Montepulciano in Tuscany

Location of Montepulciano

Montepulciano, known as one of the most attractive hills towns in Tuscany, is located in the Val di Chiana and within easy reach of the Val d’Orcia.

It is built on a limestone ridge of Monte Poliziano in the province of Siena in southern Tuscany with an elevation of 605 m.
The nearest bigger town is Pienza, located at about 13 km distance, Siena is 70 km away and Florence even 134 km.

Short history on Montepulciano

In Etruscan times Montepulciano was known as the city of Nocera Alfaterna, which in 308 B.C. made an alliance with Rome against the Samnites. According to legend, it was founded by the Etruscan King Porsenna of Chiusi. Recent findings prove indeed that a settlement was already in existence in the 4th-3rd centuries BC. In Roman times it was the seat of a garrison guarding the main roads of the area.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it developed as a religious center under the Lombards. In the 12th century it was repeatedly attacked by the Republic of Siena, which the Poliziani faced with the help of the Perugia and Orvieto, and sometimes Florence, communes. The 14th century was characterized by constant struggles between the local noble families, until the Del Pecora family became rulers of the town. From 1390, Montepulciano was a loyal ally (and later possession) of Florence and, until the mid-16th century, lived a period of splendour with architects such as Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, Baldassarre Peruzzi, Ippolito Scalza and others, building luxurious residences and other edifices here. In 1559, when Siena was conquered by Florence and Montepulciano lost its strategic role, its importance declined.

Montepulciano remained the most important agricultural centre in the area after the unification of Italy and the drying of the Val di Chiana. Most of the industrial activities moved to Chiusi, which had the advantage that it was nearer to the railroad being built in that period.

Food and Wine in Montepulciano

As mentioned above, Montepulciano is a major producer of food and drink. Among wine connoisseurs  its Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is considered among Italy’s best wines. However, the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano should not be confused with the varietal wine (Montepulciano grape) of the same name. Montepulciano is also known for its pork, cheese, “pici” pasta (a thick, rough, chewy variant on spaghetti), lentils, and honey.

Main Sights in Montepulciano

The main street of Montepulciano stretches for 1.5 kilometers from the Porta al Prato to the Piazza Grande at the top of the hill. The city is renowned for its walkable, car-free nature. The main landmarks include:

• The Palazzo Comunale, designed by Michelozzo in the tradition of the Palazzo della Signoria (Palazzo Vecchio) of Florence.
• Palazzo Tarugi, attributed to Antonio da Sangallo the Elder or Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola. It is entirely in travertine, with a portico which was once open to the public.
• The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, or the Duomo of Montepulciano, constructed between 1594 and 1680, includes a masterpiece from the Sienese School, a massive Assumption of the Virgin triptych painted by Taddeo di Bartolo in 1401.
• The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (late 16th century). It has a simple Mannerist façade with a three-arcade portico. The interior has a single nave, and houses a precious terracotta altar by Andrea della Robbia.
• The Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio is on the road to Chianciano outside the city. It is a typical 16th century Tuscan edifice, designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder on a pre-existing Pieve, between 1518 and 1545. It has a circular (central) plan with a large dome over a terrace and a squared tambour. The exterior, with two bell towers, is built in white travertine. It is truly a wonderful church to look at.

The walls of the city were designed and built under the direction of Grand Duke of Florence Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1511 by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder.

Download a pdf  with the street plan of Montepulciano

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 29th, 2009 at 16:11and is filed under Montepulciano. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.