MONTEPULCIANO, a sixteenth-century gem
prov. Siena | area: Val d'Orcia-Val di Chiana | population: 14,030 | altitude: 605

A medieval town with steep, narrow streets, dominated by a fortress. Lovely old buildings, squares and monuments mainly concentrated around Piazza Grande, the heart of the town.

Distance to (in km): Florence (airport) 100, Siena 68, Pisa (airport) 150.

The Area: rolling hills. Rows of cypresses, vineyards, olive groves. Various hamlets. Lago di Montepulciano Nature Reserve (many types of birds, excellent for birdwatching).

Not to Be Missed:

• Piazza Grande with its old buildings: the ancient heart of Montepulciano with its Town Hall and other Renaissance buildings
• Municipal Museum and Crociani Art Gallery: Etruscan finds and art collections. Paintings from the XIII-XVIII centuries.
• Church of San Biagio: outside the walls. A Renaissance masterpiece (1500) by Antonio da Sangallo il Vecchio.
• Wine-Cellars: in the old section of the town to savour the Vino Nobile (we recommend the  Redi and Contucci Cellars)

Wines and Cuisine:

• Wines: Nobile di Montepulciano, Rosso di Montepulciano, Vinsanto
• Typical Dishes: dressed pork products, toast served with savouries, pici (large-sized spaghetti made by hand), broad noodles with hare sauce, ribollita (soup of bread, beans and cabbage), spiced roast pork, panzanella (moistened bread seasoned with oil, vinegar and herbs)%u2026
• Oil: good selection of extra-virgin olive oil.

 What to Do:

• Excursions: on foot or by bike among the woods, lakes and streams of the Val d' Orcia and  Val di Chiana.
• Birdwatching: in the Lago di Montepulciano Reserve
• Spas: at Sant'Albino.
• Courses: Italian language and culture for foreigners. Typical Tuscan cooking.
• Special Events: the Bravio delle Botti, the Cantiere dell'Arte, the Bruscell (traditional open-air performance and procession), art and antique fairs, open house in the wine-cellars, week dedicated to extra-virgin olive oil.

Useful Info: all basic services available: post offices, cash machines, chemists', hospitals, restaurants.

Historical Notes
Became a free municipality in the XII century. In 1232,  Siena conquered the town and and razed the fortress to the ground. The walls and towers were rebuilt in 1281.  For three centuries, it was under the influence of Florence and Pisa, with an increase in trade and enlargement of the town centre. Starting in 1404 it came under Florentine control, becoming the  bishop's seat and acquiring the status of "town". 

What to Buy
In the small shops you can buy traditional foods and handicraft items. In the wine-cellars, you can taste and buy the famous local wines.