The province of Siena really cares about its medieval traditions; an example of this is the “Monteriggioni is crowned by towers” festival, which came to its 27th edition. This year, the chosen theme is “Mysteries, fears and magic at Dante’s time” and the festival will take place on 7th-8yh-9th July and 14th-15th-16th July 2017. The festival will be preceded by the traditional “Banquet at the Castle”, a great dinner that will take place on July 6th in the heart of Monteriggioni’s Castle.
Crossing the gateway of the Castle, the visitor is catapulted into the past: the hamlet is full of craft workshops that reproduce medieval working activities, the inhabitants wear typical dresses of the Middle Age and everything is combined with music, dances and different kinds of performances.
Recreating the atmosphere of the past is easy in Monteriggioni, thanks to its city walls, its alleys, squares and Romanesque churches. The whole Tuscany is an ideal setting for historical reenactment, because it is rich in well-preserved monuments, castles and villages that make the area extremely suggestive and attractive for visitors.
The Monteriggioni’s Castle was built in the early 1200s by the Republic of Siena, with a defensive aim against Florence; throughout the Modern age it has played an important role during various battles and has recently been included in the Via Francigena’s path, an event that has given greater visibility to this charming hamlet. It occupies the top of a hill with cultivated slopes with vineyards and olive groves, and it is part of the Montagnola Senese, one of the main hilly areas which includes the municipalities of Casole d’Elsa, Siena, Monteriggioni e Sovicille.
This area has always been important for Siena, both because it represents a primary economic resource (the region is rich in water, wood, marble and agricultural products) and because it has been chosen by the Sienese nobility for many centuries as an ideal place to build wonderful villas. The Montagnola Senese area is full of castles, churches, hamlets, towers, farmhouses and other architectural and natural beauties to be discovered.