Abbadia San Salvatore

Abbey of Sant'Antimo

Albarese

Acquapendente


anghiari

Archipelago Toscano


Arcidosso


Arezzo


Asciano


Badia di Coltibuono


Bagni San Filippo

Bagno Vignoni

Barberino Val d'Elsa

Beaches

Bolsena Lake


Bomarzo

Brunello di Montalcino

Buonconvento

Campagnatico


Capalbio


Castel del Piano


Castelfiorentino

Castell'Azzara

Castellina in Chianti


Castelmuzio


Castelnuovo Bererdenga


Castiglioncello Bandini


Castiglione della Pescaia


Castiglione d'Orcia


Castiglion Fiorentino


Celleno


Certaldo


Chinaciano Terme


Chianti


Chiusi


Cinigiano


Città di Castello

CivitÀ di Bagnoregio


Colle Val d'Elsa


Cortona


Crete Senesi


Diaccia Botrona

Isola d'Elba

Firenze


Follonica


Gaiole in Chianti


Gavorrano

Gerfalco


Greve in Chianti


Grosseto


Lago Trasimeno


La Foce


Manciano


Maremma


Massa Marittima


Montagnola Senese


Montalcino


Monte Amiata


Monte Argentario

montecalvello

Montefalco


Montemassi


Montemerano


Monte Oliveto Maggiore


Montepulciano


Monteriggioni


Monticchiello


Monticiano


Orbetello


Orvieto


Paganico


Parco Naturale della Maremma


Perugia


Piancastagnaio


Pienza


Pisa


Pitigliano

Prato

Radda in Chianti


Roccalbegna


Roccastrada


San Bruzio


San Casciano dei Bagni


San Galgano


San Gimignano


San Giovanni d'Asso


San Quirico d'Orcia


Sansepolcro


Santa Fiora


Sant'Antimo


Sarteano


Saturnia


Scansano


Scarlino


Seggiano


Siena


Sinalunga


Sorano


Sovana


Sovicille

Talamone

Tarquinia


Tavernelle Val di Pesa


Torrita di Siena


Trequanda


Tuscania


Umbria


Val d'Elsa


Val di Merse


Val d'Orcia


Valle d'Ombrone


Vetulonia


Viterbo

Volterra




 
Walking in Tuscany
             
 

I T        N E D

Montemerano



album Surroundings
       
   

Montemerano


   
   
Montemerano is a picturesque walled village situated on a beautiful hilltop. Montemerano maintains the look of an ancient medieval castle with it’s antique streets and quaint, charming houses. The 14th century Chiesa di San Giorgio is located in the highest part of the historical centre. It is a splendid example of Romanic architecture and houses one of the most important artistic patrimonies in the province of Grosseto. The church houses an important 15th century polyptych and the Virgin of the Gattaiola, or The Virgin of the Cat Flap.
The recently restored 15th century frescoes, on the wall to the left, which narrate the stories of St. George and Sant’Orsola, are truly beautiful, as are the frescoes of the Last Judgement and the triumphal arch.

But Montemerano’s Church of St. George stands out, above all, because it houses the works of two of the most important 15th century Sienese artists: the sculptures of Vecchietta and an altarpiece by Sano di Pietro.

 

Montemerano

Chiesa di San GiorgioChiesa di San Giorgio

A fourteenth century fresco of Saint Sebastian by an anonymous artist. It is held at the Parish Church of Saint Giovanni Battista.

   
Sano di Pietro was an Italian painter and illuminator, active in Siena, where he was pupil and follower of Sassetta. He painted many scenes from the life of St Bernardino, including St Bernardino Preaching in Siena Cathedral.
The Madonna in trono col Bambino e santi is an altarpiece dated 1458. The polyptych is without any doubt the most important painting in the remarkable collection of art in the Chiesa di San Giorgio. This valuable altarpiece, entirely gilded and composed of five separate parts, depicts in the centre La Madonna col Bambino in trono (The Madonna with Child on the Throne) flanked, to the left, by the elegant figures of San Giorgio, the town’s patron saint, and San Pietro, and to the right, by San Lorenzo and Sant'Antonio da Padova.
 


The 14th century church of San Giorgio houses an important 15th century polyptych and the Virgin of the Gattaiola, or "The Virgin of the Cat Flap. The painting, dating from the mid-fifteenth century, is attributed to an anonymous local artist, traditionally known as the Master of Montemerano.
The Virgin was painted by the Maestro di Montemerano in the 15th century and was originally one of the organ doors. The panel was later used as a barn door by the parish priest who, having some trouble with mice, had a circular hole cut into the lower part of the panel, to let in cats, thus giving the painting the name della gattaiola ('of the catdoor').
 

Church of Saint George, Madonna della Gattaiola
   
   
   
Saturnia is a spa town in Tuscany, east of Sovana, that has been inhabited since ancient times. Situated along Clodia road, Saturnia was also a Roman centre, of which just some parts of the walls, the foundations of some buildings and the ruins of a thermal bath, known as bagno secco ("dry bath"), are left.
Saturnia is a frazione of the comune of Manciano and is famous because of its Spa complex which grew up around the sulphur springs. The springs are divided between two sites: the enchanting natural pools with waterfalls where access is free and you can always bath. Pleasantly light smell of sulphur evaporates from the bluish grey waters. They slowly flow through the reeds and runs to the water basin of the Cascate del Gorello.
The Porta Romana outside the town was the passage to reach the Baths of Saturnia.

Musei di Maremma Museo Archeologico di Saturnia |www.museidimaremma.it

The historical-archaeological examples that surround all of the towns cover a wide span of time, from Prehistory through the Etruscan, Roman and Medieval periods. Necropoleis, vie cave (Etruscan roads carved in the rock), palaces, fortifications and parks are all itineraries of great culture interest from which the visitor may choose in addition to exhibits within the museums of the various towns.
The museum in Saturnia offers a cross-section from prehistory through the Romans as seen in the Fiora and Albenga valleys. The examples exhibited come from the Etruscan necropoleis at
Sovana, Pitigliano, Poggio Buco and Saturnia itself. In addition, there is the material found
in votive cabinets dating from the classic age and various objects in bronze and iron.

[read more]

 

George Dennis, The Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria, published by John Murray, Albemarle Street London, 1848 | www.penelope.uchicago.edu
   
 
   
     

View Montemerano in a larger map
     


15. La via delle Terme | The Road to the Termal Baths - 37.2 km

Manciano - Montemerano - Terme di Saturnia - Saturnia - Poggio Capanne - Poggio Murella - Manciano

 

 

Restaurants in Montemrano


Da Caino
, Via della Chiesa 4, 58050 Montemerano, Manciano | www.dacaino.it
Very expensive, Michelin-starred rstaurant. Forst-class cooking.

Antica Trattoria Laudomia da Rossano, Case Ciani 1/3 | Poderi di Montemerano, Montemerano | www.laudomia.altervista.org

Passaparola nell'antico frantoio - Ristorante Enoteca, Via delle Mura 21, Montemerano.

La Solina, Poggio Bertino, Montemerano, Manciano | www.lasolina.com

Cacio e vino, Via del bivio 16, Montemerano, Manciano | www.cacioevino.it

La Limonaia di Villa Acquaviva, loc. Acquaviva, 58014 Montemerano, Manciano | www.villacquaviva.com

Trattoria Il Nibbio, Via Bivio, 22, 58050 Montemerano, Manciano