For a tiny town, Monticchiello has an interesting history including one event from World War II

On April 6, 1944, the Prefect of Siena, during the Fascist Republic
dispatched 450 available men to Monticchiello
to confront a small group of partisans camped around the town

The Fascists were forced to retreat, but revenge was on their mind
The next morning at dawn, a German division reached Monticchiello
with orders to find and shoot all the inhabitants

Soldiers broke into the houses, rounded up the people
and lined them all up against the wall outside the town gate for execution

Thanks to the intervention from the German wife of one of Monticchiello's landowners
and the help of a priest, Don Marino Torriti, the execution was averted

This subtile four foot monument now commemorates the event, which is on the wall intended for their executions

Monticchiello, Tuscany, Italy