Montalcino, Siena: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

Montalcino is a hilltop town in southern Tuscany, Italy, 40 kilometers south of Siena, perched at 564 meters elevation above the Val d'Orcia valley. The town is the exclusive production zone for Brunello di Montalcino, one of Italy's most prestigious red wines, made entirely from Sangiovese grapes and requiring a minimum of five years' aging before release. The 14th-century Fortezza at the town's summit houses an enoteca where visitors can taste Brunello from dozens of local producers. Roughly 200 wineries operate within the designated appellation, which was among Italy's first to receive DOCG status in 1980. is just one of many options in Siena. Major attractions worth considering include Palio of Siena (Palio di Siena), Abbey of Sant'Antimo (Abbazia di Sant'Antimo), and Baptistery of San Giovanni (Battistero di San Giovanni).