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Montalcino
Montalcino, situated on a hilltop about 567 metres above sea level, is a very elegant and friendly village in charming Val D’orcia.
The splendid and imposing 14th century fortress that was built by Siena, dominates the entire town and the surrounding hills cloaked in vineyards. Theatre of the last war between the imperial troops of Charles V and Siena, the fortress has now become a wine bar where one can taste delicious rare wines and “ossi di morto”, a typical biscuit to dip into Moscatello wine.
Narrow alleys run through the village of Montalcino, full of small craftsmen workshops, cafes and delis. The Gothic Romanesque Palazzo Comunale, the Palazzo Vescovile (the Bishop Palazzo), which houses the Diocese Museum, the Civic Museum and the Archaeological Museum, and the Churches of San Francesco (St Francis) and San Egidio (St Giles), are definitely worth a visit.
Another must see is the great Abbey of Sant’Antimo, a typical example of Romanic architecture, is set in the valley just outside the village - it is worth attending a church service here, as they are accompanied by Gregorian chants. The Abbey was established in 781 by emperor Charles Magne, and was built in travertine with onyx architectural decorations (the Montalcino area is rich in onyx and alabaster caverns).
Since the fifth century, Montalcino is well acquainted for its excellent wines, for which is famous all over the world. Ferruccio Biondi-Santi created the Brunello wine in the 1860s, by isolating for his production a special version of the classic grape of Chianti, the Sangiovese.
The Brunello di Montalcino was the first Italian wine to receive the prestigious category of D.O.C. (Denominazione di origine controllata: "controlled place name," under this label wines are produced in specific well-defined regions, according to specific rules designed to preserve the traditional wine-making practices of the individual regions).