Free walking tours in Montalcino and what to see

Must-sees

Montalcino looks out from its hill over the vineyards and olive groves of the Val d'Orcia, a landscape declared a World Heritage Site. It is the home of Brunello, the red wine that made it famous, and that shows in every street, full of wine bars. The first thing you will see is the medieval fortress, with its prominent walls and towers, whose ramparts offer wide views of the countryside. On Piazza del Popolo the Palazzo dei Priori stands out, with its tall, slender tower.

The Civic and Diocesan Museum, in the former convent of Sant'Agostino, brings together wooden sculpture, Sienese gold-ground painting and an archaeology section. In the same complex, the Tempio del Brunello explains the wine with projections and virtual reality. About ten kilometres away, near Castelnuovo dell'Abate, the abbey of Sant'Antimo is a Romanesque church of pale stone in the middle of the countryside, well worth the detour.

Free tours and guided visits

Montalcino has no regular free walking tours. What is on offer revolves around wine: you can book a wine tasting in the town to try Brunello and other local reds. If you prefer a guided visit, there are private tours combining the town with the abbey of Sant'Antimo, convenient because the abbey is outside the centre and hard to reach without a car.

How long to spend

The town can be explored in two or three hours, including the fortress and the museum. Add a tasting and the visit to Sant'Antimo and you have a full day. If you like wine, two days let you visit a winery on the outskirts and head to Sant'Angelo in Colle or the villages of the Val d'Orcia, such as Pienza, San Quirico d'Orcia and Bagno Vignoni.

Where to stay

Inside the walls there are small hotels, apartments and rooms in old houses, with everything on foot and good views from the viewpoints. Many wineries in the area have an agriturismo or their own accommodation among the vineyards, perfect if you are driving and don't mind country roads. The hamlets of the municipality, such as Castelnuovo dell'Abate or Torrenieri, are quiet alternatives.