19th century.