The Romance of a Tuscan Hilltown
Montisi is a fortified medieval hill town in an area where settlements date from Etruscan times. It overlooks a valley filled with olive groves, vineyards and woodlands. The view to the south includes the village of Castelmuzio, 9th century Pieve di Santo Stefano and, in the distance, Mount Amiata. The village is home to 6 tiny churches, a full-service restaurant with grape-shaded dining terrace, a noted slow-food restaurant serving authentic ancient recipes, a prima piatti café with outdoor dining, a cinema showing both European and American films, an outdoor summer club and a classic village barino, (café/bar) – all within minutes’ walk. Montisi also has 2 alimentari, or village grocery stores and a bakery. The traveling mercato or market, together with specialty vendors visits the village each week. Within 2 miles the neighboring villages of Trequanda and Castelmuzio have additional restaurants and shops. Within a ten mile drive through the Tuscan countryside are Montepulciano and Montalcino, noted for their Vino Nobile and Brunello wines. Pienza, a jewel-like Renaissance village is just 5 miles away. Along the way is the beautiful Santa Anna monastery, where “The English Patient” was filmed.
Visiting Montisi
It is very likely that before the Romans came to the hills known as the Monti of Trequanda, their earliest inhabitants were the Etruscans, who settled between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the valleys of the Amo and the Tiber around the 8th century B.C. It has been deemed that Montisi gets its name from a temple dedicated to the goddess Isis, venerated by the Etruscans, that used to stand a couple of kilometers from the village. The earliest reliable documents date back to the 12th century, when Montisi was a castle belonging to the Counts of the Scialenga, originally from Asciano.
You can learn more about Montisi and the surrounding region at www.montisi.com.