MONTEMERANO
In Montemerano history is still alive today, within its ancient walls history, culture and ancient traditions still survive today…
The sturdy walls of Montemerano, dating back to the 15th century, do not hide the beauty and romance of this small town. Little is known about Montemerano before the 12th century, but the people of Montemerano have their own ideas about its origins: they claim that the hilltop town was once the military camp of the Roman general Gaius Marius.
Montemerano, they say, is an amalgam of Monte di Mario. Whatever its history, the city’s picturesque streets and lovingly preserved old buildings make it one of the most enchanting places
of the Maremma.
Tourist Office: Piazza Magenta, Manciano (0564 620532)
TO BE SEEN
Montemerano does not have a list of monuments that you can tick off to be satisfied that you have seen everything there is to see.
In fact, its charm lies in the paved streets and hidden courtyards, in the labyrinth of alleys between Piazza della Chiesa and Piazza Canzanelli, in the powder-colored sandstone houses and in the balconies covered with ivy, between the brick and
the emerald green shutters. The owners of these homes sit in their backyards chatting with neighbors they’ve known their entire lives.
At the center of Montemerano is Piazza del Castello: built as a training camp in the 12th century, it is one of the oldest squares in the Fiora valley. Today the arms have been replaced by the well-tended summer flowers that bloom from old wine barrels and are watered by the same woman who watered all of Montemerano’s flowers for 20 years.
From Piazza del Castello, stroll through the narrow streets to observe the finely carved lintels, hidden squares and wisteria trees. Or follow the descent down from Piazza del Castello to find yourself in via Italia, the main street of Montemerano. Here shops sell handicrafts and homemade sauces, wines and olive oil. There are also a handful of restaurants serving the same traditional dishes
Montemeranesi for generations.
Follow via Italia up to the Church of San Giorgio, a gift given to Montemerano by the Basque counts in the 14th century. Inside, brilliant 15th-17th century frescoes cover the tops of every wall. Above and to the left of the main altar there is a beautiful fresco representing men and women entering Paradise. Painted before Michelangelo, this is one of the few frescoes on Paradise that depicts both sexes in all the splendor of their nakedness. The city’s patron saint, San Giorgio, is depicted in bright pastel frescoes on the right wall. The frescoes near the altar show Saint Ursula and her ladies waiting to leave for their pilgrimage to England. Behind the altar a richly carved series of panels illuminates the room with its golden glow. Painted by Lorenzo di Pietro in 1455, this altarpiece depicts various saints praying before a peaceful Madonna and Child. To his left is a 15th-century wooden statue of St. Peter, sculpted by the same artist. Di Pietro sculpted this intensely expressive work from an olive trunk, hollowed out to prevent it from rotting. To the right of the altar there is another panel, the Madonna della Gattaiola (1450), which depicts Mary in all her youthful beauty.
NOT TO BE MISSED
HOW TO GET TO MONTEMERANO
Montemerano is a fraction of the municipality of Manciano, from which it is 6.5 kilometers away. Montemerano is approximately 50 kilometers from Grosseto, 159 kilometers from Rome, 192 kilometers from Florence and 474 kilometers from Milan.
How to reach Montemerano by car:
- from the north: A1 motorway, take the Florence/Certosa exit, continue on the Florence/Siena road and exit at Siena south, continue towards Grosseto, then Scansano and Montemerano.
- from the south: A11 motorway exit Tarquinia, continue on the SS1 Aurelia up to Vulci, continue following the signs for Manciano and Montemerano
How to reach Montemerano by train:
The main railway stations are those of Albinia at 40 kilometres, Orbetello at 45 kilometers and Grosseto at 50 kilometres. From the stations it is possible to continue by bus (Tiemme line, or by renting a car).
How to reach Montemerano by plane:
The closest airports are Rome-Fiumicino at 141 kilometres, Florence at 193 kilometers and Pisa at 203 kilometres.
WHERE TO EAT IN MONTEMERANO
Montemerano offers a varied food and wine experience, between wine bars and restaurants, the Tuscan village is a true paradise for all lovers of good food and Tuscan culinary traditions. There is nothing better, perhaps after a day of wellness at the Cascate del Mulino, than enjoying a pleasant dinner in one of the restaurants in Montemerano, discovering the excellent traditional Maremma dishes and sipping a glass of good Tuscan wine! Let’s start with the Da Caino Restaurant, 2 Michelin Stars, in the heart of the village of Montemerano, led by chef Valeria Piccini, attached to the well-stocked cellar – over 20,000 bottles – Via della Chiesa 4 – tel. 0564602818. In the scenic Piazza del Castello, treat yourself to an excellent platter accompanied by a glass of good wine or a craft beer at La Grada in Castello, local cold cuts and cheeses and a dream location, Piazza del Castello. We remain among the alleys of the center and find theOsteria dal Moro, welcoming restaurant where you can savor authentic Maremma cuisine, Via Giovanni Conti 3 – tel. 0564602574, we then continue towards theWord of mouth tavern, inside an ancient oil mill, offers excellent traditional dishes often revisited, but with great attention to the quality of the products, Via delle Mura 21 – tel. 0564602983. At the entrance to the town you will find the La Cascia restaurant, a welcoming family-run trattoria, particularly appreciated for its meat main courses, Via del Bivio 23 – tel. 0564602858, the Il Nibbio restaurant, open for both lunch and dinner, offers typical Tuscan dishes, from grilled meats to game dishes, Via del Bivio 22 – tel. 0564602770, and the Vecchia Osteria Cacio e Vino, genuine Tuscan dishes but with panache and imagination, Via del Bivio 16 – tel. 0564602939. Just outside the town we find the Pizzeria Mastro Titta, where you can also eat outside in the summer, excellent pizza and traditional Maremma dishes, Loc. Pratini – tel. 0564602653, the strong, La Limonaia restaurant, annexed to an elegant relais, immersed in a large park, overlooking the swimming pool or the vineyard, offers excellent traditional dishes accompanied by wines from the cellar, Loc. Acquaviva SNC – tel. 0564602890, we close with the La Solina restaurant, surrounded by a large garden, family welcome and extraordinary Tuscan dishes, excellent first courses with homemade pasta and second courses of local meat, loc. Poggio Bertino 18 – tel. 3394923507.
WHERE TO SLEEP IN MONTEMERANO
EVENTS
April
Feast of St. George, April The Feast of St. George is a lively three-day medieval festival celebrating the patron saint of Montemerano. The highlight has always been the launch of a gigantic hot air balloon. Montemerano is the only city in the Maremma to have this tradition. Generations of local families spend weeks gluing the delicate paper squares together, preparing their lacquer coatings and making sure they dry flat. All their hard work is put to the test when specially trained men light a fire under the balloon and launch it hopefully into the air. After that, the traditional Dragon Joust begins. To begin, two unlucky men from the village play the parts of the horses. A young knight climbs on top of them and gallops across the square trying to slay the dragon and win the princess’s love.
October 31st – November 1st
Music, masks and lots of fun to celebrate the scariest night of the year together… Halloween!! A great concert in the scenic Piazza del Castello which turns into the witches’ hideout, lots of fun, music and the awarding of the best mask!
