Montalcino rises in the heart of southern Tuscany. In the Middle Age the territory of Montalcino was divided between four ecclesiastical areas: Arezzo, Chiusi, Grosseto and Siena. The castle is today practically intact. Its construction was begun in 1361 on the southern vertex of the 13th century city walls, incorporating the keep of S.Martino and the S.Giovanni tower. It looks as classic castle-enclosure, with pentagonal plant endowed with towers to all the angles. The tower of southeast is placed by the side of the keep. The walls and the towers have still practicable the complete watch-walk endowed of machicoulis projection from the wall made of stone which has openings through which the defenders can fire upon an enemy directly below in stone, supported by bows on brackets with inverted pyramid form. The northern towers are open on the side facing the courtyard. The castle incorporated also an ancient little basilica that became the chapel of the fortification, and its rests are still visible near the northeast tower. On the south side rise the mighty Medicean rampart, added by Cosimo at the half of the 16th century
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