MONTERIGGIONI


MONTERIGGIONI
9.000 inhabitants. The impressive medieval village of Monteriggioni dominates the Monte Ala hill. The turreted fortresshamlet was built by the Sienese in 1203 as an outpost against the Florentines. In fact, it allowed them to control the Via Francigena
and both the Elsa and Staggia river valleys. The first settlers were the Lombards and it was probably a free-trade area (exempt from payment of duty). The walls were raised in 1219 together with 14towers and 2 gates. They are 172 meters across and 2 meters thick. The towers were so tall, Dante in his Inferno compares them to the Giants threatened by Jove;one gate looks towards the mother country, Siena, the other towards Florence, the potential enemy. They had no drawbridge, rather wooden heavy doors with a particular system of iron plates and pulleys. Furthermore, a carbonaia (moat filled in with coal) surrounded the stronghold and could be set alight in case of attack.
Inside the city walls we find the central square, Piazza Roma, and its characteristic well. The square is surrounded by several vegetable gardens: during the war, the gardens provided food and the well supplied the water, so that people could stay safe inside the walls. Monteriggioni offers the perfect setting for the medieval festival that takes place
here every year, “Monteriggioni di Torri si Corona” (Monteriggioni is crowned with towers), as Dante Alighieri wrote in his worldwide famous masterwork The Divine Comedy. During this event, fire torches ,light the walls while performances and stalls animate the lanes and the squares, recreating a realistic medieval atmosphere.
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Testimonials

  • Shore Excursion from Livorno Harbour to Florence and Pisa

    Santiago Family from POrtorico. Shore Excursion to Pisa and Florence , back to the harbour. Thanks for travelling with us . Read more
  • Flavia Saiad

    After some days in Tuscany , here there are at the Station ready for another Italian's adventure Read more
  • Karen & Jhon from Boston

    E-mail dated back Septmber 2019
    Hi Sylvia - its' hard to believe but in a few weeks it will be a year since our wonderful trip to Tuscany and our three days of touring with you. We've told many, many people about our three days touring with you in Tuscany! We love to tell the story of the guy in the

    ... Read more
  • Judith Wolfe on Behalf of Linda Wolfe October 2018

    Dear Silvia,My customers have returned from their long extended trip to Italy. San Gimignano was their 1st stop.They said the tour you arranged was wonderful and the guide made it especially good, saying that he is one of the best they ever had.They also really enjoyed the lunch stop and view.Thank you... Read more
  • Mrs. Maristela Azevedo

    Hello, Silvia, how are you?
    I’d like to thank you for the great time you gave us!!!We loved everything!
    I told my husband that, the next time, we will rent an apartment in San Gimignano…and you will take us to the wineries…He loved it!
    Thank you very much for everything. It was everything wonderful!!!... Read more
  • Jaime Otero y Jose Carlos Gonzalez Bonilla

  • Shane Quintard

    Ciao Silvia!

    Grazie ancora per il grande tour di Siena e San Gimignano - io e mia moglie e amici aveva un grande momento e che era esattamente quello che speravamo! La cantina è stata una scelta eccellente, come pure! Abbiamo lasciato ieri (1 febbraio) e ha fatto arrivare a casa in modo sicuro, nonostante ... Read more
  • Carole Gaddis

    Hi Silvia,  It's so good to hear from you.  We're fine.  We had six days at home after Tuscany and then flew to South Korea for two weeks!  We've just returned, exhausted!
    We had such a great time with you, Silvia.  The tip could never be enough to show our appreciation for your kindness and help.  ... Read more
  • The British Institute of Florence

    Gentile Silvia,  La volevo ringraziare per la sua disponibilità riguardo la gita di sabato.  Le signore le hanno fatto tutte molti complimenti per la sua guida!
    Grazie e a presto,
    Cordiali saluti,
    Liz Read more
  • Mrs Elizabeth ( wedding Planner ) Original Tuscan Wedding

    Ciao Silvia,
    Ecco i complimenti dalle Sposi del 16 Ottobre!!
    Our driver Johnny was so awesome!  He drove us all over the Chianti region.  He took us to a few wineries and we had a private tour of one of the wineries including a wine tasting and oil tasting.  He even took us into a store with a cellar ... Read more