SHOP
Via S.Giovanni, 16
San Gimignano (Siena), Italia
Telephone and Fax +39.0577.940407

FARMHOUSE
Loc. Montauto
San Gimignano (Siena), Italia
Telephone +39.0577.943049

GPS COORDINATES (FARMHOUSE)
Latitude: 43.4493°N
Longitude: 11.0375°E

La Buca di Montauto is located in a favourable position to explore Tuscany and its most important tourist attractions, such as Volterra 30km from San Gimignano, Siena (40km), Florence (55km), Pisa (about 80km).

SIENA
Siena is known worldwide for its artistic treasures and for its distinctly medieval feel and its well-preserved historical centre. It is registered in the list of UNESCO’s World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Siena has always attracted lots of tourists thanks to the stunning beauty of its monuments and for its celebrated Palio (a horse race that takes place in the famous Piazza del Campo twice a year). Traditionally Piazza del Campo is the heart of the town, and it is a very original shell-shaped square bordered by elegant buildings. The Palazzo Comunale (also called Palazzo Pubblico) in Piazza del Campo was finished in the fourteenth century by the government of the Sienese Republic. Its bell tower, Torre del Mangia, at 102m, is the second highest medieval tower ever built in Italy.
Siena’s Duomo (Cattedrale di santa Maria Assunta) is a fascinating example of Romanesque-Gothic style.

FLORENCE
Registered in the list of UNESCO’s World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1982, the historical centre of Florence is fairly compact and surrounded by a circle of avenues traced along the ancient medieval walls. Panoramic views of the whole towns can be enjoyed from the surrounding hills, and especially from Forte Belvedere, Piazzale Michelangelo and from the hill-top city of Fiesole which offers one of the most spectacular views over the Arno valley. In 1856 Florence was chosen as the capital of the new Italian state (1865-1871). Under the Medici leadership, for centuries Florence was an important economical, cultural, trading and financial centre in medieval Europe. It is considered the cradle of Renaissance and it is a concentrate of art and architecture, with its many historical buildings, monuments, and museums with precious works (such as the Uffizi Gallery, Accademia , the Bargello and Palazzo Pitti, which became the main residence of the Medici in 1550 and subsequently all the rulers of the city lived here.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is Florence’s Duomo set in the heart of Florence in the Piazza del Duomo.
It is the fourth biggest Church in Europe after Saint Peter in Rome, Saint Paul in London and Milan’s Duomo. It is 153m long and the basement of its dome is 90m large. It has a very peculiar shape, and it is divided in three naves built around the large Brunelleschi’s Dome, the largest dome built without scaffolding. The dome is covered with the famous cycle of frescoes accomplished between 1572-1579 by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari, who painted all its 3600sqm.
In 1296 Arnolfo di Cambio started building the Duomo in 1296 on the ancient foundation of Santa Reparata Church and then took over by Giotto, who superintended the works from 1334 until he died in 1337. It was finished by Francesco Talenti and Giovanni di Lapo Ghini in 1357. In 1412 its name was turned into Santa Maria del Fiore. The cathedral was consecrated by Pope Eugene IV on 25th March 1436 at the end of the works for Brunelleschi’s Dome.
Piazza della Signoria is Florence’s main square and a unique outdoor sculpture gallery. Palazzo Vecchio is the seat of Florentine politics and the square is the heart of the town’s social life.
The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) is one of the symbols of Florence and it crosses the Arno River in its narrowest point. The first building on the bridge dates back to the Romans. It was the only bridge in the city to escape being blown up during World War II.

VOLTERRA
The city is famous for its craftsmen who carve the locally mined alabaster. Its historical centre has ancient Etruscan origins and in many places the ancient Etruscan walls still stand (Porta all'Arco, a well-preserved Etruscan arch, and Porta Diana partially preserved). Just outside the city walls, there is and ancient Roman theatre, and the historical walled town includes fine medieval buildings, such as the Cathedral and Palazzo dei Priori, dominating the homonymous square that is the heart of the town. The name of the town also has Etruscan origins and it was later adapted to the latin volaterrae. To be noted that the Etruscan prefix vel means high plateau. Velathri (which was the ancient name of Volterra) was a member of Dodecapolis, a confederation of the 12 most powerful Etruscan cities.

PISA
Pisa’s world-famous Leaning Tower, at 56m, is just one of the splendid religious buildings that rise from The Field of Miracles”, Piazza dei Miracoli, which is registered in the list of UNESCO’s Cultural and Natural World Heritage. The Tower is partnered by the marble Cathedral, accomplished between 1063 and 1118, featuring an original Pisan Romanesque style, with its Bonanno Pisano’s bronze panels for the south transept doors (Portale di San Ranieri) and Nicola Pisano’s great marble pulpit.
Begun in 1173, the Tower in Piazza dei Miracoli began to tip sideways before it was completed because of its shallow foundations and sandy silt subsoil. This is why there are at least two other leaning towers in Pisa: the bell tower of San Nicola Church, at the other end of Via Santa Maria, nearby Lungarno, and the bell tower of San Michele degli Scalzi Church, half way along Viale delle Piagge (an avenue situated in east end of the town). In this case the whole building actually leans).

THE RUINS OF CASTELVECCHIO
Castelvecchio, situated on top of a hill, originally was an Etruscan sacred site. After the decline of the Etruscan civilization eclipsed by the Romans, the city of Castelvecchio remained isolated, too far from the network of consular roads. Between the late sixteenth and the early seventeenth century, when Italy was under the attack of the Lombards, this hill was discovered and fortified by the invaders, who introduced a new social and political organization. Ancient documents state that in 1100 Castelvecchio already had its current layout and it was proclaimed a free Commune. From the ruins of the houses that still stand of the site we can deduce that this settlement could house up to 500 persons, even if we can estimate that the inhabitants were no more than 100, mainly farmers. These ruins are particularly important to understand the daily life in the fortified castles in the Tuscan countryside: soldiers on sentry protected the people working the fields from their posts on the city walls and on the towers. In case of danger, they gave the alarm and people hurried back inside the walled city.

MONTERIGGIONI
Monteriggioni is a small fortified hilltop town.
The Castle of Monteriggioni is 172 m across, and it is totally encircled by high and very thick walls with 2 gates and 15 heavily fortified towers (4mx6m), at 6,5m up the city walls. Only 11 of the original towers still stand, the remaining four being reduced at the walls level. Soldiers walked on the city walls to guard the town and since 2005 parts of this corridor has been restored to enjoy magnificent views of the Tuscan countryside.
La Porta Franca o Romea (the gate towards Siena) is situated at the base of a tower. S. Giovanni Gate (towards Florence ) opens in the middle of the walls and it is guarded by one of the towers.
Porta Franca o Romea, originallly provided with a heavy gate that was closed in case of danger, opens into Piazza Roma, the heart of the village that also includes the Church of Santa Maria Assunta.