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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.