DATE
01 JAN - 31 DEC
TIME
Half Day
PRICE - € 160
MONTALCINO E SANT'ANTIMO
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During this tour we will visit the Abbey of Sant’Antimo, one of the most important monastic complexes in Tuscany. It stands isolated, surrounded by olive trees, immersed in the Tuscan countryside.
The next stop will be in Montalcino, a hilltop town about 560 meters above sea level. It dominates the surrounding area, characterized by the vineyards producing the precious Brunello di Montalcino wine.
The guide does not provide transportation service. To get further information, to book the tour or to get a licensed driver providing private transfer service, please contact me.
PROGRAM
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MONTALCINO
Montalcino is a hill top town in the province of Siena, located 42 kilometres (26 mi) from Siena. Montalcino has probably been settled since etruscan times and during the late Middle Ages became an independent commune with considerable importance, thanks to its location along the Via Francigena, the main road between France and Rome.
The most important highlights in Montalcino are: the Fortress, built in the Middle Ages at top of the town; the Church of Saint Augustine with its simple romanesque front; Palazzo dei Priori(Town Hall), decorated with the coats of arms of the once rulers of the city.
SANT' ANTIMO
Sant'Antimo is an ancient Abbey that has been inhabited by Benedictine monks for centuries. The present church was built in the early 11 hundreds but its origins, actually, go back much further in time. According to the legend, the Abbey was founded by the Roman Emperor Charlemagne. In the late Middle Ages the Abbey became one of the wealthiest and most important religious institutions in the region, with numerous parishes, castles and manors under its control, but over the centuries it lost its ancient importance and so it was suppressed. By this time the Abbey was beginning to look extremely dilapidated. Several of the buildings around the cloister had fell down and their stones were used to build the neighbouring village of Castelnuovo dell'Abate. Only in the late 18 hundreds the Abbey starts to come back to life thanks to a big restoration work made by the architect Giuseppe Partini
INFO / BOOK
€ 160