Holiday Apartment in Montefollonico: Culture, Trails and Vin Santo

Montefollonico combines historic architecture, woodland trails and the Vin Santo tradition.

Churches and Traces of History

The Church of San Leonardo is a building from the first half of the 13th century, combining Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Its stucco altar from the early 17th century is made of lime plaster with marble-effect decorations. It contains a copy of an altarpiece by Guidoccio Cozzarelli: the Madonna and Child between Saints Sebastian and Anthony the Great.

The former Church of San Bartolomeo is a Romanesque building that was renovated in 1255. It has now been deconsecrated and is privately owned, but houses a ceramics workshop. Remains of frescoes from the late 12th century, early 13th century and 15th century have been preserved.

Abbey, Gates and Medieval Trails

The visible remains of Santa Maria de Follonico Abbey belong to the church of the abbey complex. The complex probably existed from the year 1000 or earlier; in 1275, Abbot Stefano commissioned extensive alterations to the existing complex.

The Porta di Follonica preserves the features of the former gate complex, which led to the Abbey of Follonica, located a short distance farther downhill. The paved road below the Porta a Follonica has been dated to the Middle Ages and probably followed an earlier Roman route. The Torre Moreschini was built at the end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century and was, until the time of the War of Siena, one of two towers guarding the Porta di Follonica.

The Porta di Follonica was flanked on either side by two similar round towers, which were part of the redevelopment of the fortifications at the end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century following the introduction of firearms. The inner part of the Porta del Pianello is medieval and bears the coat of arms of the people of Siena at the top of the inner façade; the outer part is probably a 15th-century addition and originally had a drawbridge. The Palazzo Pretorio is a 14th-century civic building; its bell dates from 1339 and is considered the oldest bell in Montefollonico.

Holiday Apartment in Montefollonico: Woodland, Trails and Vin Santo

Parco Il Tondo is a circular grove of holm oaks and cypresses with two round stone tables for relaxing. It is home to typical Tuscan animal species such as squirrels, roe deer, wild boar, badgers and various bird species. Three marked and well-signposted trails vary in length and walking time: the red trail is 2.6 km long and takes about 45 minutes, the yellow trail is 3.4 km long and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the blue trail is approximately 5 km long and takes 2 hours.

The Sentiero del Vinsanto follows a medieval route that connected the castles of Torrita and Montefollonico, linking the Porta di Follonica in Montefollonico with the motorhome parking area in Torrita di Siena. Along the trail are five equipped rest areas with benches, signposts and themed information boards covering the history of Torrita di Siena and Montefollonico, the Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria a Follonica, also known as Il Conventaccio, and the adventures of Ghino di Tacco.

The event “Lo gradireste un goccio di Vin Santo?” takes place annually on 8 December in Montefollonico and celebrates the Vin Santo tradition.

To the main travel overview: Torrita Di Siena.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Osteria Delle Noci.