Monteriggioni

The defensive walls of Monteriggioni with their magnificent towers look like a crown on top of beautiful Tuscany.

The original medieval architecture has preserved in Monteriggioni better than in any other Italian city or town. Modest beauty of Monteriggioni will for sure give you unforgettable impressions. At the beginning of the XII century, its powerful neighbor, Siena, turned a simple village into a reinforced fortress. Such a change was connected with the strategic location of the settlement in struggle with Florence, the constant rival of Siena.

Between the years of 1212 and 1219 570-meters long wall with fourteen observing and defensive towers was constructed around Monteriggioni. The defensive wall and buildings inside have been preserved in Monteriggioni almost with no changes up to nowadays. The residents of Monteriggioni got such an attraction appreciated by tourists and archeologists at the price of shame. At the year of 1554 the commander of the garrison, Giovannino Zeti, gave the keys of the town to the Medici with no resistance. After it, Monteriggioni lost its strategic status and was never attacked again.

The architecture of Monteriggioni is simple and modest in a military way. The main street stretches from the northern gates, Porta San Giovanni, to the southern ones, Porta Romea. Simple in its outside appearance, the Roman Church of Santa Maria is located on the central Roman square, Piazza Roma. Matching in style Roman buildings tower nearby. Constructions of the Renaissance period make the square even more beautiful. Mostly they used to belong to local noble people and well-to-do traders. The oldest building of the town can be told by the façade of multicolor brick.

Despite the obvious cultural value, Monteriggioni is not a mecca for tourists. However, the town population of nine thousand of people increases dramatically in the middle of summer. The medieval festival «Monteriggioni wears a crown of towers» («Monteriggioni di Torri si Corona») takes place here during the first and the second July weekend. This is an unforgettable event you shouldn’t miss. Just take care of accommodation in Monteriggioni in advance.