L'Aia Country Holidays

How Monteriggioni fell

by baronedivandastad

The Sienese transformed Monteriggioni from a quiet little countryside village into one of the sturdiest strongholds of their Republic (yes, we had a republic already in the 1200s).

The war between Siena and Florence lasted almost 300 years, from 1260 when Siena gained independence in the Monteaperti battle until 1555, when it gave up to the army headed by Marchese di Maragliano almost without fighting.

In between these two events, Monteriggioni, just like other castles in the area, changed hands numerous times, and was rebuilt and reinforced after every siege and battle.

So how did the Florentines manage to conquer it for good? as often in these lands of shrewd people, it was through treason. A well-known local guy called Giovannino Zeti was bribed by the Florentines in exchange for a favour. He went to knock on the castle doors one evening in darkness, and when asked who was there, he said his name and claimed he had come to fix a defective water well.

The inhabitants, recognizing the guy, opened the gate, only to find a handful of florentine troops right behind. They entered and took hold of the castle, without any bloodshed. This happened in 1545.

The Sienese never managed to reconquer the castle as they had done in the past, because they capitulated for good to the Florence dominion only ten years later.

Monteriggioni, Italy

by cmcard2

"A Tiny Walled City on the Way to Siena"

Everything in Monteriggioni is small. There is one place to buy things, one or two restaurants, minimal hotel accomodations.

It is a place I would not miss if I were near Siena. The view of the walls surrounding the city is appealing, and what is inside is inviting.

Unless you are planning to eat, an hour is all that is needed to explore Montereggioni.

"Just one small place to shop"

You might find a small something to take back home. I found a small porcelin piece with a "WC" on it.

"A few alley ways to explore"

A nice walk in and out of some alley ways, and a great view of the valley below can be found in some of the porticos in the wall.

Little beautiful Monteriggioni

by Bigs

"The church"

A few kilometers north of Siena there is a little street going to Monteriggioni and you can see the old walls from the fort from far.....

"The streets"

Inside these walls you will find a little picturesque village, which was nearly empty in november... I think it´s much more crowded in summer. There is a souvenir´s shop, one hotel, a gelateria and a restaurant in here....oh and a cute little church!!!

"Monteriggioni´s second street"

This sign was funny... it says that it´s the second street of Monteriggioni......and it´s outside the city walls.......