Less than an hour drive from Siena is Montepulciano,
a small town known as a “jewel of the 1500s” because of its Renaissance
architecture and art. You can pack a lot in a day trip visiting this car-free
town.
No major building work has taken place
since 1580 within Montepulciano’s old centre. The spectacular central square,
Piazza Grande, is flanked by beautiful buildings of the Duomo, Palazzo
Comunale, Palazzo Tarugi and Palazzo Contucci. Climb to the top of the
tower of the Palazzo del Comune to see the surrounding Tuscan
countryside with its gentle hills, vineyards and olive groves.
Montepulciano |
Il Duomo, or the Cathedral of Santa Maria
Assunta dates back to the 17th century and is adorned by many
masterpieces, such as the gold-decorated altarpiece created in 1401. Do not
miss the Baroque church of Santa Lucia which has an altarpiece
by Luca Signorelli and the beautiful 15th century church of St.
Augustine, which has a wooden crucifix attributed to Donatello.
Follow the main long street, the Corso, to
see a spectacular display of power and riches: each palazzo built by a noble
family from the past can tell a story of this magnificent town, an ancient
enemy of Siena. Downhill, only 10 minutes on foot from the town, you will find
the old pilgrimage church of San Biagio, one of the best examples
of Renaissance art.
Montepulciano - Palazzo Comunale |
Montepulciano is world-famous for its
elegant red wine, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and its strong wine-making
traditions, which can be traced back to the 8th century. During
Renaissance the town was renowned for its wine described as "un vino da
signori" (a wine for aristocrats). There are many cellars in town where
you can enjoy Vino Nobile: Enoteca La Bottega del Nobile (Via di Gracciano nel
corso, 95), Antico Caffè Poliziano (Via Voltaia nel corso, 27), with its beautiful
terrace boasting stunning views over the Valdichiana, and Cantina de' Ricci, one
of the oldest wine cellars in the world.
Photos
via Flickr by: James Good, Andy Hay.