Montalcino, as well as being famous and known worldwide for its Brunello di Montalcino (a local red wine), is also one of 184 Italian small towns awarded with the "Bandiera Arancione" (Orange Flag) for its excellence offered in tourism, hospitality and environment.
Montalcino is a village located among the Amiata Mountain and Crete Senesi (in the Val d’Orcia), a few km away from the city of Pienza.
Even if it would appear that the hill where the town was built was already populated in the Etruscan period, the first settlements were built just from 900 A.D. on. As a matter of fact, it was between 10th and 15th century that the village experienced its utmost expansion and development, and it has been remained almost entirely intact until today.
The original, historical part of Montalcino is located in the center of the village and is completely surrounded by Medieval walls, from which the main street starts leading to the central square, where in the Middle Ages all the main daily activities took place. In such a square, called Piazza del Popolo, it is possible to visit Palazzo dei Priori with its ancient tower and a beautiful loggia facing the Piazza, built alongside the palace.
On the highest point of the hill, there’s a fortress dating back to 14th century, the period in which Montalcino had to face many difficulties because of the several wars between Florence and Siena.
The castle of Montalcino, a perfect example of medieval military building placed in the South City Walls, has a pentagonal plan, with towers at each corner. Just 9 kilometers away from Montalcino, visitors will also have the chance to visit a beautiful, ancient Romanic church, the Abbazia di Sant’Animo, built during 9th century.
Traditional Events in Montalcino: Sagra del Tordo
Because of an old hunting tradition, on the last Sunday of each October, Montalcino celebrates the Sagra del Tordo (thrush festival).
Historically speaking, the festival coincides with the period in which, during the Middle Ages, the town used to organize festivals for celebrating the end of the hunting period. All the Montalcino’s citizens – both noblemen and folks – used to take part in the festivals, where the districts of the town challenged each other in archery tournaments.
Today, the Sagra del Tordo starts on Saturday, even if the main event of the festival takes place on Sunday: the tournament! Before the competition, there’s a long masked parade in the streets of the town with drums and flag flyers wearing epoch costumes, followed by the archers of the many districts in competition. The tournament takes place in the following way: each archer (two archers for each district) fire four times, each one having five arrows at disposal. After each series of five arrows, distance and difficulty rise. The district that scores more points will win the tournament.