History, facts and travel tips about Monteriggioni
Monteriggioni in the beautiful region of Tuscany, Italy is in the province of Siena. Located on top of a hill, Monteriggioni is a uniquely walled medieval town that has managed to keep its ancient roots and old charm. The town is important for many scholars who describe it as one of the best examples of a medieval village in Italy. Tourists from all over the world flock here for the medieval festival “Monteriggioni is crowned by towers”.
This historical walled town was built in the 13th century and hasn't changed much over the centuries. It’s surrounded by massive walls and two huge gates that were built to protect it from invasion. Mostly constructed in the 13th century some minor work was carried out in the 16th century, however little restoration has been done since then.
What makes Monteriggioni so special is that the façade of the wall is still original. It looks very imposing even from a distance. The town’s walls are considered to be one of the most well-preserved and striking fortifications in Italy. This is just one of the reasons why Monteriggioni and its famous castle attract thousands of holidaymakers, architects and archaeologists.
Many people travel to Monteriggioni to learn about the legend of Captain Zeti. Involved in a battle between the provinces at Monteriggioni castle against the Florentine army he and his men vowed to fight to the death. Once their defences were jeopardized, Captain Zeti wasn’t prepared to meet such a fate himself. He slipped out in disguise during the night and headed towards the Florentine army camped outside the castle’s walls to negotiate. Zeti switched sides and attacked his own men inside the castle. Tormented by his own betrayal, many have reported sightings of the ghost of Captain Zeti within the castle’s walls.
Monteriggioni is quite a small town and easily reachable by car. You can drive there from nearby places like Florence, Siena, Volterra and San Gimignano. Another transport option is by bus. There are a number of buses that go to Monteriggioni from Volterra, Pisa, Florence and Siena daily.