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Location

Montalcino

One of the most picturesque hill-top villages in Tuscany, located 38 Km south of Siena. Inhabited since the Stone Age, it became famous in the Middle Ages for its fine cooking and leather works for knights and horses. Today it is famous for its wine: Brunello di Montalcino.

I live in the tallest building of the village with a very special view. Being it inside the old walls, it was presumably built in the Middle Ages, at least the ground floor, while the third was added three centuries ago.

The name Montalcino means "monte dei lecci", "mons ilcinus", or "mountain of the oaks". From archeological artifacts, the hill was inhabited during the Paleolithic era.  Its main development occurred in the Middle Ages around the year 1000. Its first wall dates back a century earlier. The main road in the Orcia Valley is the Cassia, that leads from Rome to Florence. It was laid out by the Romans. Another road was the Francigena, at times crossing, while at others is parallel to the Cassia, taking pilgrims through France to Rome for holy year celebrations.

Here you can find an attraction of undisputed interest, the Strada del Vino (the historic wine road) that passes through the fragrant homeland of the legendary vineyards of  Brunello di Montalcino wine.

DAY EXCURSIONS FROM MONTALCINO
(with the exception of Monte Amiata and Siena, which are 30-45 minutes away, the other excursions take between 15-25 minutes, by car, from Montalcino)