Montalcino

Visit Montalcino and Abbey of St. Antimo

Born in the domain of the powerful Abbey of St. Antimo the "castle" of Montalcino is soon disputed between the Counts of Siena and Florence. Pope Pius II makes of Montalcino a Diocese and a City in 1462. Later, the impregnable fortress of Siena, yelds only to the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis, with whom Siena was annexed to the Medici Grand Duchy (1559).

The village has remained almost unchanged since the sixteenth century. Once you reach the hilltop on which stands Montalcino, you can enjoy a continuous succession of gentle hills ancient oaks, picturesque olive trees and scenic country roads that wind through vineyards and cypress trees.

The old town is dominated by the mighty fortress, a fortress built in 1361, marking the passage of the city under the dominion of Siena. In the main square of Montalcino, known as Piazza del Popolo, there is the characteristic long and narrow tower of Palazzo dei Priori,the Town Hall.

Appreciated for fine wine production, the territory of Montalcino is UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. This Tuscan center has also qualified and valuable productions of honey, extra virgin olive oil, salami and cheese that can be tasted in the typical restaurants and wine bars. The "Festival of the Thrush", which takes place on the last Sunday of October, offers to the guests the possibility to relive the local culture through the revival of ancient traditions.

The Brunello di Montalcino wine is the ultimate expression of a land that boasts great winemaking traditions for centuries. It was only towards the end of the '800 that began the first experiments to improve the characteristics of a raw material and an environment certainly particular: Brunello was born around the middle of '800 for the work of a group of local growers who, through clonal selection of Sangiovese grapes, obtained a high-quality product, with characteristics of wine with long aging potential.