Monteriggioni

"This place just keeps getting better."

―Ezio while returning to the city in 1500.^[src]

Monteriggioni was a town and commune of Tuscany, Italy, and was built in the 13th century by the overlords of Siena. Monteriggioni was actively involved in the defense of Tuscany against Florentine attempts to gain more territory.

At the front of this conflict was the Auditore family, who became the town's rulers and protectors. They constructed Monteriggioni's famous walls, and the largest structure within them, the Villa Auditore.

History

Domenico Auditore

In 1290, the Villa Auditore was constructed, though the identity of whoever built it was unknown. 30 years later, in 1320, the exterior of the villa was subsequently damaged in a Florentine attack.

Some time after the death of Dante Alighieri in 1321, Domenico Auditore bought and renovated the villa - and changed the exterior, along with adding a painting gallery - using funds he had gained from Marco Polo. Domenico and his son used Monteriggioni as a base of operations in their silent war against the Templars.^[1]

In 1296, what would become the Auditore Family Crypt was built in the town. After buying the villa, Domenico hid the Armor of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad in the Sanctuary under the villa, which could only be unlocked by Assassin seals that were scattered around Italy, hidden in sarcophagi of famous historical Assassins.^[1]

Mario Auditore

"Monteriggioni has long stood against her attackers by tucking in and outlasting. The Fiorentini may strike at any time, but they will find us prepared!"

―Mario Auditore, regarding the defense of Monteriggioni.^[src]

At some point in the early-mid 14th century, the Shroud was brought to Monteriggioni by the Assassins. They falsified Church records to claim the artifact was merely a forgery, before hollowing out the well of the town and leaving the Piece of Eden in a lair of elaborate traps.^[2]

In 1454, Mario Auditore was made sole ruler of Monteriggioni when his brother Giovanni moved to Florence. The town came under frequent attack by Florence during this time, leading Mario to strengthen the town's economy and defenses in order to better withstand Florentine pressure.^[1]^[2]

Soon after, Mario discovered that a man named Luciano Pezzati was causing strife within the town by turning families against each other. After he was captured and interrogated, Pezatti revealed that Florence was planning a large attack on Monteriggioni. Rallying his forces, Mario successfully repelled the Florentine forces led by Federico da Montefeltro.^[2]

After successfully defending the town, Mario continued to interrogate Luciano, only to discover that the purpose of the Florentine attack was to acquire the Shroud hidden underneath the town. Mario soon discovered the Shroud in the hollowed-out well of the town and had it removed from Monteriggioni by Giovanni.^[2]

Over the next twenty years, Monteriggioni gradually fell into disrepair as Mario devoted more of his time to war and the Brotherhood. By 1476, most of the town's shops had closed, the number of visitors to Monteriggioni had decreased and the upkeep of the Villa Auditore had been neglected.^[1]

Ezio Auditore

On New Year's Eve 1476, Mario's nephew, Ezio Auditore, took shelter in Monteriggioni and later became the town's biggest investor and co-ruler with Mario. For over 23 years, Monteriggioni prospered as Ezio used the funds gathered during his adventures to reopen the town's shops, barracks, brothel and thieves' guild.^[1]

Significant improvements were also made to the town's infrastructure, and the Villa Auditore was renovated. By December 1499, Monteriggioni had become a vital headquarters of the Assassins, whose flag flew over the town. Around this time, cannons were added to the town's defenses by Mario.^[1]^[3]

On January 2nd 1500 (which also happened to be Claudia Auditore's birthday), Cesare Borgia - Captain-General of the Papal Army - led a siege on Monteriggioni in order to recover the Apple of Eden that had been taken by Ezio from the Templars. Though the Assassins were able to temporarily hold off the attack while the citizens were evacuated, the town soon fell and Mario was killed, along with Monteriggioni and the Villa Auditore suffering significant damage as a result.^[3]

The Assassins abandoned the town, relocating their headquarters to Rome. Though, at some later point, an elderly Ezio returned to Monteriggioni, entering the Sanctuary underneath the Villa Auditore for unknown reasons.^[3]

Prior to 1554, the Auditore family regained control of Monteriggioni, though the town was betrayed in 1554 by Giovannino Zeti, the keeper of the garrison and a Florentine exile, who was allowed to return to Florence in exchange for the keys to the city. Though the town was soon attacked and conquered by the Medici of Florence, they were allowed to continue their leadership over Monteriggioni, due to the Auditore's good relations with the Medici.^[1]^[3]

Modern Monteriggioni

Desmond: "Huh. I figured you'd like it nowadays. Seems not to have changed much."

Shaun: "Exactly. History is the study of change. Change is life. When things become static, it means they're dead."

