Monteriggioni is 15.12 km from Siena (travel time, by car or bus estimated at 17 minutes) and 55.68 km
from Florence (travel time, by car or bus estimated at 54 minutes) and can be reached via
For Florence-Siena freeway junction.
Abbadia Isola is 4.4 km from Monteriggioni and can be reached via the Colligiana Provincial Road/
SP5 (travel time, by car or bus estimated 8 minutes).
MONTERIGGIONI: located just north of Siena, it was founded in the second decade of the 13th century by the
Republic of Siena, with the main purpose of creating a defensive outpost against rival Florence. For
centuries therefore, the settlement fully performed the function for which it was created, rejecting from time to time
sieges and attacks. Its military function declined from the mid-sixteenth century, when the entire
Sienese state was annexed to the Florentine state.
Its city wall embraces the top of a hill with a perimeter of about 570 meters and is equipped with
Fourteen rectangular towers protruding from the outer curtain. The grandeur of the towers had to be
known even in the Middle Ages, so much so that it suggested to Dante a famous simile with the Giants placed
In the Inferno (Inf., XXXI, vv. 40-44). Within the village, in which traces of the ancient
structures, the most interesting building is the Parish Church of St. Mary of the Assumption, dating from the early
mid-13th century and remodeled inside in modern times.
Inside the castle of Monteriggioni, it is possible to visit the circuit that includes the walkways on the
city walls and the “Monteriggioni in Arme” educational trail.
The walkways on the walls, built in the early 2000s, consist of two separate walkways of
different lengths, placed near the doors. The paths ideally re-propose a path of
Medieval patrol.
From the two walkways, it is possible to observe the castle from a privileged position, but also enjoy a
breathtaking views, ranging from the Chianti hills to the woods of the Montagnola to the
towers of San Gimignano.
The “Monteriggioni in Arme” educational trail, with access from Piazza Dante Alighieri 23, is divided into four
rooms; traces the period when Monteriggioni functioned as a military outpost of the Republic of
Siena. Each room, dedicated to a different century between the 1200s and 1500s, bears reproductions of weapons and armor
presumably in vogue in the area and bilingual panels illustrating local history and siege techniques
and defense of a medieval castle. The exhibits were made respecting ancient techniques,
drawing on original elements if any and on coeval depictions of soldiers and battle scenes.
Particularly appreciated is the possibility of handling and wearing some parts of armor, which gives the
audience a direct interaction with the exhibition, making them an active part of the educational journey.
ABBADIA ISLAND: a small village located on the slopes of Mt. May, it was a stopping point on the Via
Francigena as early as the 10th century, as witnessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sigeric, who stopped there during his
journey to Rome. Sigeric noted in his diary the name “Borgonuovo,” for it was not until 1001, following
of the foundation of the abbey by Ava dei Lambardi, the place name became Abbadia Isola. The place where
stands the monastery, which, as the name reminds us, was once surrounded by water, is chosen
mainly because of its strategic position controlling the Via Francigena.
Throughout the following centuries, one of the main functions of the abbey would continue to be the
hospital, or shelter and hospitality for wayfarers in transit to Rome. Starting from the foundation the
monastery experienced a remarkable economic and political rise, which would continue until the middle of the thirteenth century.
Thereafter it would begin a slow decline that in 1446 would lead to the aggregation of the monastery to that of
S. Eugene near Siena.
The monumental complex was chosen to house The MaM (Monteriggioni Archaeological Museum).
The museum is “outside-in,” meaning it is intended to tell the story of the abbey with special paneling and
open-air enhancement elements, while the two exhibition areas (La tinaia and Sigeric rooms) narrate through
reconstructions, models, multimedia aids, artifacts and paneling the events of the Monteriggionian territory
on a journey back in time, from the Middle Ages to protohistory. The premises of the Tinaia constitute the access
to the visit, directly introducing both the layout of the Cloister and Church and the rooms located on the floor
upper; in the three rooms, in succession, it is possible to trace the history of the abbey, as well as see the
Reconstruction of an exponent of the Franzesi family (last lords of Staggia influential on Abbadia a Isola)
Buried with her jewels in the cloister.
In the Sigeric Hall, the display continues from the Roman Age to Prehistory, with a prominent place attributed to
to the tomb of the Calisna Śepu, from the Casone necropolis, found in 1893. This section includes.
also the reconstruction of the so-called “Chiostraccio Man”; this is a skeleton found in 1962 and
considered for years to be the oldest known Tuscan man, having been dated to over 15,000 years old. Today,
thanks to new analysis (carbon 14 and DNA), it was possible to establish that he did not live in the Paleolithic age, but
Etruscan.
In contrast, to the period of land formation related to the proto-urban center of Volterra, the small
Late Iron Age settlement at Campassini locality. In addition to the materials recovered during the
excavations, its explanation is enhanced by two reconstructive models illustrating life in the village, through
The reconstruction of the hut and pottery kiln active here.
Finally, touch screen totems provide access to in-depth videos and reconstructions
Three-dimensional of nonexhibitable artifacts.
At the end of the trail, an educational room is set up in which to conduct museum-related activities. The whole
route (visit to the monument complex, museum and educational activities) will be conducted through a special
specialized operator.
