Inhabitants in 1991: 1.462
The
municipal territory of Semproniano extends for 81,44 square kilometres
on the mountainous crest between the valleys of Albegna and Fiora. Dominion
of the Aldobrandeschi in the Medieval period it was created in 1963
by the detachment of the capital and the districts of Petricci and Tocchette
from the municipality of Roccalbegna, that of Cellena from the municipality
of Santa Fiora and Catabbio from the municipality of Manciano.
Called, until its recent constitution as autonomous municipality, Sampugnano,
perhaps derived from the Roman family of Sempronia. Mentioned for
the first time as “hamlet” in a purchase deed of 849,
it is also found in a privilege emanated by Pope Clement III in favour
of the Sovana church (1188). Together with the nearby castle of Rocchette
it appears also in the act of division in 1216 between the sons of Ildebrandino
degli Aldobrandeschi. In 1274 at the moment of the Aldobrandeschi
county division, and again in 1297 Semproniano was confirm to the Santa
Fiora Counts, For the whole of the 1200s it was included in the influential
sphere of the municipality of Orvieto, then from the first half of the
1300s it was affirmed to the Siena authorities, so that between
1339 and 1345 the castle was included in the submission to the Santa Fiora
Counts. Dominated subsequently by the Orsini Counts, it was seized
by the Siena militia in 1410. It suffered in subsequence a progressive
process of decadence until in 1536 it was irreparably devastated
by an attack by the Spanish troops.
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e Giuridici
Translated by Ann Mountford |