Rocca San Silvestro, Medieval castle ruin in Campiglia Marittima, Italy
Rocca San Silvestro is a castle ruin sitting on a rocky hilltop within the Archaeological Mines Park, spreading across the landscape near Campiglia Marittima. The remains reveal building foundations, defensive walls, and pathways that connected residential areas to mining operations.
The castle emerged between the 10th and 11th centuries under the Gherardesca family, who operated silver, copper, and lead mining in the area. The settlement grew as a mining hub and remained an active production center for several centuries before gradually declining.
The settlement shows how medieval people lived and worked in separate spaces: noble dwellings stood apart from miners' huts and workshops, revealing a clear social structure where each group occupied distinct areas of the site.
A visit requires joining a guided tour to explore the archaeological site and mining galleries properly. Access is via the SS1 Aurelia road, with the location roughly three kilometers from Campiglia Marittima and easily reachable by car.
Beneath the castle ruins lie underground galleries displaying medieval mining techniques, with original tools and equipment still visible. These passages span different historical periods and reveal how miners worked layer by layer through the rock.
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