TORRITA di SIENA
(Tuscany)

The Council

Extension 58 Kmq.
Population to the 31,12,1999 unit 7051
Men3484 Women 3567
Altitude 325 m.s.l.m.

Of the name of Torrita news from a going back code amiatino to XI the century is had. 
As the other castles of the senese south were under the dominion of the Republic of Siena sin from the beginning of the 1200, to defense of the southern borders of the senese State threatened from the Fiorentini that had in Montepulciano their extreme bastion.
It walls, that they go back to the XIII, were formed from one encircled muraria with nine towers and three doors: Door to Gavina, Leaves to Satisfied, Door to Sun. As a result of war episodes were more damaged times; in the 1528 their reconstruction was executed on plan of architect Baldassarre Peruzzi. 
In the 1557 to continuation of the defeat endured from part of allied Carl V of Florence, it came definitively occupied from part of the imperial armies and entered to make part of the Granducato of Tuscany.

A long visit walls to them

The visitor exceeding the New Door reaches in Piazza Matteotti, with to the center the ancient reservior, than it is found in central position regarding the cruciform city organism. On the public square they show oneself turrito Palazzo Pretorio of XIII the century, today center of the Common one where the Podestà Officials Common of Siena Romanesque of the XIV sec. resided sin from the 1266 the church and and to one single navata of the SS. Flora and Lucilla. To the inside tables are conserved on which the students of the Sodoma have operated which Welcome of Giovanni and Bartolo di Fredi. Contiguous to the church the Communal theatre "of the Dark ones" of the XVII sec.. 
Between monuments more meaningful to cite the church of S.Croce of the XVII sec. with facade in cooked red and the inside in baroque style. The parochial Church of Saint Martino and Costanzo constructed around to the 1631 and become Collegiata in the 1648 with to the conserved inside the " large ", going back bell to the 1454 and a baroque late organ.
 The small oratory dedicated to the Madonna of Snows, erected outside from walls in the 1525 which ballot made from the torritesi to the Madonna allorchè a serious pestilenza plagued the Community. To the inside paintings attributed to Girolamo di Benvenuto are conserved. 
The Church of the Madonna of the Olive tree, most ancient of the going back to the 1000, situated on a hill of forehead to Door to Satisfied and, seems, constructed country on the ruderi of the tempio dedicated to the Goddess Cerere.
The Church of the Madonna of the Sources to Giano, little outside from the country, constructed in the 1665 in memory of the squanderers made from the image of the Madonna of the Sources. The Church of the Madonna of the Rosary rises to the center of the new residential zone.
The access doors: The Gavina door, most ancient, with the portone ligneo going back to the 1200, recently restored. Door to Satisfied whose name is made to derive from " pagum ", ancient village that rose in the near hill, but also to the payment of the custom office on merchandises. Outside from the muraria town-walls Door to Sun with the great large square of the " Game of the Football " is found, where was played to tamburello. New door opened in the section the west of walls in 1800.

SS.Flora church and Lucilla

Activity

The reclamation of the Valdichiana to work of Fossombroni architect under the Granduca Leopoldo II of Tuscany rendered one great benefit to Torrita developing one strongly agricultural vocation until to the first years of the ' 900. 
Subsequently it began a process of industrialization which had to the opening of the lignite mines of to Montefollonico and to the birth of industries of lateritious.
In years ' 50 flourishing industry of the piece of furniture is assisted to the spopolamento of the campaigns and the birth of one that has gone progressively disappearing supplanted from birth of activity to handicraft level and small business. 
The more dynamic fields are to the metal and mechanics and the ceramics and those legacies production terrecotte.
Torrita proposes also like center of tourist interest for the beauty of its territory and the vicinanza with rinomate goals of tourism like Pienza, Chianciano, Montepulciano.