Shopping & Parking

Monteriggioni focuses on arts and crafts which, although touristy, are mostly genuinely hand-made so worth investigating. Tucked into medieval lanes are tiny boutiques and workshops where you can watch craftsmen at work, including operating hand-looms. Highlights include hand-crafted knitwear, linen that can be personalised to your taste, jewellery made from semi-precious stones, and hand-painted pottery, with scenes inspired by local landscapes.

Monteriggioni welcomes a farmers’ market, il Mercatale di Monteriggioni, on the first Saturday of the month. In local wine and food shops buy Chianti Colli Senesi wine, along with typical pastries, biscuits and cakes (see Eating & Drinking for more. Also come for the popular summer medieval festival in July for a medieval-themed market, complete with feasting and folklore. Check the dates and programme with Monteriggioni tourist office (Piazza Roma 23, 53035 Monteriggioni. T: 0577 304834 & www.monteriggioniturismo.it plus www.monteriggionimedievale.com). Beyond Monteriggioni, Siena offers the widest range of shopping options but neighbouring Colle di Val d’Elsa works wonderfully for an array of world-class crystal and glassware.

Set within the walled town, Artes is all about knitting and weaving, including the use of hand-looms. Come for hand-made knitwear or loom-woven items, ranging from scarves and shawls to cotton or linen sweaters, fabric handbags or rugs. Much is produced on hand-looms, using traditional methods.

Address: Via I Maggio 21
53035
Monteriggioni

Tel: 0577 300013
Web: www.artesmonteriggioni.com

This is artistic, hand-painted pottery, with tasteful scenes inspired by Tuscan traditions or emblematic local landscapes, perhaps featuring olives or cypress trees.

Address: Via Giacomo Matteotti 9
53035
Monteriggioni

Tel: 0577 301111
Web: www.gvdecoroceramiche.com

This crystal shop sells everything from tableware to crystal chandeliers and hand-crafted jewellery. Champagne flutes, whiskey glasses, picture frames or perfume bottles - this is a treasure-trove for quality crystalware.

Address: Via del Murolungo 20
53034
Colle di Val d'Elsa
Tel: 0577 931879
Web: www.lagrottacrystal.com

In Monteriggioni, Castello is the most convenient car park, a paying car park just outside the medieval walled town, and costs from €3 for the hour and then €5 for 24 hours. Alternatively, the Cipressino car park, which is also paying and with similar charges, is 250 metres from the borgo, the walled town.

Most Tuscan towns operate a strict ZTL system, a Limited Traffic Zone. This means that the Centro Storico (historic centre) is essentially closed to traffic, particularly for non-residents. Cars will need to be left outside the walls. Advice on ZTLs: You may see other cars crossing the ZTL boundary (Limited Traffic Zone) and assume you can proceed. Not so. The drivers crossing into the ZTL zone will probably be locals and have residents’ permits. Visitors do not so are liable to fines. Zones are monitored by cameras, so tickets are issued immediately and automatically, as soon as (and each time) the car crosses the ZTL boundary. For more, see http://www.monteriggioniturismo.it/en/useful-information/how-get-here-and-where-park/

By car: Monteriggioni is easily reached via the Florence-Siena dual-carriageway, taking the Monteriggioni exit and following signs. The town is also pretty well-situated for day trips, only 14km from Siena and 54km from Florence.

By train: although there’s no direct rail connection from Siena to Monteriggioni, you can get pretty close. The nearest train station is at Castellina Scalo, 3km away from Monteriggioni, on the Empoli-Siena line. Confusingly, the station is officially called Castellina in Chianti-Monteriggioni. There are also services to Florence but you need to change at Empoli.

By bus: Buses link Monteriggioni with Siena, Colle Val d'Elsa, Poggibonsi, San Gimignano and Florence.