Montemerano is a picturesque walled village situated on a beautiful hilltop. Montemerano maintains the look of an ancient medieval castle with it’s antique streets and quaint, charming houses. The 14th century Chiesa di San Giorgio is located in the highest part of the historical centre. It is a splendid example of Romanic architecture and houses one of the most important artistic patrimonies in the province of Grosseto. The church houses an important 15th century polyptych and the Virgin of the Gattaiola, or The Virgin of the Cat Flap.
The recently restored 15th century frescoes, on the wall to the left, which narrate the stories of St. George and Sant’Orsola, are truly beautiful, as are the frescoes of the Last Judgement and the triumphal arch.

But Montemerano’s Church of St. George stands out, above all, because it houses the works of two of the most important 15th century Sienese artists: the sculptures of Vecchietta and an altarpiece by Sano di Pietro.

Sano di Pietro was an Italian painter and illuminator, active in Siena, where he was pupil and follower of Sassetta. He painted many scenes from the life of St Bernardino, including St Bernardino Preaching in Siena Cathedral.
The Madonna in trono col Bambino e santi is an altarpiece dated 1458. The polyptych is without any doubt the most important painting in the remarkable collection of art in the Chiesa di San Giorgio. This valuable altarpiece, entirely gilded and composed of five separate parts, depicts in the centre La Madonna col Bambino in trono (The Madonna with Child on the Throne) flanked, to the left, by the elegant figures of San Giorgio, the town’s patron saint, and San Pietro, and to the right, by San Lorenzo and Sant'Antonio da Padova.

The 14th century church of San Giorgio houses an important 15th century polyptych and the Virgin of the Gattaiola, or "The Virgin of the Cat Flap. The painting, dating from the mid-fifteenth century, is attributed to an anonymous local artist, traditionally known as the Master of Montemerano.
The Virgin was painted by the Maestro di Montemerano in the 15th century and was originally one of the organ doors. The panel was later used as a barn door by the parish priest who, having some trouble with mice, had a circular hole cut into the lower part of the panel, to let in cats, thus giving the painting the name della gattaiola ('of the catdoor').