Holiday apartment in Montemerano: Art, History and the Maremma

Montemerano between Olive Hills and the Maremma Hinterland

Montemerano lies on a hill in the Maremma hinterland, covered with magnificent centuries-old olive trees. This rural character combines with an unusually rich history in the town centre. If you choose a holiday apartment in Montemerano, walks through the town, special church art or an event with a medieval connection can form the thematic focus of your stay.

Town History Between Walls and Alleyways

The medieval town centre of Montemerano dates back to the rule of the Aldobrandeschi between 1005 and 1010. Three sections of wall protect Montemerano and give its layout a distinctive heart shape. The historic form is not only visible in the walls, but also encountered as you climb through the town. Piazza del Castello opens up behind an archway at the end of a steep climb through Montemerano, making it a striking destination within the old town fabric.

From Porta del Ponte, the route leads into Via Italia, Montemerano’s main street. There you will find old underground cellars and enclosed arcades. It is precisely this combination of archway, rising path, main street and hidden spaces that makes the town centre interesting for an extended stroll. You discover Montemerano not as a collection of individual sights, but as a coherent historic structure in which different periods and architectural forms meet.

Churches and Art as Special Experiences

The Pieve di San Lorenzo is Montemerano’s oldest church; it is mentioned in a document from 1188 and is now a theatre. The Chiesa di San Giorgio is a 14th-century building that was expanded during the Renaissance. The parish church of San Giorgio stands on the northern edge of the historic town centre. Because of the numerous and important works of art inside, it is considered the diocese’s first pinacotheca.

Among the notable works of art is the Madonna della Gattaiola, a painting created by a local artist around the middle of the 15th century. It owes its name to a round hole at its lower edge. This gives you a cultural tour with different points of access: the Pieve represents the town’s long history and its present-day theatre function, San Giorgio combines medieval building fabric with a Renaissance extension, and the Madonna della Gattaiola directs attention to an unusual detail in art history.

The Biblioteca Comunale di Storia dell’Arte is also part of Montemerano’s cultural profile. It has around 7,000 volumes on art history, archaeology, architecture, illustration, design and photography. The town’s range therefore extends from visible buildings and paintings to a collection covering various specialist fields of art and cultural history.

A Special Date in the Town Calendar

The Festa di San Giorgio, held from 23 to 25 April, includes the Giostra del Drago with young people from the three contrade, a procession in medieval costumes through the town’s alleyways, and a performance of “La vera storia di San Giorgio” as a shadow play. This date complements the town’s permanently formative history with a festive experience featuring a procession, games and theatre.

For broader travel planning, in addition to Montemerano you can also consider Poggio Murella, Saturnia, Marsiliana and Capanne.

For the overarching travel overview: Manciano.