Montalcino

Visit

Museo Civico e Diocesano

The Museo Civico e Diocesano of Montalcino is housed in the former convent of Sant’Agostino and has permanent collections of medieval art and archeological exhibitions, it is one of the most important and relevant collections of the whole province of Siena.

The museum is only open on weekends.

Fortezza di Montalcino

Montalcino’s fortress, built in 1361, is a mandatory stop in Montalcino. Halfway through the 16th Century it became the last self-defense resort of the Republic of Siena against the Medici who were quickly conquering the whole area. You can visit the walkways above the fortress walls, from which one can admire the whole of Montalcino and the rolling Tuscan landscape in the background. After the walk, be sure to stop at the great enoteca snuggled deep in the medieval walls for a glass (or two) of Brunello di Montalcino.

Abbazia di Sant'Antimo

The first time the name “Montalcino” was mentioned in a document was when the emperor, Ludovico il Pio, gave it in concession to the nearby Abbey of Sant’Antimo. The most important and one of the most beautiful Romanic style buildings in the whole of Tuscany.

Charles the Great, Carlo Magno in Italian, was on his way back north from visiting Rome with his loyal followers, in the 9th century, when they were forced to stop in the area of the Abbey to seek shelter from the plague. During their shelter he made a vow to God, asking him to end the plague. As soon as it was over, he decided to found the Abbey in the place that brought him such good fortune, for it must be a special place.

The Abbey is filled with bas-reliefs, paintings and sculptures who’s origin ranges between the 9th and 13th century. It is however missing the vast majority of the original monastery structure, which in the Middle Ages was the epicentre of all social life - almost like a small city. The then-monastery gathered all the public structures which were created by the Roman Empire after Charles the Great founded it. Between the 9th and 13th centuries there was great development in the Abbey, followed by a period of decline as there began to be alternative ‘social centres’—municipalities. An inevitable conflict between the feudal and modern system.

Abbazia di Sant’Antimo’s interiors are very distinct from the richly decorated Renaissance basilicas and cathedrals, although artists from all over Europe were called to decorate and adorn the Abbey. They could not express their own creativity and style freely as they were obliged to conform to the desires of the person in charge of construction work. Their presence nonetheless is a strong indication of the Abbey’s importance, and proof of a collaboration between different reigns.

The aim, in creating Sant’Antimo was that it would look like a French cathedral—something extremely rare in Italy. During your visit, look out for the Latin inscription at the Abbey’s entrance and pay close attention to the second column on the right, which was created by the Master of Cabestrany - the name given to an anonymous sculpture active in the 12th century. The column’s capital depicts the prophet Daniel who is being eaten by lions, who is then saved by God, represented by an angel.

Sant’Antimo is open Monday to Saturday from 11AM to 3:30PM, and from 10:30AM to 4:30PM on Sundays.

Trattoria il Pozzo

upscale traditional Tuscany

delicious food in a quaint hamlet overlooking endless vineyards in Sant’Angelo in Colle, just a 10 minuti drive in Montalcino.

Il Giglio

traditional with a twist

A welcoming and formal restaurant with adjacent hotel in which one can savour local products and traditional dishes.

Sleep

Drogheria e Locanda Franci

rooms with a view

Cosy suites in a historic building overlooking Montalcino’s Medieval fortress.

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

classic luxury & golf

The epitome of classic luxury in a wonderfully secluded hotel which offers every service you could ever desire.