Proceno

This small medieval village, once surrounded by ancient walls and accessible through three gates, still preserves the imprint of its past: Etruscan origins, a medieval castle, Renaissance palaces, and seven historic churches, some dating back to very early times.

The village, dominated by its fortified castle, enjoys a unique location.
To the north rises Mount Amiata, to the east lie the Paglia Valley and the Monte Rufeno Nature Reserve, a natural extension of the Val d'Orcia, and to the west stretches the Tuscan countryside. The Via Cassia, an ancient Roman road, runs at the foot of the hill, making Proceno a strategic stop throughout history, visited by travelers, armies, and notable figures such as Galileo Galilei, who stopped at the Papal Customs House in Centeno, and Pope Pius II, who described the village as “nobile olim oppidum et vix expugnabile” (a noble town, once nearly unconquerable).

Today, Proceno is a quiet destination surrounded by nature.
Here you can stroll through its tidy alleys, discover picturesque corners, breathe clean and healthy air, and admire the tuff houses, each telling a long story of rulers, local autonomy, and popular culture.

Ancient Origins Between Legend and History

According to legend, Proceno was founded in the 6th century BC by the Etruscan leader Porsenna. During a hunting trip, he was attacked by a wild boar, which he managed to kill. As a sign of thanks to the goddess Uni, he placed a stone stele on the hill and founded a village with three gates. Today, the village's coat of arms still shows the head of a boar, crossed keys (a symbol of loyalty to the Pope), and a crescent moon. The crescent represents both the local people’s role in the Battle of Lepanto and a tribute to Pope Pius II Piccolomini, whose family symbol included five crescents.

Many Etruscan and Roman objects have been found in the area, showing that people have lived here for thousands of years. After the time of barbarian invasions, the village was already fortified before the year 1000. It was ruled by different powers over time — Chiusi, Orvieto, Siena, and the Papal States — but always kept its own identity. The local government statutes date back to the Middle Ages, with the last version written in 1734.

In the 1500s, under the Sforza family from Santa Fiora, the elegant Palazzo G.A. Sforza was built. Today, it is one of the village’s landmarks, along with the castle. Proceno remained part of the Papal States until the unification of Italy and became part of the province of Viterbo in 1927, after a time under the province of Rome.