Monticchiello

History

Sitting just behind Pienza, this small hamlet that counts just 202 inhabitants has a very significant history. During the Middle Ages it was a very influential town thanks to its convenient position on a hilltop, which unfortunately went through a phase of decline whilst under the ruling of the Medici family from Florence.

The road that leads up to the hamlet is one of Tuscany’s most famous routes, flanked by beautiful cypresses on either side as it slopes up the hill. Monticchiello is known for having various romitorios around it. Caves carved into the rock by hermit monks which feature beautiful carvings of Medieval origin. Another unique feature of Monticchiello is its teatro povero, an open air theatre created during a time of profound crisis in the town, a theatre which concentrates more on the acting rather than costumes and prop design. Each community member has a role in each play, as a way of involving everyone and reinstating a sense of community. A play has been put on every summer for the past 50 years.