Montalcino Fortezza

The Fortezza di Montalcino is a perfectly preserved 14th-century fortress perched at Montalcino's highest point, offering complete rampart walks around intact medieval walls. You can walk the entire perimeter on stone battlements, looking out over the rolling Val d'Orcia landscape and the Brunello vineyards that made this town famous. Inside the fortress walls, a wine bar serves Brunello di Montalcino by the glass, letting you drink some of Italy's finest wine while standing on medieval ramparts.

The fortress visit starts at the main gate where you pay EUR 4 for access to the ramparts and interior courtyard. The walk along the walls takes about 20 minutes at a leisurely pace, with panoramic viewpoints at each corner revealing different aspects of the valley below. The wine bar operates from a stone building inside the courtyard, and you can carry your glass up onto the ramparts for what might be the most perfectly matched wine and view combination in Tuscany.

Most people rush through the rampart walk in 10 minutes, but slow down and actually look at the landscape. The fortress itself is small, so don't expect extensive interior rooms or museums. The wine bar charges EUR 6 to 15 for Brunello depending on the producer, which is reasonable for this quality. Skip the small souvenir shop unless you need emergency gifts, the wine selection is better in town.