The Sword In The Stone At Montesiepi Chapel

Galgano Guidotti was born in 1148 to a minor noble. At the age of 32, he had spent most of his life as a self-centred, violent knight. That year he was visited by the Archangel Michael in a vision and told to renounce his ways.

Guidotti then became a hermit and took up residence in a nearby cave. While on his horse one day, he was mystically led to Montesiepi, a hill near his home town, Chiusdino. There he saw a vision of the Apostles, Christ and Mary and was, once again, told to turn his back on his former ways. At this point of the tale, there are a couple versions of what happened next.

In one version, he replies that it is easier said than done and about as easy as splitting a rock with a stone. To make his point, he thrust his sword into the rocky ground at his feet and found it sank almost to the hilt with ease. In another version, he merely marks the spot he was shown with his sword as a make-shift cross. Either way, a sword remains on that spot, embedded deep into the ground to this day.

If you want to see the real “sword in the stone” that many consider to have been the inspiration for the tales of King Arthur, find a luxury villa in Siena, near the chapel containing the sword and spend a day visiting.

Guidotti died a year after these events and was canonised after just four years. The Cistercians built a chapel in memory of the saint with the sword at its centre after Montesiepi was gifted to them. Their own abbey is located nearby and has been in ruins for centuries. However, both the magnificent ruins and sword can still be visited to this day. Legends tell that after his death, many tried to steal Saint Galgano's sword. However, none were ever successful and the chapel still houses a pair of mummified hands that are said to have belonged to a thief who tried to take the sword and was viciously killed by wolves.

For many years, the sword was considered a fake but carbon dating and stylistic analysis have proven that it does come from the correct period in history; though we cannot prove how exactly it got in the stone and who put it there. This dating of the sword also allows for it to have, indeed, been what inspired the stories of Excalibur.

Today, the sword is kept under a glass case to prevent attempts to free it from the stone which resulted in damage in the past. You won't be able to free it and prove that you're the rightful heir to the throne of England but, if you are visiting the Siena area, you should still stop by!