Palazzo Orsini Pitigliano

The imposing castle greets you when you arrive in Pitigliano, a massive building with crenellations and towers. It was built has a fortress by the Aldobrandeschi family but was ceded to the Orsini family, who turned it into their noble residence in the 1400s. It had a re-styling in the 1500s, for which the Orsinis brought in Sangallo the Younger to give it a more regal look, with arcades, a fountain in the courtyard and frescoed salons.

The castle is still the centerpiece of Pitigliano and is home to a museum that brought in artwork from the area's churches for preservation and safekeeping. An impressive collection of art, sculpture, gold and silver work, coins and more are on display in the 20 exhibit rooms. The ceiling frescoes of the palazzo are intact and viewable, as well.

The museum is open daily from 10:00 AM til 1:00 PM and from 3:00 PM til 7:00 PM (5:00 PM in winter). Closed Mondays.