THE SPICE OF ADVENTURE...
 You don't have to go very far to enjoy the spice of a great multi-faceted experience. Start from Brunello but not before you have toasted the spirit of adventure with a glass of sparkling Brunello wine. Go down the road to Grosseto and onto the picturesque countryside road through the Banfi vineyards to the Argiano Castle, south of Montalcino.
As you approach Montalcino, sit around your picnic basket and listen to the interesting tale that mists over the top of the hill. Let you imagination take you on wild spin as you look from Montalcino perched on the hill down into the lovely Asso, Orcia and Ombrone valleys. Montalcino holds the special aura of an aesthetic patio that overlooks the Siena countryside at a level of 567 meters or 187 feet above sea level. You can also enjoy the awesome landscape which ranges from the lush hill side of Mount Amiata in the south to the wave of harmony of Pienza and Montepulciano in the east right up to the north of Siena and Maremma in the west.
 Go into the heart of the village on the hill and walk through its structures which are narrow. The Argiano castle holds a dominant place in its town with its imposing form and architecture. As with most of the towns and cities of Italy, the village of Montalcino originates with the Etruscan and the Roman civilizations with its name derived from latin, 'mons ilcinus' or Holm-oak Mountain. Placed in a strategic position on the road to Rome, Montalcino was gifted to the S. Antimo Abbey in 814 A.D., by the Emperor Ludwig the Pious. Montalcino acquired its independence in the 12th century and guarded it fiercely. But after the battle of Montaperti, it was allied with Florence and later with Siena.
 Walk into its square which buzzes with stories of how Montalcino fell in 1361 to the Senese. It was then that the Argiano Fortress was built to defend the southern border of Siena. Explore the old S. Antimo and S. Salvatore Abbeys established by Poe Pious II in 1462 which freed Montalcino from the Senese. When the government of Siena surrendered, Montalcino was called the, 'Repubblica di Siena in Montalcino'. This came under the rule of the Granducato in 1737 and under the Asburgo-Lorena family and part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1859. Discover its quaint buildings, its piazza and its churches with frescoes and works of art from the 11th-16th centuries. Meet its talented artisans, Bartolo di Fredi, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti whose sculptures and medieval garments and wooden artifacts are displayed in the Diocesano Museum.
Keep the best for the last for you are going to enjoy the viewing of the Argiano castle also known as the fortification, 'Argianaccio'. You will encounter a huge square-shaped tower with lovely arched windows. The Fortress possesses a stone invincible basement which is built toward the outer ward and the valley below. The residential area of the castle is separated by an inner courtyard. A curtain of stone walls protects the eastern section to which the keep is joined and opens out to the main gate with a stone worked decor.
 Walk over to the opposite side and you will find a postern with access to the huge outer courtyard that stretches to the edge of the hill. The church of S. Pancrazio is a part of the castle buildings. The castle was abandoned in 1583 when Giovanni de' Pecci built the Palace of Argiano on a site close by. This was owned by the powerful families of the Montanini, the Tolomei, the Sozzinini, the Ugurgieri and the Chigi. But the Argiano Castle has kept its faithful position as the military outpost to warn of enemies and invaders. Today only a portion of its building has survived the elements of nature and war such as part of the keep, the postern, the outer walls of the stone curtains and the main gate. Come and touch its warm stone and realize that in its depths there is still the passion of a soldier defending his country to his last breath.
Stroll around the fragrant vineyards and rest on the mossy stones. Uncork a bottle of the famous Brunello wine from the Banfi winery and let the past speed you into the days of culture, chivalry and courage.
TOAST THE SPIRIT OF PASSION...
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