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The Sanctuary of Pietrina is a small church that you can reach crossing the village of Iano in the territory of Montaione and going towards the small village of Palagio.
Once you arrive to the Sanctuary of Pietrina, that we recommend you to reach on foot or by bike starting from Iano, you’ll realize that your efforts have not been useless and you’ll be rewarded by breathtaking scenery of the Tuscan countryside and a sense of peace and tranquility.
The Sanctuary of Pietrina is a lovely country church that stands on the remains of what once was the ancient castle of the Pietra. Beside the church is a scenic area where you can see in the distance Volterra and if the days are particularly clear, you can also see the sea.

The Church of San Vivaldo, is located on the site where in an ancient time there was the church of Santa Maria a Camporena and a chestnut tree in which, on 1 May 1320 was found dead Vivaldo Stricchi.
What is now possible to see, is the result of an extension of the original church, carried out between 1326 and 1355 and consecrated 30 November 1416 (or 1410) by Bishop Franciscan Fra Antonio da Prato.
The following video shows the exterior of the church with the “loggia”, typical architectural element of Franciscan churches. Inside – with a single aisle – is enriched with paintings and terracotta statues and holds the relics of St. Vivaldo. At the half of the church is the chapel which corresponds to the ancient church of Santa Maria a Camporena.

Saturday, December 26th was held in Montaione, at the Scipione Ammirato Theatre, the traditional Christmas concert offered by the Philharmonic G. Donizetti of Montaione.
During this musical event, which drew many people as every year, the Philharmonic G. Donizetti, led by Professor Giuliano Cetti, gave his best, playing some classical songs of his repertoire and a piece of Christmas, all accompanied by the choreography of the majorette.
The video below shows some of the band’s performance of Montaione and majorette during the Christmas Concert.

Yesterday we have visited the traditional feast of Pane e Olio (bread and oil), which like every year takes place in the centre of Montaione in Piazza della Repubblica.
The protagonists of this event were the Bread of Montaione, the extra virgin olive and the wine of Montaione presented at the stands from farms of Montaione.

How about spending your next vacation in a place where there is everything a cyclist could want? If you love to know new places riding your bicycle, the territory of Montaione is the place for you! Over 50km of trails for mountain biking and hundreds of miles of paved roads with few traffic suitable for the road bike you will give you the opportunity to know Tuscany from a new point of view! RideMontaione.com invite friends of bike to travel and explore far and wide throughout the territory of Montaione and its amazing surroundings.

Awaiting for the website will be online, turn up your speaker volume and enjoy this trailer!

We have just concluded 18th edition of the traditional festival of white truffle, chestnut and typical products in Montaione held last Sunday, October 25, 2009. Like every year this event, thanks to the beautiful sunny day, drew thousands of fans from all over the Tuscan region, and also many tourists that in this period are on holiday in Montaione.
Since the morning, the streets of the old town, Via Da Filicaja and the area of Villa Serena were full of people looking to taste the typical products like wine, extra virgin olive oil, vin santo, cheese, the famous bread of Montaione and of course the prized white truffle.
It has been the opportunity to learn something more about truffles and its uses: sauces, a delicate truffle butter for starters and dishes with meat. The day has been rich of events that have entertained the public until late evening. In the afternoon at Villa Serena there has been a demonstration of truffles hunting with dogs, later the parade of the band of Montaione, the Philharmonic G. Donizetti and finally the show on the streets of Montaione with the flag-wavers of the “Knights of Camporena”. The sun and mild temperatures have framed an event which every year is enriched to become more and more an appointment that you cannot miss.

In many medieval town in Tuscany there is the Praetorian Palace. A Praetorian Palace is a building that hosts the governor – who usually belonged to a noble family – and who administered the territory. In Montaione, the Praetorian Palace, whose origins date back to 1257, is situated in Via Cresci, 15 in the historic centre.
In the past, has been home of many noble families including that of Michele di Giovanni de ‘Medici and Pietro Leopoldo, as reflected by coats of arms in ceramics affixed to the facade of the Praetorian Palace. The Praetorian Palace has been the seat of the telegraph office and then turned into school.
Today it houses the Civic Museum. The Civic Museum of Montaione exposes many discoveries that date back to the Etruscan and Roman age. In particular, fragments of vases found in the locality of Santo Stefano and Bellafonte and near the Roman cistern. Other exhibits demonstrate the ancient art of glass-making – practiced since the twelfth century – which spread from Montaione across the Valdelsa territory.
If you want to know more closely the ancient origins of the village of Montaione, don’t forget to visit this small but interesting museum.

The calendar of summer events of Montaione is very rich and interesting, featuring various kinds of evenings that are ideal for involving all those who are spending a vacation in Tuscany.
On September 1, was characterized by two particularly important. At 18.00 it was held in the centre of Montaione the market of typical products that has offered a large choice of products from local farms.
At 21.30, in Piazza Branchi has been held the live concert of “Tamanduà” that closed the last of the three evenings of the Festival of Musica Suonata dedicated to live music. Tamanduà is a group formed by three singers as Elena Guarducci, Anna Maria Giglitto and Maria Palmerini, accompanied by the guitar of Pino Arborea and the bass of Marco Cattarossi. The repertoire of this group is made up of famous and less famous tracks of the Música Popular Brasileira as “Aguas de Março”, “Upa Neguinho”, “O que será”, “Mas que nada” and “Samba da Rosa (by Toquinho and Vinicius de Morales).
The voices, joining together, create an original atmosphere that tells about far countries.

In a crowded Piazza della Repubblica in the historical centre of Montaione, was held last August 25, a concert by the Faberband. Guided by the voice and the artistic direction of Stefano Montagnani this group of musicians has created a real tribute to the poetry and songs of Fabrizio De Andrè.
Also in the follwing videos – a brief summary of the evening – you can see how the line up is full of exciting songs appreciated by the Italian public and by those on holiday in Montaione that have been dragged into a journey through more than 30 years of music.
It worth to mention the special guests of Pier Michelatti, historical bassist who accompanied De Andrè in the last twenty years of his career and Piero Milesi arranger, performer and producer of the last work of Fabrizio De Andrè called Anime Salve.

Yesterday 18 august, in the Piazza della Repubblica in Montaione, has taken place the first of three evenings of live music called the Festival of Musica Suonata. The festival has been opened by the duo composed of musician Luca Pirozzi and Paolo Mari called “I Napoleoni” which resulted in Tuscany a piece of Naples and its history, its voices and its gaiety.

As shown by the following video the Napoleoni have presented to the people of Montaione cover music of Renato Carosone, Domenico Modugno and Pino Daniele. Only with percussion, voice and guitar Luca Pirozzi and Paolo Mari were able to create a cheerful and fresh atmosphere in a warm summer night.