Surroundings Villa, Holidays in Tuscany, Montaione Florence Chianti
From La Villetta you can easily reach Montaione in few minutes. Montaione is located at ca. 350 m. above sea level. It dominates the valley offering a wonderful view of the rolling Tuscan hills, Chianti Fiorentino. It has a wonderful climate. It is in the heart of Tuscany, not away from the most famous cities of art: Florence, Siena, Pisa and San Gimignano, the Etruscan findings in Volterra and the wonderful Tuscan sea.
In Montaione and the surrounding area there are a lot of restaurants. There are banks, a chemist’s, two supermarkets and a lot of different shops. Montaione is a town with ancient origins. During the Middle Age there was a castle, nowadays the historical centre. In summer there are a lot of musical and cultural events, craft and food markets and tasting of the typical products.
Every year a festival is held in the last Sunday of October to celebrate truffle and chestnuts, typical local products: “Tartufesta Mosta Mercato del tartufo e delle castagne”.
Montaione and the surrounding area offer a wide choice of activities: golf, horse-riding, trekking itineraries of various difficulty levels where you can discover the beauty of its landscape, art and history in an untouched rural setting: i.e. Via Francigena, the pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rom.
Montaione and the surrounding area offer a wide choice of particular activities: hot air balloon flights, olive oil and wine tasting, cooking lessons etc. You can ask for a reservation to the personal staff at the reception of La Villetta.
Distances from the principal touristic Tuscan places, ideal for excursions by walking between art and nature: Gambassi Terme km 8 - Castelfalfi km 12 - Certaldo km 18 - San Gimignano km 20 - Volterra km 34 - Florence km 52 - Siena km 60 - Pisa km 62 - Cecina Mare (Sea) km 67
Montaione Sightseeing
SANTUARIO DELLA PIETRINA, IANO: Old little church dated to 14th Century, belonging to the City of Montaione since 1835. Nowadays you can go in and admire a famous painting "Madonna con il Bambino" (Virgin with Child) of a famous artist from Siena.
SAN VIVALDO: the famous Sacred Mount or, called The Jerusalem of Valdelsa, of Tuscany. It is the exact miniature reproduction of the real Jerusalem (Palestine) by topographic and symbolical rebuilding. It is composed of chapels and temples with terracotta figures from Della Robbia school. The famous Sacred Mount is in S. Vivaldo, Montaione's hamlet.
CISTERNA ROMANA: the oldest archeological find in Tuscany: a Roman reservoir dated to 2nd century AD, composed of three communicating basins with three openings.
CASTELFALFI: The origins of Castelfalfi are ancient. It was populated by the Etruscans. In 1511 the church of San Floriano was built. Nowadays you can visit it. The old military fortress was transformed into a Villa during the Renaissance. In the Seventies, near Castelfalfi, the rests of a whale were found. Nowadays it is conserved in the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale of Montaione. For golf lovers, Castelfalfi is an important destination because a golf field has just renovated and reopened (9-18 holes)
GAMBASSI TERME: Famous for the glass craftsmanship, whose findings you can admire in the Mostra Permanente del Vetro in Gambassi (Permanent Exhibition of Glass Craftsmanship). You can visit the church of S.Maria a Chianni which is in the Via Francigena. Both in Gambassi and in Montaione there are a lot of wonderful itineraries in the green for walkers, bike enthusiasts and horse lovers.
SAN GIMIGNANO: Typical city in the province of Siena, famous for its towers and the white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Important stopping point in the Via Francigena, already during the Middle Age. You can visit the wonderful towers, where you can enjoy a breathtaking view to Valdelsa and Val d'Orcia, the historical centre with its churches with frescoes dated to the 14th Century and the still old paved streets.
CERTALDO: Medieval origins, Boccaccio's home, famous writer of 14th Century. Certaldo still maintains the medieval aspect; Cercaldo alto with its walls, the old houses with the red bricks and the old paved streets. Important festivals in Certaldo are BOCCACCESCA E MERCANTIA. The typical product of Certaldo is the onion.
VOLTERRA: Typical medieval city; a very rich historical centre is to be visited inside its walls dated to 13th Century. You can admire its very beautiful alleys, the cathedral, Piazza dei Priori, the suburbs and so on. You can find a lot of crafts: typical is the alabaster craftsmanship.
VINCI: Old town situated on the hills of Montalbano. In Anchiano, nearby village, was born Leonardo on 15th April, 1452 and had lived in Vinci during his childhood. You can admire his works in the Museum dedicated to him.
