Montalcino, Siena surroundings

Montalcino presents itself from the top of the hill where it dominate the valleys below, the rivers Asso and Ombrone valleys, with its beautiful XII century fortress. Its history saw an alternation of struggle periods with peace times, but the fortune of this town is due to the area where it rise, a prestigious zone of the grapevine cultivation. Therefore thanks to its wines like the Rosso of Montalcino, the Sant’Antimo and the celebrated Brunello of Montalcino, this town is known all over the world.
The village is still surrounded by the walls of the XIII century and walking through its streets you could admire, among its workshops and little cafés, the town hall and the bishop palace, seats of Montalcino’s museums where you can see important works of Siena’s artists from the XII to the XIX century, and more there are the churches of Sant’Agostino, Sant’Egidio and San Fracesco. If you move a little outside the town there’s Castelnuovo dell’Abbate where you can find the Abbey of Sant’Antimo, with its magical atmosphere, this abbey was founded by Charlemagne in 781.