Website and content by ViaDelCastello Monterongriffoli. Images and text may not be used without permission

Environs
Click on any cropped thumbnail for full image, captions ("i"), scroll and access to full screen option

"Le vainqueur di Pienza compléta son succès en s'emparant des châteaux voisins: son neveu, le baron de Clermont, occupa le Palazzo Massaini, Monterongriffoli, San Giovanni d'Asso et Santa Anna, au nord de Pienza; le capitaine siennois Cacciaguerra, Celamonti et Cosona, au nord de San Quirico. Les Espagnols évacuèrent sans coup férir tout ce pays, à l'exception de Buonconvento". ["The conqueror of Pienza completed his success by seizing the neighbouring castles: his nephew, the Baron de Clermont, occupied the Palazzo Massaini, Monterongriffoli, San Giovanni d'Asso and Sant'Anna to the north of Pienza; the Sienese captain, Cacciaguerra, took Celamonti and Cosona north of San Quirico. The Spaniards evacuated the whole territory without a fight, except for Buonconvento."]
From an account of French military commander Blaise de Monluc's 1557 campaign against the Spanish in defence of the Sienese Republic of Montalcino, in: Paul Courteault, Blaise de Monluc Historien. Paris: 1908
"Au mesme instant ledict baron [de Clermont] s'en alla avec ma compaignye de chevaulx legiers à un chasteau nommé Montiron Griffoly, lequel est assez fort, mais il le print par force avec escalle, nonobstant la resistance des villains du pays qui estoient dedans." ["At that moment, the aforementioned baron [de Clermont] went with my company of light cavalry to a castle by the name of Montiron Griffoly, which, although it is fairly well reinforced, he stormed and seized by force despite the resistance of the inhabitants of the district who were inside."]
From a letter written by Blaise de Monluc in Montalcino on 3rd July 1557, apparently addressed to Odet de Selve, a French diplomat in Rome.