A.S.D. Polisportiva Montanina
via del Pianello, 8
53049 Montefollonico(SI)
Tel.: 334 3128813
bextro@tin.it

An old tuscany village...

The village of Montefollonico, within the commune of Torrita di Siena, is situated on top of a hill between Valdichiana and Val d'Orcia. Its beginnings date back to around the 11th century, at the height of the medieval period, although many recovered documents record prehistoric beginnings. The name is derived from “Fullonico”, the first settlement of monks (Abbey of the Cassinesi monks, 7th century) who made use of a nearby stream to develop the activity of “follatura”, that is the washing and dyeing of wool. Probably in search of safety they went to the top of the hill, the first fortification dating back to the sixth century, and the place became known as “Monte a Fullonico” and thus Montefollonico. At the beginning of the 13th century Montefollonico, as a border fortress, assumed great strategic importance for the Republic of Siena, to which it remained faithful for more than a century. This alliance reached a crisis in 1397 when the Florentines attempted to seize the village, thanks to the treachery of one of its inhabitants, Nanni Trombetta. The attempt was foiled by the Podesta of Chianciano, Agnolo Baldiccioni, and the traitor was tortured and killed. Montefollonico's independence lasted until 1552 when it was forced to yield to the Spanish imperial army, to come under the dominion of the Medici in 1554, when Siena became a fiefdom of the Dukes of Florence. The territory and jurisdiction of Montefollonico were ceded as a fiefdom to the Perugians Francesco and then Ranieri Coppoli, until in 1749 fiefdom was definitely abolished. The great historical events characterizing the 18th and 19th centuries barely touched Montefollonico, where life remained tied to agriculture until, in the 20th century, a minor industrial revolution took place. In 1908 the activities of the “Lignite” company, which mined seams of lignite on the farms of Orbiliano, Casanova and Renello, took on a fresh impetus which completely transformed the economic and social structure of the village. With the advent of petroleum these mines were no longer economically viable and were closed down in the 1960's. Today Montefollonico is a haven of peace for its inhabitants and a quiet refuge for the few friends who have discovered it. Apart from the historical background, for those who are interested in delving further there are many curious sayings linked with the village: the “oil smelter” used for the first time during a siege; the devil who made a wood in the neighbourhood of Podere “Imposta” burn for months; the treasure of a bishop killed and buried at the little church of Sant'Anna; the recluse who built a hermitage, the beginnings of a Franciscan convent, at the time of King Liutprando to name but a few.