Batignano () 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 ...

, a ''

frazione A ''frazione'' (: ''frazioni'') is a type of subdivision of a ''comune'' ('municipality') in Italy, often a small village or hamlet outside the main town. Most ''frazioni'' were created during the Fascist era (1922–1943) as a way to consolidat ...

'' 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 Grosseto () is a city and a ''comune'' in the central Italian region of Tuscany, the capital of the province of Grosseto and the main city of the Maremma region. The city lies from the Tyrrhenian Sea, at the centre of an alluvial plain on the ...

, positioned at about 10 km north-east of the capital on one of the last foot-hills of the valley of

Ombrone The Ombrone (Latin: ''Umbro'') is a river situated in the provinces of Grosseto and Siena, central Italy. The Ombrone's source is at San Gusmè, near Castelnuovo Berardenga, on the south-eastern side of the Monti del Chianti. After a twistin ...

which dominated the ancient city of Roselle.

Geography

The hill on which the town of Batignano stands is as pertaining between the southern foot-hills of the Monte Leoni, which arises between the homonymous area and those of

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 ...

, Sticciano and Montorsaio, exceeding on the highest peak the altitude of 600 metres.

History

Of uncertain origins, Batignano developed in the

Medieval period In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

, around the castle which controlled the outlet of the road towards

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 ...

on the plain of

and some lead and silver mines. It was a feud of the

Aldobrandeschi The Aldobrandeschi family was an Italian noble family from southern Tuscany. Overview Of probable Lombard origin, they appear in history as counts in the 9th century. The first known count was Hildebrand II (857). Their possession extended t ...

and in 1213 belonged to Manto da Grosseto. In the 14th century, it then passed under the dominion of Siena, hosting many immigrants from

Corsica Corsica ( , , ; ; ) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the Regions of France, 18 regions of France. It is the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of the Metro ...

, and so in the

Grand Duchy of Tuscany The Grand Duchy of Tuscany (; ) was an Italian monarchy located in Central Italy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1860, replacing the Republic of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence. In the 19th century the population ...

. In 1738 it was reunited with the comune of

Main sights

Batignano is a characteristic suburb which conserves ruins of the town walls, with towers and gates, and a cassero, aside from a triple-arched loggiato, built with reused materials (Roman columns and capitals), probably originating from Roselle. All this gives the town a certain tone of antiquity. To emphasize is also the presence of a parish and an ancient convent, now deconsecrated, situated outside the locality.

Military architecture

*''Walls of Batignano'', fortified walls of the town. *''Torre Quadrata'', a square tower. *''Porta Senese'', one of the two doors of the walls. *''Porta Grossetana'', one of the two doors of the walls.

Palazzi

*''Palazzo Iacometti'' *''Palazzo Baccellieri'' *''Palazzo del Loggiato''

Churches

*''Pieve di San Martino'', originally situated outside the centre, it has a

Romanesque style Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe that was predominant in the 11th and 12th centuries. The style eventually developed into the Gothic style with the shape of the arches providing a simple distinction: the Ro ...

, with traces of frescoes of the Sienese school conserved in its inside. *''Brotherhood Church of San Giuseppe'', of

Baroque style The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from the early 17th century until the 1750s. It followed Renaissance art and Mannerism and preceded the Rococo (i ...

, presents valuable decorations in its inside. *''Oratorio di San Michele Arcangelo'', place of abolished worship which originally conserved the wooden statue of the saint now placed inside the parish. *''Convent of Santa Croce'', positioned outside the town, it conserves some frescoes, even though it was transformed into a private residence after its abandonment and its consequent deconsecration.

Gallery

Image:Porta Senese Batignano (GR).jpg, Porta Senese Image:Pieve di San Martino Fianco Destro Batignano (GR).jpg, The Pieve di San Martino Image:Pieve di San Martino Fonte Battesimale Batignano (GR).jpg, The baptismal font in the Pieve Image:Interno Chiesa Confraternita di San Giuseppe Batignano (GR).jpg, The interior of the church of San Giuseppe Image:Loggiato Batignano (GR).jpg, Loggiato Image:Porta Grossetana Esterna Batignano (GR).jpg, The outer side of the Porta Grossetana Image:Porta Grossetana Interna Batignano (GR).jpg, The inner side of the Porta Grossetana Image:Convento di Santa Croce Batignano (GR).jpg, The Convent of Santa Croce

Sources

*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.

External links

{{Authority control Frazioni of Grosseto Castles in Italy