MONTALCINO
Distanza dalla Guinza: 42 Km - about 40m. by carLocated on an enchanting hill of 564 m. above sea level, Montalcino still retains its charm of an ancient medieval village. Its territory, which is part of the Val d'Orcia Natural and Cultural Artistic Park, is covered by vineyards (from which high quality wines such as the famous Brunello are obtained), olive trees and woods where holm oak trees and from whose Latin term (Ilex) probably derives the name Montalcino, Mons Ilcinus. The first important permanent presence in the area is linked to the archaeological site of Poggio alla Civitella (on a hill 3 km from Montalcino) with Etruscan remains from the Archaic and Hellenistic period: starting from the 6th century. B.C. the hill hosted a village and later a fortress with three defensive circuits, presumably abandoned during the third century. B.C.