“Di torri si corona”
The Castle of Monteriggioni was built in 1214 to provide Siena with extra protection from Florence. Besieged many a time, Monteriggioni was never conquered, but, in the 16th century, treachery from within led to its downfall. Consequently, Siena was finally forced to surrender to Florence.
Just a short bus ride from Siena or Colle Val d’Elsa (about 20 min to/from each), Monteriggioni can be “conquered” in an afternoon. Climb the walls, try on some armour at the museum, have a gelato, and imagine yourself in a time where these walls provided shelter to pilgrims and a home to soldiers.
Dante Alighieri, Inferno, Canto XXXI, verses 40-45
però che, come su la cerchia tonda
Montereggion di torri si corona,
così la proda che ’l pozzo circonda
torreggiavan di mezza la persona
li orribili giganti, cui minaccia
Giove del cielo ancora quando tuona.
For just as Monteriggioni is crowned with towers
soaring high above its curving ramparts,
so, on the bank that runs around the well,
towering with only half their bodies out,
stood the terrible giants, forever threatened
by Jupiter in the heavens when he thunders.
