UNRAVELLING THE MYSTERY OF THE PAST
 Monumental, memorable and magical, the Montalcino Castle lies in the beautiful countryside of southern Tuscany. If you want to see this historical castle which has withstood the tides of time, then start from Siena and follow the Cassia Road SS2. You will reach Buonconvento after which you keep going for a few kilometers till you find an indication asking you to turn right and then you will find the territory of Montalcino.
Tucked away in the middle of southern Tuscany, the Middle Ages saw the territory of Montalcino divided into the four areas of Arezzo, Chiusi, Grosseto and Siena.  Walk into an ancient land and let its stones tell you of times gone by when it was earlier inhabited by the Etruscans who divided the area into ancient communes of Arezzo, Chiusi, Roselle (Grosseto) and Volterra. Archaeological finds have unearthed priceless finds that are preserved in the Archaeological Museum of Montalcino. Full of mystery and shrouded with secrets from the past, the history of Montalcino lies buried under piles of faded and burnt parchments that have hidden its origins even though the Frangigena Road east of the Torrenieri settlement still remains, but is unable to reveal the secretive passage of time. But Montalcino’s strong background of history has unraveled the facts behind the figures. Documented in 814 A.D., the commune of Montalcino was governed by the monks of that time.
 Picking up the bits and pieces of information that have been swept into the present by the wind, we are able to glean a few facts about the history of Montalcino. Under the rule of Pope Leo III in 774, the Frank ruler, Charlemagne invaded Italy. By the year 800 A.D., the Pope crowned Charlemagne as the Holy Roman Emperor. During the years 800-900 A.D., after the decline of Charlemagne’s rule, the Italian kingdom was fought for in consecutive battles by France, Spain, Germany, Turkey, the Vatican, and Italian factions.  The year 1107 saw Pope Gregory leading the Holy See into a conflict with the Holy Roman Empire. Then Italy turned into an independent module and by 1131, Montalcino became a free commune. During the later years of 1152-90, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (‘Barbarosa’), of the family Hohenstaufen, attacked Italy from his Waiblingen castle and was countered by the rival of the family, German Emperor Otto IV, of the Welf House. The Italians were forced to take sides with the Waiblingen and the Welf, which eventually became known as the ‘Ghibelline’ and ‘Guelf’. By 1176, Montalcino allied itself with Siena and lost a battle against Florence. Later Montalcino resisted Siena who wanted to expand the commune of Montalcino and the alliance was broken.
CARVED BY THE HANDS OF HISTORY
 The jigsaw pieces put together slowly by the hands of history, saw the castle of Montalcino partially destroyed by the Senese army. The castle then went under the mantle of the Church but under the Commune of Siena. But again Montalcino rebelled and was occupied again by the Senese in 1232 and Montalcino was forced to get into another reluctant alliance with them. As the years flowed with secrets, plots and uneasiness, the year 1252 saw another rebellion where the castle was conquered by the Senese but lost almost immediately as Montalcino teemed up with Florence and Grosetto to win the battle. At the Battle of Montaperti, though Montalcino with Florence won over the Senese, Montalcino did not have a proper regulated government. In 1269, the Senese saw defeat at Colle Valdelsa and Montalcino dared to hope again. But after the second half of the 14th century, the castle was back in the hands of the Senese. The castle was then fortified and reconstructed and was the protection for the city center. Montalcino went on to becoming one of the important centers of the Republic territory.  In 1553 during the attack of the Medicean Imperial Army, Siena was forced to surrender and the Senese headed for Montalcino which was ruled by Pietro Strozzi who let them spend their exile in Montalcino. Till the year 1559, Montalcino was free, but after the fall of the castles of Talamone and Castiglione della Pescaia, Montalcino came under the rule of Cosimo de’Medici to whom they swore allegiance.