—Desmond and Shaun discussing modern Monteriggioni.^[src]

By the 21st century, the town remained largely unchanged from its Renaissance appearance and had become a tourist attraction, with a plaque in front of the ruined Villa Auditore commemorating the siege of the town by the Borgia.^[3]

On the 9th of September 2012, a small team of modern-day Assassins, composed of Desmond Miles, Lucy Stillman, Shaun Hastings and Rebecca Crane, arrived in the town of Monteriggioni to seek refuge from the Templars of Abstergo Industries. They set up a temporary hideout in the Sanctuary beneath the Villa Auditore, where the cell signals that Abstergo was using to locate them could not reach.^[3]

The group remained there for the next month as Desmond used the Animus to determine the location of Ezio's Apple of Eden, venturing above ground only at night or when supplies were needed. Also, while Desmond explored Monteriggioni at night, during his breaks from the Animus, he managed to recover some of his ancestors' possessions. With the Apple's location verified and having obtained the password to the door of the Colosseum Vault, the team left the town in order to collect the Apple in Rome on October 10th 2012, 72 days from the launch of Abstergo's satellite.^[3]

Monteriggioni with the Villa at the center.

The streets of the Villa.

The country side of the Villa.

Entrance to the great walled Villa.

Renovations

Upon his arrival in Monteriggioni, Ezio was able to invest in the renovation of various buildings throughout the town, with the help of an architect hired by Mario. As the town was renovated, the appearance of the Villa also improved, and flags (marked first with Auditore crest, then with the Assassin insignia) were also added to buildings.^[1]

Active Buildings

Name	First Renovation	Second Renovation	Third Renovation
Bank	1,500f	5,000f	9,000f
Doctor	3,000f	5,000f	N/A
Tailor	1,000f	2,500f	5,000f
Blacksmith	7,000f	12,000f	N/A
Art Merchant	1,000f	5,000f	8,000f

Restored Buildings

Name	Cost
Church	4,000f
Well	4,000f
Thieves' Guild	3,000f
Brothel	3,000f
Military Barracks	3,000f
Mine	4,000f

Achievement

The achievement, "Podestà of Monteriggioni" can be gained by reaching 80% of the Villa total value.

Icon	Name	How to obtain	Points	Trophy
	Podestà of Monteriggioni	Reach 80% of your stronghold's total value.	30	Bronze

Trivia

Assassin's Creed II

Throughout the town, Ezio can find eight statuettes of some of the gods worshipped in ancient Rome. Each pair of statuettes belong to a pedestal, and each completed pedestal rewards Ezio with 2,000 florins.
After restoring the Mine, Well, and the Church, hidden treasure chests can be found within each structure. The towers on the walls of Monteriggioni also contain treasure, but these chests only appear after the Mercenary Barracks, Brothel and Thieves' Guild are renovated.
However much you spend on renovations, you will be paid back 10% of the investment per 20 minutes.
Furthermore, any renovations on the four "active" shops will allow the player to receive discounts of up to 15% (with three renovations) on all the items' original prices.
The Auditore Family Crypt can be unlocked in Uplay. The crypt reveals more about the Auditore family and its humble origins.
Monteriggioni had a total of 3500 residents maximum after its renovation reaches 100% completion.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

The town is host to a multiplayer map.
In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the entrance to the Auditore Crypt is missing in Memory Sequence 1. However, it appears again in modern-day Monteriggioni, outside the Animus.
As of 1500, there were at least 500 residents of Monteriggioni, which can be seen in the beginning of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood when Ezio must try and help the residents escape.
The player is allowed to exit the Animus at any time to explore Monteriggioni, though there is a time limit of ten minutes, and for the first time before exploring the city, Desmond must equip a wireless ear piece and a watch in order to remain in contact with Lucy, Rebecca and Shaun.
In modern-day Monteriggioni, a strange red trail is visible when Eagle Vision is activated. The trail leads from the back entrance of the Villa Auditore to the beginning of the steps in front of the fountain bearing the Assassin insignia. It is unknown why the trail leads there. However, after the completion of sequence 6, the trail is not visible anymore.
The Art Merchant's shop is an information booth while the Tailor's shop is a beverage stall in 2012.
When Ezio returns to Monteriggioni at the start of Brotherhood, all of the shops are unavailable for purchasing equipment from. This implies that Ezio had all of the equipment at the end of Assassin's Creed II.
During Sequence 5, after talking with Lucy for the first time, she will be outside the Villa and you'll be able to talk with her for one more time. But at the start of Sequence 6, she disappears altogether.
In modern-day Monteriggioni, Desmond can find five artifacts from Rennaisance Monteriggioni that were once property of the Auditore family. The artifacts have no effect on Desmond's story though, and only serve as collectibles.

Gallery

Map of Monteriggioni.

Map of Monteriggioni.
Multiplayer map of Monteriggioni.
The Villa Auditore.
Concept art of the siege of Monteriggioni.

Concept art of the siege of Monteriggioni.
The fall of Monteriggioni.
Modern day Assassins in the Sanctuary.

Modern day Assassins in the Sanctuary.
The courtesan guild in Monteriggioni.
Original modern day Monteriggioni concept art by Gilles Beloeil.
Panoramic image of Monteriggioni from its entrance.
Monteriggioni at night.
Model of the city.
Monteriggioni streets.
Panoramic view on the Monteriggioni gateway.
The land outside Monteriggioni.
Ezio overlooking Monteriggioni

Ezio overlooking Monteriggioni