Montepulciano
Montepulciano is a charming medieval town in Tuscany. It stands at a height of 600 meters, perched on a hill between the Val d’Orcia and the Val di Chiana.
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The approach to Montepulciano takes you through a picture-postcard landscape with all the well-known features of the typical Tuscan countryside: the small roads lined with cypress trees, the vineyards that give us the world famousVino Nobile di Montepulciano, the golden fields and the olive groves.
MontepulcianoMontepulciano was founded in the fourth century BC, and dates back to Etruscan times.The elegant historic center can easily be explored by walking along the main street (the Corso). Starting from the Porta al Prato, you can stroll along the Via di Gracciano as far as the Church of Santa Maria dei Servi and continue along the same street, which then takes on various names, such as Via di Voltaia, Via dell’Opio, and Via del Poliziano The way is lined with imposing Reinassance mansions, some of which (e.g., Palazzo Bucelli) contain funeral urns and stone fragments with inscriptions in Etruscan and Latin. Many of these are set into the walls at the base of the mansion, creating an outdoor exhibition of the type of Etruscan and Roman art to be found between Montepulciano and Chiusi.
There are some splendidchurches with fascinating interiors,such as the graceful fifteenth-century church of St. Augustine with a facade by Michelozzo, and the Pulcinella clock in the square of the same name, topped by the figure of Pulcinella who strikes the hours You can also admire the Mazzocco column, the elegant arcade of the Logge del Grano, and the House of Poliziano.
As you walk down the street with its many artisan shops artisan shops,and charming squares, you can also admire the view over the Val di Chiana and perhaps stop for a gelato or for some deliciouslocal salamis and cheeses accompanied by typical Tuscan bread.
A Gem to Explore
Piazza Grande is in the center of the town, and contains the fourteenth-century Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall) in the late Gothic style, whose crenellated tower is reminiscent of the Palazzo della Signoria in Florence. The other mansions, such as the Palazzo Contucci, the Palazzo Nobili-Tarugi with its travertine cladding and the brick-built Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, contain wonderful works of art and are well worth a visit. Opposite the Palazzo del Capitano, you can see the well of the Grifi and Lions with its beautiful Renaissance carving.
The south side of the square is dominated by the large unfinished facade of theDuomo, which dates back to the end of the 16th centuryand is also full of works of art. to admire. In summer, the square is filled with tourists and other visitors, attracted by the theatrical performances and by the Bravìo delle Botti race at the end of August, when representatives of the eight districts push large barrels through the town. Of the various streets we should certainly mention Via Ricci, the busy commercial center of Montepulciano. It is here you will find Palazzo Neri Orselli, which houses the Civic Museum and the Crociani Art Gallery, as well as Palazzo Ricci, which hosts the historical archive and the municipal library, with its collection of 15,000 ancient books. The basement of this building is home to a fascinating and evocative wine cellar, a place where Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is stored.
