The region around Montalto is incredibly rich, particularly in art, architecture and history. A large part of the masterpieces of Italian art can be found in Tuscany - not only in the major museums, such as the Uffizi in Florence, the Pinacoteca Nazionale in Siena, the Etruscan museum in Chiusi, all of which are within easy reach, but also in the churches, palaces and squares of every town and village and the castles and simple centuries-old farm houses that dot the countryside. You will not tire of exploring back roads, and each excursion will bring some new discovery, even if you come back year after year. There is always something else to see!
The 13th century city hall of Siena is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe, as is the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo it fronts on. The Cathedral has a magnificent inlaid marble floor, with stories from the bible and classical mythology, a pulpit by Giovanni Pisano, a statue by Donatello and a chcoir-book library beautifully frescoed by Pinturicchio. The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, beside it, holds the altarpiece so beloved by the populace when it was painted by Duccio di Buoninsegna in the 14th century that the whole town carried it in procession to the cathedral. The former hospital on the other side of street, now a museum, grew bit by bit from the 11th century on: it is here that St. Catherine of Siena nursed lepers and victims of the Black Plague.
Some of the interesting towns that surround Montalto are Montalcino, home of Brunello wine, in whose castle the Sienese government took refuge after the Florentines conquered Siena in the 16th century; Pienza, the town designed in Renaissance style by Pope Pius II, with the houses on its square artfully proportioned to make the space seem larger; Montepulciano with its steep medieval alleys; Monteriggioni with its crowning circle of walls; San Gimignano which has kept intact many of its tall medieval towers; Arezzo which houses fine frescoes by Piero della Francesca; Cortona, beloved by Francis Mayes who celebrated its life in her books, and many others, too numerous to mention. Even the smallest villages hide treasures you won't find in guide books, waiting for you to discover: the church in Badia a Ruoti, for example, just around the corner from Montalto, has a dazzling 14th-century altarpiece, and in Pogi near Bucine there is a medieval bridge on Roman foundations that is still in use today, identified only by its single high arch and ancient stones.
Abbeys well worth a visit for their splendid architecture or frescoed cloisters include Sant'Antimo and Monte Oliveto Maggiore.
Castles dot the hillsides. Some allow you at least partial visits, for example Brolio and Meleto.
Every village and town in Italy has an annual celebration, when a traditional local game, vestige of feudal times, rivets the attention of foreigners as well as the locals. Siena's Palio horse race, run twice a year in early July and mid-August, is the most famous. The whole town goes wild for three days of celebration, centering on a horse race that is really a war-game, where victory depends on luck, skill and (quite legally) money. But full of excitement are also the Giostra del Saraceno (jousting with a mace-wielding dummy) at Arezzo in late August and early September, the Bravěo delle Botti (barrel-rolling contest) in Montepulciano, the cross-bow tournament in San Sepolcro, even the donkey race in Castelnuovo!
These annual fairs are also the occasion for public feasting, and every village has its specialty: from frogs' legs in Pietraviva to truffles in San Giovanni d'Asso.
The Chianti district is one of Italy's prime wine regions, and there are many opportunities to tour the wineries and sample their products. Olive groves are also the region's pride, and while it is not normally possible to visit an oil press, olive oil can be purchased directly from the producers. Olives are pressed in November and December and the olio nuovo or new oil, which is very piquant for the first several months, is especially prized on bruschetta and ribollita.
Sports enthusiasts will find many opportunities for activity. Our swimming pool is
6x12 meters (20x40 ft) and has a deep end for diving. We also have a bocce court for
sand bowling and a covered pingpong table. You are welcome to play tennis on our court,
which has a surface of synthetic grass and sand, and if you prefer asphalt or clay there
are tennis clubs in Siena that accept temporary guests.
Right on the border of the Montalto estate is a very good riding center, where lessons
in English mount and jumping are available and interesting guided tours through the
countryside are organized daily. About 10 minutes away there is a polo club. There are
two excellent golf courses at about an hour's drive from the Castle, and two 9-hole
courses at half an hour's distance. Sailing is possible on Lake Trasimeno. Sport fishing
is available not far away and Montalto has a creek and a pond of its own with catfish
and carp and the occasional trout.
For health and wellness, we have miles of trails and dirt roads for walking and jogging, on and around our 700-acre estate, and a small work-out bench with weights for exercising. Nearby there are two thermal spas where you can swim in naturally heated pools and have a mud bath or massage or inhalation treatment.
For an all-day excursion, you might want to go to the Mediterranean coast and take a cruise to the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, or drive or take the train to Rome for a day: it takes less than 2 and ˝ hours to get there. Pisa and Lucca are also within easy reach for day-long trips, while many stay overnight at the Cinque Terre to walk the mountain trail overlooking the sea.
The list doesn't end here: What about a balloon ride at dawn, followed by a champagne breakfast in a field?