Monteriggioni is without a doubt one of the most classic and well known Italian fortresses. It is also completely intact, and covers a length of 570 meters with 14 towers and two doors. The Porta Franca rises at the base of the larger tower while the one of S. Giovanni opens at the wall and is protected and defended by one of the towers in the fortified perimeter.

The borough was constructed by the Senesi from 1213 to 1219 on a hilltop which held authority and ruled over the Cassia/Francigena road. Its ideal position allowed control over the Elsa valleys and of Staggia towards Florence, the historic rivalry of Siena, which in that period was expanding its territory as far as the eye could see.

The design of Monteriggioni was created to limit the weak points with maximum level of excellence. The doors give access to the outside on only one main road in the direction from east to west. This great historical work of military architecture is distinctly recognized from the closed habitat inside which is well seperated from the outside walls as if it were wrapped up, although in past times the houses were more crowded than today and consequently “wrapped” tighter together.