Montalcino: The Fortress and The Famous Brunello Wine

The Fortress of Montalcino (Siena, Italy)

Hello, my friends!
Welcome in My Own Italy, happy to let you discover Italy with My Personal Touch!

Today I'd like to tell you something about one of the most famous land of wine: Brunello di Montalcino .

Montalcino (Siena), The Fortress

Montalcino is located on a hill about 600 meters to the right of the Orcia river, about 40 km south-west of Siena, in Tuscany.
Origin of the first Etruscan and then Roman.

 
Its strategic location on the ancient Via Francigena was such that Montalcino rapidly acquired the structure of the military city with great defensive walls, numerous towers and the beautiful fortress that, despite the many sieges, was never conquered.
 

 

 Became a free city under the Guelphs, Montalcino fought almost all the wars of the Middle Ages is and Ghibelline factions and against both the nearby Siena until 1361 when it was granted to Montalcinesi Siena citizens.

The Fortezza was built in 1381 by Domenico di Feo and Mino Foresi and incorporates part of the walls and towers of the previous century.

 

Montalcino, The Fortress

The plant is irregular pentagon with slender corner towers. Inside, the spacious courtyard is now used as a theater for shows and cultural events.

Montalcino and Its Brunello Wine

Montalcino is known even (and mostly!) for the production of the Brunello Wine:  Brunello, a diminutive of "Bruno", a male given name which means brown, is the name that was given locally to what was believed to be an individual grape variety grown in Montalcino.

Wine Testing in Montalcino (Siena, Italy)

Brunello di Montalcino is made 100% from Sangiovese.

The Sangiovese grape is the most widely planted grape in the Montalcino region and is the only permitted grape in the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. 

Wine Shopping in Montalcino (Siena, Tuscany)

The particular clones of Sangiovese are unique to the Montalcino region and have developed in adaption to that area's specific terroir. 

Geraniums in The Fortress

The altitude and climate of the Montalcino region has provided an area where Sangiovese ripens more fully and consistently than anywhere else in Tuscany!

I hope you will enjoy this so famous italian wine... 

I'll wait for your suggestions and comments!

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Ciao, Carlotta

The River Po: riding along the Right Bank

Pedestrian Cycle Route of Ferrara, the Right bank of the River Po

Hello my friends, welcome in My Own Italy!

Today I'd like to suggest you another way to discover Italy with my personal touch.

If you want to enjoy Italy by the Slow Tourism, you can visit Ferrara, in Emilia Romagna Region. I suggest you this itinerary : the River Po, cycling on the right bank.

At the city entrance you will notice the sign "City of Bicycles", which gives the feeling of entering a place where the rider becomes user "less weak" of the road.

 

Just a few steps away in the old town, or even just a quick look soon as you exit the train station, to realize that actually the number of bikes is large, as well as the people that use: the people of cyclists in Ferrara is about 90% of its inhabitants!!.

Ferrara also has morphological characteristics that have enabled the enhancement of the bicycle, such as the fact of being in the flat Po Valley - Venetian.

My son Francesco and I cycling along the River Po

From the heart of the city a bike path along the countryside of Ferrara, and you can admire the view of the river right bank of the Po River.

The bike path runs along between rows of poplar trees in a pleasant and peaceful landscape where you can ride smoothly and effortlessly!

Read more on this route:
Il Grande Anello d'Acqua

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Ciao, Carlotta!

The Italian Alpes: Livigno, Val Federìa

Val Federìa, Livigno (Italy)

My dear friends, welcome in My Own Italy!

Val Federìa, Livigno

I suggest you an itinerary evocative and  quietly: Val Federìa.

Starting from Livigno, you can can star a walk of about two hours;

Chiesa dell'Addolorata (Livigno)

you will meet old chalets, manicured lawns and a small church with the typical onion dome!

 

Stream Federìa, Val Federia (Livigno)

At the bottom of the valley, the stream from which the valley takes its name, runs roaring, breaking the silence in which the area is often surrounded!

Val Federìa, Livigno (Italy)

 

Inhabited and used to pasture at the top, cultivated in the low part, only during the summer, Val Federìa offers a wonderful environment...

Goats grazing in Val Federìa

During my walk, I had a lot of very special meetings.... 

They were wondering what I was doing there....!

Now, if you are not so tired, but you are hungry after this walk in My Own Italy . .. well, please wait and follow me looking at my page My Own Italy, Where to eat  on my blog: you will find a small personal suggestion. I'm sure you will appreciate and enjoy!!!

This is me in Val Federìa: magic Livigno!

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Ciao, Carlotta!