Francigena slow

Next, a gentle footpath will take us towards the walled town of Monteriggioni, as our eyes take in golden expanses of grain and thick woodland.

The town with its unmistakable silhouette, sheltering within the embrace of its mighty walls, is small but well worth a visit, above all when you climb up to the walkways on the walls to admire the incomparable views of the surrounding countryside.

Indeed, with a little imagination you can still hear the footsteps of the soldiers who used to guard the castle from atop, although to hear the wailing of the ghost which still haunts the place you need to wait for a full moon. 😉
What happened was this: in 1554 a certain Giovacchino Zeti quite simply betrayed his side by handing the castle, last defence against the attacks of the Florentines, over to the enemy. This marked the beginning of the end for Siena, which was soon to fall into the hands of the Medici family. That is why Zeti’s ghost, tormented by remorse for his cowardly act, is said still to wander in the underground passageways of Monteriggioni.

Just as interesting is a visit to the Museum named “Monteriggioni in arme”: an enjoyable, informative opportunity to learn all there is to know about siege strategy and medieval armour.