MONTEPULCIANO: A TASTE OF RENAISSANCE ITALY
Montepulciano, a town and commune in the province of Siena in southern Tuscany, is a medieval and Renaissance hill town of exceptional beauty. At an elevation of 605 m, Montepulciano sits on a high limestone ridge. By car it is 13 km east of Pienza; 67 km southeast of Siena; 124 km southeast of Florence; and 186 km north of Rome. Its easy accessibility is one of the reasons that it has become a popular tourist destination. Montepulciano’s varied and high-quality accommodation facilities have also contributed.
Montepulciano is known as a major producer of food and drink. Sommeliers consider its Vino Nobile among Italy’s best wines. Montepulciano is also known for its pork, cheese, pici pasta (a thick, chewy variant of spaghetti), lentils, and honey.
The main street of Montepulciano stretches for 11.5 kilometers from the Porta al Prato to the Piazza Grande at the top of the hill. The city is renowned for its car-free nature and its main landmarks include Communal Palace, Palazzo Tarugi, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, or the Duomo of Montepulciano, built between 1594 and 1680, which includes a masterpiece from the Sienese School, the Assumption of the Virgin triptych painted by Taddeo di Bartolo in 1401.
Yet another attraction is the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (late 16th century). It has a simple Mannerist façade with a three-arcade portico. The interior boasts a terracotta altar by Andrea della Robbia. You should also visit the Sanctuary of the Madonna of St. Blaise, on the road to Chianciano outside the city. It is a typical 16th century Tuscan building, designed between 1518 and 1545, with a large dome over a terrace and a squared tambour. The exterior, with two bell towers, is built in white travertine. The walls of the city were designed and built under the direction of Grand Duke Cosimo de Medici in 1511.
Montepulciano celebrates several traditional events and is considered an important cultural and tourist centre. Between July and August, Piazza Grande becomes a stage for concerts and for the Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte (International Arts Workshop), while the Bravio delle Botti takes place at the end of August, featuring a competition between the different districts of the town, where empty wine barrels are rolled up through the town in a race to Piazza Grande.
To make your visit comfortable, we offer a comprehensive selection (www.yourwaytotuscany.com/Montepulciano.htm) of Montepulciano farmhouses, bed & breakfasts, hotels and vacation apartments, and offer you a variety of agritourism experiences. Do visit us before you plan your trip.
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