Monteriggioni (pop. 8000) is a typical Tuscan hilltop village, remarkable for its extensive city walls. It is the best preserved walled city in Italy. The walls were built from 1213-1219 and form a rough circle around the town. They run for about 600 meters and have no fewer than fourteen impressive square towers. The daunting fortress-like appearance of the town inspired Dante to use it as a model for the ring of giants circling the abyss in Canto XXXI of the Inferno.In addition to enjoying the history and beauty of the place, we also got a special surprise. A falconer brought five of his trained birds up onto the walls and gave a demonstration of how they fly, hunt, and return to the lure. These huge birds swooped to within 2 or 3 feet of our heads before attacking the falconer's lure and coming to rest. It was a fantastic event!
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