Historical and Touristic Notes

The Municipality of Monteroni d’Arbia (SI) is completely crossed by the Francigena and there are many documents that testify to this. One of its hamlets, Ponte d’Arbia, was one of the stops that Bishop Sigerico made on his famous journey in 994.
There are numerous points of historical importance along the Francigena, such as the Castle of Lucignano d’Arbia with its parish church already existing in 913, and the famous Grancia di Cuna, a huge fortified farm built in 1314.
Its territory, which has always been dedicated to agriculture, was considered the “Granary of Siena” and the Grancia was the largest deposit of cereals in the territory. From here they took the foodstuffs put in stock in case of famine and war and administered a large territory where there were milling structures to obtain flour. In the 13th century, the town of Monteroni alone had more than twenty mills (with 2 or 4 millstones), some of which still exist, such as the one in the center of the town.
But the Francigena also crossed other villages where there were taverns or “Spedali” for pilgrims. Among these, the Spedale di Tressa (Ponte a Tressa), born in 1219 and still visible next to the church of the village, the one of Cuna, visited by Popes and personalities of absolute importance, the one of Monteroni, Lucignano, Curiano, Selvitella, belonged to the Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem (now Malta) as well as that of San Pietro in Ponte d’Arbia.
Not to be missed are the Pieve di San Giovanni Battista in Lucignano, the Pieve di Corsano, the Castle of San Fabiano and the Castle of Saltennano.
For further information: www.comune.monteronidarbia.siena.it

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