Montemerano

Montemerano is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, perched on a hillock from which dominates one of the most beautiful views of Tuscany.

Montemerano is certainly one of the most fascinating places in the Maremma, a small maze of alleys and squares where you can still breathe today that atmosphere typical of ancient villages … artisan shops, shops of typical products, restaurants and wine bars, a walk through the walls of the historic center is an experience not to be missed, a unique opportunity to take a dip in the past! Montemerano is a village with a typically medieval structure and its peculiarity is immediately evident from the ancient palaces, the walls, its beautiful Chiesa di San Lorenzo and the Piazza del Castello, without any doubt one of the most magical places in this small and delightful Maremma village. Montemerano is a jewel to discover, it is only a few minutes’ drive from the Terme di Saturnia and the Cascate del Mulino and is ideal for spending a quiet afternoon walking through its narrow alleys and admiring hidden glimpses of a beauty that takes your breath away.

What to see in Montemerano

Every corner of the village of Montemerano tells an ancient story, its ancient palaces, its imposing church, the large wall up to the famous Piazza del Castello.

• CHURCH OF ST. GEORGE. The church dates back to the first half of the 1300s and was restored in the early part of the 15th century, with the addition of the apse and transept. The building preserves one of the most important collections of works of art of the fifteenth century in the province of Grosseto, beautiful frescoes, a polytych of Sano di Pietro made in 1458, the Madonna della Gattaiola probably painted on the door of a wardrobe or an organ and depicting the Virgin Mary, dating back to the first half of the fifteenth century, and two wooden statues, also from the first half of the 1400s, a statue depicting St. Peter and a relief with the Assumption of the Virgin, both made by Vecchietta or artists of the Sienese school.
• SQUARE OF THE CASTLE. It is the ancient weapons square of the castle of Montemerano, although in reality there is no real castle, here they used to train young knights in medieval and Renaissance times. Today the square, one of the most beautiful places in Montemerano, is used as a location for shows, events and concerts, such as the beautiful Witches’ Day, which takes place every year on November 1st.
• THE WALLS The walls surround the entire town of Montemerano, it was built between 1200 and 1300, restored and enlarged during the fifteenth century. The original wall structure included 6 watchtowers, four of which still exist today and in excellent condition. The great peculiarity of the walls of Montemerano, however, is in fact their appearance on the other, the aerial view in fact, shows their characteristic heart shape.

History of Montemerano

The areas surrounding the village of Montemerano were inhabited since the Neolithic and Bronze Age. The birth of the first housing nucleus dates back to the Etruscan-Roman period, when the town was known as Mons Marianus, probably derived from that of consul Mario who here, between 88 and 82 BC.C. was defeated by Lucius Cornelius Silla during the Civil War. The first certain information about the existence of Montemerano dates back only to 896, when emperor Anulf granted it as a gift to the Abbey of San Salvatore on Mount Amiata. The city of Montemerano remained under the control of the abbey for over a century, until the year 1000, when it was conquered by the Aldobrandeschi and soon became the object of interest and disputed with the cities of Orvieto and Siena. In 1203 Roger of Montemerano and other vassals of the Aldobrandeschi, in the name of Count Ildebrandino, swore allegiance to Orvieto. After the marriage of Gemma Aldobrandeschi and Ugolino da Baschi, Montemerano passed to the Basque family who ceded him, in 1382 to Siena. Under the Sienese government in Montemerano the castle was rebuilt and the walls were fortified, making the city one of the most important in the Albegna Valley. At the fall of the Sienese power Montemerano passed to the Florentines and became part of the Capitanate of Sovana, until its annexation to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, passing from the Medici to the Lorraine, until the day of its annexation to the Kingdom of Italy.

How to get to Montemerano

Our farm is only 7.8km from the village of Montemerano, which is easily accessible by car in just 10 minutes. Proceed in a north-west direction for about 700 meters, then turn right onto the SP159, continue for 130mt then enter the SP10 and continue for 5.1km, then turn left and continue again for 1.9 km.