Just over 40 km from our hotel, Montalcino is a truly unmissable destination during a tour of Tuscany.
We are on the western edge of the Val d’Orcia, near Mount Amiata and not far from the border with the province of Grosseto.
Here, on the top of a hill, is the ancient medieval village of Montalcino, with its wonderful monuments that directly overlook the rolling Tuscan hills.
The historic center of Montalcino is very compact and can be explored on foot without difficulty.
Palazzo dei Priori
In the splendid Piazza del Popolo stands the Palazzo dei Priori, dating back to the end of the 13th century. On its facades you can still admire the coats of arms of the families who ruled Montalcino over the centuries, while just behind it stands the medieval tower, with battlements and a built-in clock.
Montalcino Cathedral
Dating back to 1800, it is built in the neoclassical style according to the project of the architect Agostino Fantastici. Located in the homonymous square, the cathedral of Montalcino is also equipped with a bell tower, dating back to before the current church. Inside the Cathedral you can admire the pipe organ from 1858, and among the various works, the Immaculate Conception with Jesus and God the Father by Francesco Vanni, dating back to 1588.
Fortress of Montalcino
One of the undisputed symbols of Montalcino is its fortress, built in 1361 at the highest point of the city for protection from any invaders. Today there is the opportunity to walk along the ramparts of the fortress, to admire splendid views of both Montalcino and the surrounding countryside.
Museums
The museums of Montalcino are a complex made up of two museums: the civic museum and the diocesan museum of sacred art. Inside there are over 200 works of art in all, including the crucifix of Sant’Antimo, a tempera painting on wood dating back to the twelfth century, originally coming from the abbey of Sant’Antimo. Also very beautiful are the Madonna by Simone Martini, the Coronation of the Virgin by Bartolo di Fredi and a Majesty by Vecchietta, representing the Renaissance. In addition to painting, the museum also displays a series of sculptures, majolica, sacred vestments, gold and illuminated manuscripts, has an area dedicated to the twentieth century, with works by the Montalcino painter Arturo Luciani and a section dedicated to archeology, with finds dating back to to the Bronze Age, and to the Etruscan and Roman civilizations.
A separate chapter for the most famous wine in the world that has been produced right here in Montalcino for centuries, the Brunello di Montalcino
