Civic Museum

Located in Via Cresci, inside Palazzo Pretorio, in the historical center of Montaione, the Civic Museum tells the story of this territory through archaeological, palaeontological, mineral and fossil findings recovered in the surroundings of Montaione.

The museum path is divided into two floors and follows a chronological order: at the entrance to the ground floor you can admire the remains of a fossil whale found in 1980 in Castelfalfi dating back to 4.5 / 3.9 million years , while in the following two rooms you can see the remains of ancient Etruscan settlements dated from IX to II century BC.

In the first room are exposed objects found in Etruscan and Roman necropolises located in Castelfalfi, Santo Stefano and Poggio all'Aglione, while the second room contains the findings recovered during excavations at Poggio Carlotta witnessing the different aspects of everyday life at Etruscan times.

On the first floor there are two more rooms. In the first one are exposed the findings found in Santo Stefano (dating back to the end of the IX century BC and the medieval period) and in the "Bellafonte" site at the "well of the furnace" (dating back to the end of the 7th and II century BC ) While in the second room you can admire some fragments of Roman flooring and the reconstruction of a part of the aqueduct of the Roman cistern located in the "muraccio" site.

For more information about the timetable and for visiting the Civic Museum you may refer to the Tourist Information Office located inside the Praetorian Palace.

Getting there

Urban Trekking in Montaione

Urban Trekking

Urban Trekking is a walk through the ancient streets of the village of Montaione. At a slow pace, following our itinerary, you will discover the historical places, the lesser known corners and the curiosities of an hamlet with more than a thousand years of history.

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History of Montaione

The Castle of Montaione

Montaione still maintains its characteristic oval castle shape on top of a hill from which you can enjoy a beautiful view.

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The Praetorian Palace

Located in Via Cresci in the historical center of Montaione, the Praetorian Palace is a prestigious three-story building dating back to 1257.

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The art of glass-making

The tradition of glassmaking in Tuscany dates back to the medieval period. In the territory of Montaione, a document dating back to 1279, attests the presence of furnaces for the manufacture of glasses and glassware.

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The "Balaena Montalionis"

These are the remains of a whale skeleton found near Castelfalfi

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Other things you can visit in Montaione

Discover the secrets of Montaione through its artistic and cultural heritage riddled with churches and castles in a wonderful journey into our history.

Jerusalem of San Vivaldo

The Holy Mount or Jerusalem of San Vivaldo is a place of great historical, artistic and cultural heritage. It includes a series of religious buildings including the Monastery and the Church dedicated to San Vivaldo and some chapels, whose layout reproduces on a small scale the Palestine Jerusalem of the fifteenth century.

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Church of San Regolo

The Church of San Regolo – a remarkable example of Romanesque architecture in Tuscany dating back to the 13th or 14th centuries – overlooks onto the Piazza della Repubblica in the heart of the historical center of Montaione.

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Permanent exhibition of ancient crafts

Through the exhibition of a collection of iron crafts and footwear tools that belonged to Ernesto Gennaro Cecconi, this exhibition represents an interesting journey to rediscover the craftsmanship of the past.

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Church of St. Joseph and Lucia

This small church dedicated to Saints Joseph and Lucia is also called the “Church of the Nuns” because it is annexed to a 16th century former monastery.

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Roman Cistern

The Roman cistern is an ancient stone artifact dating back to Roman times (around III century B.C.) which was used as a water reservoire with a capacity of about 200,000 liters.

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Sanctuary of Pietrina

Situated on the peak of a rock from which you can admire the beautiful landscape that extends to the hill of Volterra, the Sanctuary of Pietrina is a small church famous for a painting representing the “Madonna with Child”.

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Church of St. Floriano

Located in the village of Castelfalfi, the Church of San Floriano, which is accessed through a staircase, is a remarkable example of Romanesque architecture in Tuscany.

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Castle of Vignale

The Castle of Vignale is located halfway down a hill that can only be reached on foot or by bicycle. Although today you can only admire the remains of this ancient castle it is easy to imagine the history of this place once disputed among the most noble Tuscan families.

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