Montepulciano

Montepulciano

Montepulciano crowns a long narrow ridge of volcanic tufa in southern Tuscany at nearly 600 metres, commanding panoramic views across the Val d’Orcia and Val di Chiana. Its handsome Renaissance palaces, medieval churches, and famous wine cellars carved deep into the rock beneath the streets draw visitors in search of both art and pleasure.

History

Inhabited since Etruscan times and contested between Siena and Florence for centuries, Montepulciano came firmly under Florentine control in 1511. The Medici and the noble families of the town then embarked on an ambitious programme of Renaissance construction that transformed the main street — now called the Corso — into a sequence of elegant palaces designed by architects including Antonio da Sangallo the Elder. The town’s Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, produced from Sangiovese grapes in the surrounding hills, has been celebrated since the 14th century and was among the first Italian wines to receive DOC status in 1966.

What to See

The Piazza Grande at the summit contains the unfinished Duomo, the Palazzo Comunale (whose tower offers sweeping views), and the Palazzo Tarugi by Sangallo. The Renaissance pilgrimage church of San Biagio, set alone outside the walls in a cypress-dotted meadow, is considered one of the finest examples of High Renaissance ecclesiastical architecture in Tuscany. Underground wine cellars beneath the main piazza are open for tastings.

Getting There

Montepulciano railway station is on the Chiusi–Buonconvento line, three kilometres below the town, with connecting buses to the centre. By car from Siena allow about one hour; from Florence around two hours. The A1 motorway exit at Chianciano Terme is the closest.

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