May 7 cont'd, Montalcino

After our visit to the winery, we spent 2-3 hours wandering the picturesque streets of the hilltop town of Montalcino. The town has a complicated history of trying to avoid choosing sides between Siena and Florence - both cities wanted its strategic position as well as its prosperity in the 1200's. Florence finally won out. The town is small and a fortress anchors one
end at the highest point. Steep cobblestone streets and alleys slope down the hill from the fort and give amazing views if the Orcia valley.