Come on a historic journey to the beautiful Montalcino which is just forty kilometers from Siena. Called after the holm oaks that stand majestically on a hill in a picturesque setting, Montalcino evolves from the hill in a historic tapestry. As the secrets spill over from behind the trees and through the chinks in its old buildings and town walls, Montalcino was first inhabited in the 10th century by the refugees from the town of Roselle. Beautiful, wild and carpeted by gorgeous scenery woven with history, Montalcino has been the inspiration of the maestros of the Sienese Trecento.
WHERE TIME NEVER TRAVELS
 Come through the vast spaces, the ancient square, through fragrant gardens and go through the elegant pattern of vineyards and olive groves and reach the Montalcino Castle. Through the ravages of time, the Montalcino Castle soars majestically being built in 1361. Constructed on the southern side of the 13th century walls, it holds the keeps of S. Martino and S. Giovanni Towers. Built with the classic castle enclosure, the castle was structured in a pentagon shape with towers at its angles. The south-east tower is built next to the keep. Come and watch the soldiers, fire at the enemy from the machicoulis and walk through the watch walk that lines the walls and the towers. The machicoulis made in stone are supported by bows on brackets with an inverted pyramid structure. Catch a glimpse of shiny steel from the northern towers as brave men kept watch which can be seen from the courtyard. Come and say a little prayer for the courageous spirit of Montalcino at the ancient and quaint basilica that was the chapel of the fortification nestled into the base of the north-east tower whose rests are still visible today. Expanded by Cosimo during the second half of the 16th century, the huge strong rampart stands as a mighty fortification. Cosimo also added the ramparts to the south side of the Fortezza with the Medici coat of arms emblazoned at the top. Walk through the gate facing the city and see the town wall gates connected to the castle walls at the juncture of the S. Goivanni Tower.
Explore the fortress, the churches and the narrow and steep lanes. Walk up the stairways and discover alleys that take you into the battle-ridden past. Look at the beautiful municipal palace with its slim tower and wonder at the beauty of the architecture of Montalcino.  Go on a picnic and rest amongst the verdant surroundings and you will see its rural villages and the foundations of the churches of Santa Restituta, Sesta and the 8th century Abbey of Sant Antimo which was founded as some say by Charlemagne. Revel in the ancient range of talents with its kaleidoscope of arts and crafts, such as, leatherwork, pottery, tannery, wool, wood, iron and shoe manufacture. As a gift from the past, the ‘Brunello di Monatcino’ was invented by Clement Santi in the middle of the 19th century. Made from the Sangiovese Grosso grapes, this vintage was fist made in 1863 and 1865 as a superior aging wine.  The ‘Brunello di Montalcino’ was officially proclaimed in 1888 and it was not known till the mid 60s. Hitting high levels of fame, the ‘Brunello di Montalcini’ acquired a superior finesse as one of the best red Italian wines belonging solely to the Biondi-Santi family. Another great wine from the same wine zone is the ‘Rosso di Montalcino’ which is DOCG rated and realized as an early maturing wine.
Go on a hiking tour around Montalcino and toast its beauty with a ruby red Brunello wine. Come and visit the Renaissance spa called the Bagno Vignoni and relax in a hot spring pool. Take a long cool walk through the patterned vineyards and watch the countryside unfurling with grace and beauty. Look at the old quarries and you can hear the song of history echoing on its stony surface.  Go to the ancient Romanesque churches and re-live the lives of the monks who established a disciplined life. Today the castle stands as a living relic of a past stitched with the scars of battle, but offers an exciting peep into the past and of the gorgeous countryside. It holds a fantastic wine bar where you can relax and rejuvenate the spirit. Drive through the historic roads that lead to the home of Brunello, the famous wine of Montalcino. Sit in the cellars that store this fabulous wine in oak barrels and while away your vacation in an ancient city. Admire the gently sloping hills and walk through its verdant sides with the wind blowing softly. Skim across a fairytale land rich with history and view its medieval Tuscan villages alive with the colors of the past and the present.
Let Montalcino guide you through a legacy enriched with the passage of time…
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