Montefollonico

The village is situated on top of a hill between the Val di Chiana and Val d'Orcia. The first news on the population of the area date back to the men of Neanderthal (60,000 years ago) with the Lithic tools found in the area of "Il Tondo" (now the public garden). The territory also preserves traces of frequentation of Etruscan and Roman times. The village developed between the XII and the XIII century, first with the foundation of the church Pieve di San Leonardo by the cistercian monks of the nearby monastery, then as a fortified village of the Sienese Republic. The name derives from the latin fullones (people who worked the woolen clothes), this is because the monks dedicated themselves to fulling wool. Its strategic location, it was in fact a useful outpost against Montepulciano, ally of Florence. In 1543 surrendered to the imperial army of Charles V and became part of the Fiorentino dominion of doctors.

Montefollonico is surrounded by walls, which still preserve some cylindrical towers and tower of Cassero, 1277. You also retain the three gates (Porta in Follonica, gate of Triano and port of Pianello), which still give access to the historic center. The village houses the church of San Leonardo, remembered from 1216, the monastery of Santa Maria, founded by the benedictines before 1170 and abandoned in the XVIII century and the Palazzo Pretorio. The public cistern of Montefollonico is located next to the Palace of Justice in the main street. On the front of the well it can be noted that the three ancient coats of arms of relevance to the community of the country: the first belongs to the family of the marchesi Coppoli, according to the family Landucci and more in general to the Municipality of Montefollonico, the third represents instead a religious Corporation. The Natural Park The Tondo, near the village, at the top of the hill, consists in a wood of cypresses and holm oaks arranged in a circular fashion. Depart from here a series of walking paths around the hill.

The pecorino from the area, called a great old man of Montefollonico has a great reputation and recognition of P.A.T. "...it would like a dash of Vin Santo?..", instead, is the gastronomic fair held in December, focused on vin santo.

BY CAR

• From both north and south: Take the A1 Autostrada del Sole motorway, exit at Valdichiana / Bettole, continue on the SS 327 towards Torrita di Siena.
• From Perugia: exit at Bettolle and continue towards Torrita di Siena.
• From Siena: exit at Sinalunga and continue towards Torrita di Siena.

ON THE TRAIN

• Chiusi - Chianciano Terme railway station

BY PLANE

• Florence airport
• Pisa airport
• Rome Fiumicino Airport

On the top of a hill, between the Val di Chiana and the Val d'Orcia, there is a charming stone village, which developed between the XII and the XIII century and still today preserved homogeneous and intact. The historic center is in fact protected and enclosed by imposing thirteenth century walls, terracotta and stone, and accessed by crossing one of the original three doors, still well preserved, among which stands out the door of Triano.
The village probably owes its name to the cloths washers, called by the romans fullones. The cloths were subjected to blows of heavy clubs moved by water mills. The cistercian monks who founded the first residential settlement in this area dedicated themselves, in fact, to fulling wool.
Entering among the narrow streets and contorted and low houses and rustic, we reach the Palazzo Pretorio, with its bell tower and beside a marble well of the Seventeenth Century. Little far away, the romanesque parish church of San Leonardo, with a notable portal round arched with columns and capitals sculpted.
In the medieval frame of the village during the holidays of 8 December, takes place the traditional food and wine event Would you like a dash of Vin Santo? during which visitors are welcomed in the old cellars, opened for the occasion. Offer the Vin Santo is in fact one of the most ancient Tuscan hospitality gestures, and today as then, is offered in small doses as a really valuable product.

Discover the other villages on the guide Tuscany - Unique Villages to Love