Monteriggioni

"This place just keeps getting better."

- Ezio while returning to the city in 1500.

Monteriggioni was a city and commune of Tuscany, Italy, 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 city's rulers and protectors. They constructed Monteriggioni's famous walls, and the largest structure within them, the Villa Auditore.

Domenico Auditore
In 1290, the Villa Auditore was constructed, by an unknown person. The exterior was subsequently damaged in a Florentine attack in 1320.

Some time after the death of Dante Alighieri in 1321, Domenico Auditore bought and renovated the villa - as well as changing the exterior, 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.

In 1296, what would become the Auditore Family Crypt was built in the city. 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.

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.

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 city well, and leaving the Piece of Eden in a lair of elaborate traps.

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

Soon after, Mario discovered that a man named Luciano Pezzati was causing strife within the city 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.

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

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 the city had decreased and the upkeep of the Villa Auditore had been neglected.

Ezio Auditore
On New Year's Eve 1476, Mario's nephew, Ezio Auditore, took shelter in Monteriggioni and later became the city'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 city's shops, barracks, brothel and thieves' guild.

Significant improvements were also made to the city's infrastructure, and the Villa Auditore was renovated. By December 1499, the city had become a vital headquarters of the Assassins, whose flag flew over the city. Around this time, cannons were added to the city's defenses.

On January 2nd 1500 (which also happened to be Ezio's sister'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 city soon fell and Mario was killed. The city and Villa Auditore suffered significant damage as a result of this attack.

The Assassins abandoned the city, relocating their headquarters to Rome. At some later point, an elderly Ezio returned to the city, entering the Sanctuary underneath the Villa Auditore for unknown reasons.

Prior to 1554, the Auditore family regained control of Monteriggioni. The city 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. The city was soon attacked and conquered by the Medici of Florence. However, due to the Auditore's good relations with the Medici, they were allowed to continue their leadership over Monteriggioni.

Modern Monteriggioni


By the 21st century, the city was 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 city by the Borgia.

On 9 September 2012, a small team of modern-day Assassins, composed of Desmond Miles, Lucy Stillman, Shaun Hastings and Rebecca Crane, arrived in the city 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 Abstergo was using to locate them could not reach.

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. During his breaks in the Animus, Desmond recovered some of his ancestors' possessions. The team left the city to collect the Apple in Rome on October 10.



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.

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

Assassin's Creed II

 * Throughout the city, Ezio can find eight statuettes of some of the gods worshipped in ancient Rome. Each pair of statuettes belong to a pedestal, and every completed pedestal rewards Ezio with a hefty 2,000 florin reward.
 * After restoring the Mine, Well, and the Church, hidden treasure chests can be found within each. The towers on the walls of Monteriggioni also have treasure in them, but only after the Mercenary Barracks, Brothel and Thieves' Guild are renovated.
 * However, the more you spend on renovations, you will be paid back 10% of the investment per 20 minutes.
 * Furthermore, any renovations for the four "active" shops will allow the player a discount of up to 15% (with three renovations) of the item's original price.
 * The Auditore Family Crypt can be unlocked in Uplay, which reveals more about the Auditore family and its humble origins.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

 * The city also plays 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 8, the trail is not visible anymore.
 * Oddly all of the shops are unavailable for purchasing equipment when you return to the villa. This implies that Ezio had all of the equipment at the end of Assassin's Creed II.