Yes, Monteriggioni just might be the quintessential walled medieval village in Tuscany. It's small enough to perhaps be called "cute" but you won't catch me using this term.
Monteriggioni began as a border fortress built on a round hill by Sienna against the Florentines. It is famous for the intact defensive structure that held up against repeated Florentine attacks in the 11th century; its 10 meter high walls and 14 towers can still be seen for miles around. Monteriggioni has been featured in movies as a typical medieval village.
The village is slightly elliptical in shape with two gates (a third has been plugged). The major gate tourists will use when coming from the parking lot, Porta Franca, owes its name to the Via Francigena--Monteriggione was a major stop on the pilgrimage trail from Cantebury to Rome. The Romanesque Church of Santa Maria Assunta will offer assistance with housing for modern pilgrims traveling the Francigena pilgrimage route.
Monteriggioni was a sleepy village of farmers and sheep herders as late as the 1960's. Today it exists entirely for tourists and pilgrims. You'll find wine shops, a tasting room, restaurants and hotels in the small village. This is not neccessarily a disadvantage, although some times it's nice to see some locals puttering about once in a while.
Where is Monteriggioni?
Monteriggioni is located in the province of Siena, 14km to the northwest of Siena (54km from Florence). While it can be done as a day trip from Siena, you might be better off staying the night--Monteriggioni is much more evocative when the tourists leave late in the afternoon and you can sit in a courtyard sipping a glass of Chianti. Monteriggioni is surrounded by vineyards, and is known for its wine production.
How to Get to Monteriggioni
You'll need a car. Exit the SS2 (Via Cassia) at the Monteriggioni exit. You'll find a free parking lot at the bottom of the hill. If you continue up the hill you'll find pay parking available (2 Euro per hour, or 3 for the whole day in 2007).Monterrigioni Festivals
The big festival celebrated in Monterrigioni is the Festa Medievale or Medieval Festival held in mid July. It is one of the most renowned of its type in Italy, featuring characters in medieval costume, ancient musical instruments, minstrels, and shows.
What to Do Inside the Walls
You can visit the little museum and climb a couple of places on the walls to see an overview of the village and the surrounding countryside. You can visit the Romanesque church. After that, it's all about sitting in the shade in the piazza and relaxing, or tasting some wine in the tasting room. If you're traveling with someone who just has to rush around for 18 hours a day seeing everything, Monteriggioni is the place to take them for a day of chilling out.
If you want to get out of town, the Abbadia Isola is 4km away, accessible by car or by foot. It's a Benedictine Abbey located at the foot of Montemaggio Mountain, founded in 1001 and fortified in 1376 against those Florentine assaults.
Pictures
See our Monteriggioni Picture Gallery.
More Information
For information on Monterriggioni, including hotels and history, see our Monteriggioni Travel Directory.
