ABOUT MONTONE

Montone is a beautifully-preserved medieval hill-top village in northern Umbria, in the heart of medieval Italy, about 210 kilometres north of Rome.

Founded between AD 800 and 1000, Montone is a working village, with a long history, now officially recognised as Uno dei Borghi più belli d'Italia, One of the Most Beautiful Towns in Italy.

The adjective the villagers use to describe their home is tranquillo. Except during la festa in mid-August, Montone is a quiet and peaceful place, still unaffected by the noise and bustle that characterise the larger tourist attractions in Italy.

The village is set on a small mountain, 482 metres above sea level, and is within easy reach of a large number of delightful medieval towns and cities in Umbria and Tuscany, including Assisi, Perugia, Gubbio, Spoleto, Spello, Orvieto, Cortona, Siena, Arezzo and Florence.  With the possible exception of mid-winter and mid-summer, Montone's weather is temperate.

Very high walls surround the village, inside which are imposing churches and bell-towers as well as many beautiful buildings.

The streets are cobbled, narrow and sinuous, leading to a multitude of interesting nooks and crannies.  A slow, meandering walk from one side of the village to the other takes no more than six or seven minutes.

The views from the town walls to the mountains of The Marches, towards Tuscany and across the Valtiberina (Valley of the Tiber) are spectacular.  The roads to Montone from the Valtiberina are gently-sloped and very safe.

Our guests always comment on how the villagers, known as montonesi or arietani, are very warm, friendly and welcoming people.

Click here for a series of three maps: street map of Montone, map of Umbria and a map of Italy.