MONTALCINO

Montalcino is famous for its brunello wine, which one of the most known and appreciated in the world. In the old times Montalcino citizens had something else to care for. Florence was more and more powerful and rich; it had become the owner of all Tuscany. But Siena citizens didn't surrender to it and when, around the middle of XVI century AD, they had to do it and to let Florence to rule in their homes , many citizens of Siena instead of stay in quiet and watching, run to Montalcino. This village das a nice fort: so those citizens started to stay on their own, and made a different race. They resisted the assaults for four years and none convinced them to surrender. Florence could get in by force, so tried to offer money to a calabrese captain enlisted under Siena. But he refused. At the end, however, Siena had to open the doors. But they did it without being defeated on a battlefield: they surrendered when they decided to do so.

WHAT TO SEE
LA ROCCA , THE NEW WINE MUSEUM , CIVIC MUSEUM,
SAN BIAGIO CHURCH IS A MISTIC PLACE, USED IN THE PAST FOR THE CELBRATION OF THE SOLSTIS. IT IS UNUSAL TO SEE AS THE ROADS OF THE VILLAGE ARE CONSTRUCTED AROUND THE CHURCH, WITH THE CHURCH FORMING THE CENTRE OF A CROSSROAD.

S. Antimo

Saint Antimo Abbey is a very important church in this territory. Well, maybe: for sure it is really beautiful. It has all been made in travertine stone, an elegant local stone. It stands all alone in the middle of a field the hills beside, it seems it is waiting for you though it turns it’s back on you as if it won't show that it is waiting . My friend explained me that Saint Antimo got the deambulatorio, which should be that space around the altar where the pilgrims could go in, make a round and get out. I thought that one entered in a church to stay inside and pray, but he said that the deambulatorio was something typical of those churches, which were very important for the pilgrims. Today many go there to listen to the sacred music and the Mass singed by the priests in Gregorian chant. And when each one goes back home and the church remains empty and silent, always on the back, it seems to me as if the church was sad of it, missing all that coming and going