Monteriggioni, Medieval fortress town in Tuscany, Italy.
Monteriggioni is a settlement in the Province of Siena in Tuscany that sits on a hill above the surrounding countryside. The circular layout is enclosed by a continuous stone wall running roughly 570 meters and featuring fourteen square watchtowers as well as two entrance gates to the north and south.
The Republic of Siena built this fortification between 1214 and 1219 to defend against Florence and control the trade route Via Cassia. The site served as an outpost and was contested several times during regional conflicts in later centuries.
The name comes from an ancient hill where it stands, and the settlement keeps its medieval layout with a central square and narrow lanes. Residents live inside the old walls and use the historic buildings as homes, workshops and small shops.
Visitors can walk along the defensive wall and see an exhibit of medieval weapons. The approach works best by car because the place lies away from major routes and parking sits outside the wall.
Dante mentions this place in the Divine Comedy and compares the fourteen towers to giants surrounding the abyss of hell. The poet likely knew the site personally and used its striking appearance as a literary image.
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