The hill was originally inhabited by both the Etruscans and the Romans and in the Middle Ages a fortress was built to defend the copper and silver mines present in the area. The mineral resources were contested by the bishops and the commune of Volterra and in 1300 the fortress became the property of the Petroni family from Siena. From 1386 it was the property of the commune of Florence and subsequently that of the Republic of Florence when Volterra was defeated in 1472 and a garrison of soldiers was established at the fortress. In 1474 the fortress was rebuilt by the architect Giuliano da Sangallo. Since 1980 it has been the property of the commune of Pomarance and in 1985 restoration work and archaelogical investigation were begun by the Superintendence of Pisa and Florence in collaboration with the commune of Pomarance. Electricity was brought to the Rocca in 2001 as part of a lighting project to illuminate the historical monuments in Italy promoted by Enel and the commune of Pomarance.

 

On the road to San Dalmazio, the 18th century sanctuary La Madonna della Casa dedicated to Our
lady and built by the Barony family is worth a visit and so are the ruins of the parish church of Sillana dedicated to
Saint John the Baptist. The church was built in the 12th century and preserves part of its Romanesque- Norman
facade. The blind entwined arches are a Norman architectural feature and the only example in Tuscany.

Back on the provincial road, at the crossroads known as the Apparita take the turning to Pomarance and after a kilometre you will reach San Dalmazio, a medieval village named after a Benedectine convent dedicated to Saint Armazzo and Saint Dalmazio. The narrow streets of this 11th century village lead to two chapels, la Compagnia della Carità; and Saint Donnino where the miraculous nail, said to belong to Saint Donnino which healed wounds, has been conserved since antiquity. On the facade of one of the houses there is an archaic relief known as the "Beast of San Dalmazio"; and close-by, the bell tower and the church of the old convent that still houses splendid works of art and a Della Robbia majolica tabernacle. Continuing the journey in the direction of Volterra past the ancient Bulera village, take a right turn back towards Pomarance.

testi Jader Spinelli