MONTICIANO | SIENA PROVINCE

Monticiano is a town and comune on the right bank of the Val di Merse, Tuscany, Italy, administratively part of the Province of Siena. The town is situated on the Colline Metallifere and part of the Crete Senesi area. One of its frazioni, Bagni di Petriolo, is popular for its thermal waters.

The first written evidence of the town goes back to 1171 when the feudal rule of the area fell to the bishop of Volterra. During the Medieval period the forests represented an incredibly important resource. Not only did they provide wood but also several important food stuffs such as wild game and chestnuts. A system of agriculture quickly grew up around Monticiano, the principal product cultivated being wheat.

Siena soon made it clear that it wanted to lay claim to the small town. After the defeat of Colle Val d’Elsa in 1269 the Sienese invaded and took over the town, which was guilty of having provided refuge for Ghibelline traitors. The Sienese destroyed the castle walls.

In the middle of the War of Siena (1554 – 55), the Grand Duchy took over rule of the town and Monticiano fell under the power of Florence. Less than a century later Ferdinando II de’ Medici offered the town to Orso Pannoccieschi d’Elci. His family held feudal power over the town until 1749.

Last century, the town played an important role for the Resistance. The town was the base of the ‘Spartaco Lavagnini’ brigade, one of the first partisan organisations in Italy, and provided a backdrop for several battles. The night time battle between the partisans and the Germans between the 3rd and 4th of June 1944 which took place in the town’s central piazza is particularly remembered.