Monteriggioni, Italy

Monteriggioni is situated midway between Siena and Colle di Val d'Elsa.
Since the Middle Ages it was so famous that even Dante refers to its "cerchia tonda" in the Divina Commedia (Inferno canto XXXI vv. 40-41). The walls, almost unbroken, run for a length of 570 meters and they are spaced from 14 towers and two doors. The Porta Franca (direction Siena) arise at the base of a tower while Porta San Giovanni (direction Firenze) open itself in the walls and it is defended by one of the towers of the fortified circle.





Founded in 1203 from Sienese, it is the most representative exemple in the whole Tuscany of walled land, exclusively created for strategic and military purposes, in this case it was used as position in order to defend the north-western boundary.

Monteriggioni is visited every year from about 70.000 visitors thank to its beauty and to its natural position.





Eventi:

Festa Medievale (medieval party)
The medieval party "Monteriggioni di torri si corona" (towers encircle Monteriggioni) takes place every year in the middle of July. It is an evocative party of the history of Monteriggioni and of the cultural past traditions of that time.
In this occasion all inhabitants wear medieval clothes and they interpret their role: the farmer, the merchant, the soldier, the arbalester, the friar.. So that they make the village life of that time realer.

Festa d'autunno (Autumn party)
It is celebrated the first week-end of October in Madonna del Rosario's honour, protectress of Monteriggioni.
Outside the church there are the stalls where the inhabitants dressed up as "vintage", serve sandwiches with typical Tuscan salami, "porchetta" and local deliciousness and even autumnal products as "caldarroste" (roast chestnuts). Typical wines as Chianti and Brunello are served in "mescita" in glasses made of "terracotta".

Fiaccolata (torchlight procession)
The Fiaccolata takes place every year on Christmas Eve.