| Montecarlo
is situated at the base of an ancient fortress occupying
the summit of the ridge separating the Valley of the Nievole
from the Plain of Lucca. The community was a redoubt of
the Ghibellines in their perpetual struggle with Florence
and the other Guelf communities. The hilltop town of Montecarlo
is situated west of Florence in the northwest part of Italy's
tuscany region.
History
Prior to 1333, the year in which the walled town of Montecarlo
with its Rocca was founded, on this hill was sited the Del
Cerruglio fortress and it formed part of the fortifications
of the nearby Castle of Vivinaia, now disappeared. Several
documents record the Cerruglio fortress as being 'a badly
aligned gothic building surrounded by mighty walls erected
with squared masonry stones and protected by a fortress
with keep and towers'.
The path that lead to the main gate.
During the fourteenth century the fortress played a strategic
role in the wars between Lucca, Pisa and Florence and was
from its walls that Castruccio Castracani, lord of Lucca,
directed the movements of his army which helped him to win
the battle of Altopascio in 1325. Ruins of the old fortress
can still be identified in the northwest section at the
highest vertex of the triangular shaped defense perimeter,
delimited by an imposing round tower, still crenelated,
connected with the other two corners through powerful curtains
built in bricks and endowed with a quadrangular tower in
the middle. Also the main front toward the city is built
in bricks, with a semicircular tower and double walled curtain:
the external one with battlements and the inner one equipped
with machicolations on stone brackets.
 The
northeast front of the town walls.
The main gate on this side can be reached only walking through
a tight path, whose walls are equipped with machicolations
and gun holes too. The fortress was renovated and enlarged
by Carlo IV and afterwards by Cosimo I de' Medici in the
sixteenth century with the addition of two bastions (never
completed) on the eastern front, in order to create a great
courtyard for the Valdinievole's Army. In 1775 fortress
was dismantled and now it is a private property visible
only from the outside.
The rocca is connected with the town walls, which even today
remains fairly intact, even if only a few of the 15 original
towers remains. The Northeast side is naturally well defended
and it was built without towers. Three town gates are well
preserved: the Florentine Gate and the smaller Lucca Gate
were built in the 14th century, the Porta Nuova (New Gate)
is of the 16th century.
THE THEATRE OF THE RASSICURATI
The history of this theatre is linked to that of the Academia
of the Assicurati which held the theatre until 1966. The
Academy was founded in 1702 by 19 notables. Count Murzio
gave his house to the Academy and fifty years later it was
possible to have the firts theatre. All through XIX century
the theatre was particularly active. It was enlarged in
1894.
THE WALLS AND THE GATES
The walls date back to 1333 where the town was founded.
There are four main gates: Porta Fiorentina - As part of
the walls this gare dates back to the XVI century. Porta
Nuova - Its name is due to the fact that the gate was reopened
and lifted in 1598. Porta a Lucca - It has smaller dimensions
than the others and it was rebuilt and enlarged between
1570 and 1594. Porta a Pescia It was closed during the XVI
century when the Medici began the construction of the fortress.
 The
wine
Although the town was founded for warlike purposes, it is
an oasis of tranquillity, with vast expanses of vineyards
and olive orchards extending outward from the town as far
as the eye can see. Those vineyards are the source of Montecarlo
wine.
The wine originated in the Roman period and its fine quality
was cited in documents drawn up in the centuries preceding
the year 1000.
The vinicultural industry was already flourishing before
the period of the communes and the wines of Montecarlo were
the most expensive of the region. At Florence, the principal
consumer of the town's output, Montecarlo cost more than
the Trebbianos, the whites of the Chianti area and the wines
of the Greve Valley. In the 15th century, the wine was highly
appreciated by Pope Paul III Farnese, according to a document
written by his cellarmaster. The wine had already pleased
the palate of a preceding pontiff, Gregory XII, who visited
the area in 1408. A member of the pope's train, Cardinal
Giovanni Dominici di San Sisto of Ragusa, enjoyed the reputation
of being a fine connoisseur and devoted consumer of wine.
During the visit, the cardinal so much appreciated the wine
that was served to him in large quantity that he forgot
his episcopal ring, leaving it behind on the banquet table.
The wine of Montecarlo remains true to its history since
it is generally considered one of the enological treasures
of Tuscany. Montecarlo DOC makes only a bianco and a rosso,
the former with the best reputation. The white wine uses
mainly trebbiano, but a host of other grapes are allowed-Pinot
Bianco (pinot blanc), Pinot Grigio (pinot gris), roussanne,
Sauvignon (sauvignon blanc), sémillon, and vermentino.
The red wine uses from 50 to 75 percent sangiovese, plus
canaiolo, Cilegiolo, Colorino, malvasia, and syrah. visit
the wine roads of Montecarlo hills
The Montecarlo Farms
Visit to some of the outstanding wine-producing farms placed
on the slopes of the picturesque fortified village of Montecarlo,
passing through the enchanted woods of the "magic ancient
Vivinaia".
How to reach montecarlo
Montecarlo is easily
reachable from Florence following the A11 Firenze-Mare
until the exit 'Altopascio' and then following the signals.
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