Documented as early as the year 650 during a dispute between the bishops of Siena and Arezzo, the Pieve di Santa Restituta in Montalcino traces its history back to the time of the Byzantine general Narses, making it one of the oldest recorded places of worship in the region.
What to see
The church is built on a three-nave plan ending in a wide semicircular apse. The surviving architecture reflects multiple construction phases: the apse and the left exterior wall—which features a small bricked-up portal—form the oldest core. Romanesque alterations reshaped the building and left their mark on the main facade, which retains its medieval character despite later modifications. Set above the lintel of the main doorway is a carved travertine fragment from the early Middle Ages.
Our editors' tip
Before stepping inside, inspect the carved travertine block positioned above the main entrance lintel, which represents one of the earliest surviving sculptural details on the building.