Montalcino is a small commune located in the region Tuscany in Italy that sits atop a hill. Montalcino, Italy has a population of just over 5100 people. The highest portions of Montalcino overlook the rest of Tuscany and give a great view of all of the vineyards and olive orchards in the area. The beautiful weather and the great attractions make Montalcino a great place to visit any time of the year.
The history of Montalcino is very turbulent with a lot of ups and downs. Montalcino was experiencing a large amount of prosperity until the Middle Ages. Montalcino gained its prosperity due to its location between Rome and France. This led to Montalcino to have conflicts with Florence and they ultimately fell under their power in the late 1800s. Montalcino experience troubling times for many years, but this has been reversed due to extreme popularity of a wine produced in the region. Montalcino is the sole producer of Brunello di Montalcino wine and over 300,000 cases of the wine are made each year. The popularity of the wine has increased tourism in the area and has allowed the economy of Montalcino to strive.
Montalcino features a climate with very mild winters and slightly hot summers, which is ideal for the making of wine. The months of June, July August and September are the hottest times in Montalcino. The average high temperatures during these four months will generally be between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius. Montalcino experiences its coldest temperatures during December, January and February. The high temperatures for the day will be between 10 and 14 degrees.
The fortress surrounding the city of Montalcino is the most popular tourist attraction in the area. The fortress was built in the 1200s to keep the Florence army from entering the city. While the army of Florence was able to enter Montalcino, the fortress surrounding the city remained unharmed and intact. The Montalcino fortress is an amazing example of ancient architecture and should be seen by everyone traveling in the area.
Another one of Montalcino’s main attractions is the Abbey of Sant’Antimo. The Abbey of Sant’Antimo is a monastery that dates back to the year 770. The Abbey of Sant’Antimo is another example of the beautiful medieval architecture that is found in Montalcino and the entire region of Tuscany. Montalcino also features several great churches to visit, and after you are done sight seeing there is always a place to get a great glass of wine.
