[3] The town is architecturally and culturally significant; it hosts several piazzas, and is referenced in Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy.

[7] In 1554, in an act of reconciliation with the Medicis, Florence's ruling family, Zeti simply handed the keys of the town over to their forces— considered a "great betrayal" by the townspeople.

[3] The roughly circular walls, totalling a length of about 570 metres (1,870 ft) and following the natural contours of the hill, were built between 1213 and 1219.

Other houses, some in the Renaissance style (once owned by local nobles, gentry, and wealthy merchants) face into the piazza.

Off the main piazza smaller streets give way to public gardens fronted by the other houses and small businesses of the town.