Montalcino

Montalcino is a medieval village perched on a hill at 564 meters AMSL overlooking the beautiful Val d’Orcia valley. The town has preserved the majority of its medieval features over the centuries, among which the Rocca, an imposing medieval castle, stands out.

The guided tour of Montalcino, organized by Cortona Tourist Guide, starts from Piazza del Popolo and the high stone and brick tower of Palazzo dei Priori.

The guided tour of Montalcino then continues with a walk along the narrow streets towards the magnificent 14th century Fortress, from where one can enjoy a lovely view onto the underlying valley. The famous Thrush Festival takes place here every year at the end of October.

The guided tour of Montalcino continues with a visit of the Cathedral dedicated to Santissimo Salvatore and of the Sanctuary of Madonna del Soccorso, where a sacred icon with the Virgin and Child is venerated.

Montalcino is also the production town of Brunello, the first Italian red wine to be awarded the DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) designation in 1980. Upon request it is possible to taste some Brunello wine and the other wines produced in Val d'Orcia with a visit to vineyards and wineries.

The guided tour of Montalcino can be combined with a visit to the Abbey of Sant'Antimo, which is surrounded by a lovely landscape made of centuries-old olive groves, vineyards and cypress trees. As the tradition goes, the Abbey was founded by Charlemagne in 781 and was subsequently entrusted with Benedictine monks. This church is one of the best examples of monastic Romanesque architecture in Tuscany and here it is still possible to listen to Gregorian chants sung by monks during masses.

Duration:

Half a day (max 3 hours) The tour can be extended to a full day (max 6 hours) with the visit to the Abbey of Sant’Antimo.