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Sapori Tipici Toscani
Sapori Tipici Toscani
Sapori Tipici Toscani
Sapori Tipici Toscani

Montepulciano - the old town centre

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With roughly 15,000 inhabitants, Montepulciano is in the Valdichiana region of Tuscany at an altitude of 605 metres above se level.

For centuries this town was fiercely contended by Siena and Florence, before passing definitively under the control of the latter in 1404

By order of Cosimo I de’ Medici an additional circle of fortifications was erected around the city to designs by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder. Today Montepulciano is noted for its prized wines such as the Nobile di Montepulciano, as well as for its magnificent Renaissance monuments and Medieval streets that have retained their original design with arches and vaultings.

Piazza Grande is the fulcrum of public life in Montepulciano and contains its major sights. The Duomo was built between 1592 and 1630 to designs by Ippolito Scalza. Above the high altar there is a Senese School triptych by Taddeo di Bartolo of The Assumption of the Virgin. The altar is flanked by a partly dismantled funerary monument by Michelozzo.

Next to the Duomo is the 14th century gothic Palazzo Comunale. In the 15th century Michelozzo designed the façade and tower. Next to the town hall stands the imposing 16th century Palazzo Tarugi.

Via del Corso contains Montepulciano’s major 16th century buildings: Palazzo Avignonesi and Palazzo Buccelli, with a number of Etruscan bas-reliefs and funerary sculptures incorporated into the lower section of the façade.

Beneath the fortifications stands the Church of the Madonna di San Biagio, built entirely in white travertine marble to designs by Antonio da Sangallo between 1518 and 1534. The Church of Sant’Agostino, built by Michelozzo in 1427, is in Piazza Michelozzo. Its majestic doorway is adorned with a sculpture of the Virgin and Child, with St John and St Augustine.

In July and August Montepulciano hosts the Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte arts festival founded by the German composer Hans Werner Henze. In August there is the Bruscello antique theatre festival.




 

All'inizio
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  General information
Town map 
Siena in the Renaissance 
Siena in the Middle Ages 
Siena in Antiquity 

  Transport in town
Map of Hotels in Siena 
Town Map Siena 

  Transport out of town
Train services 

  Where to Stay
Hotels 
Farm Holidays and Country Houses  
Residence, Apartments 
Bed & Breakfasts 
Historical Residences 

  OFFERS & LAST MINUTE
Reservation Services Siena 
Last Minute Siena 

  Where to eat and drink
Disco Dancing 
Restaurants 
Pubs & Wine Bar 

  Education
Siena University 
University for Foreigners 

  Art and monuments
Palazzo Piccolomini and Palazzo delle Papesse 
Palazzo Chigi-Saracini 
Palazzo d’Elci degli Alessi 
Loggia della Mercanzia 
Palazzo Sansedoni 
Palazzo Chigi-Zondadari 
Fonte Gaia fountain 
Carthusian Monastery of Pontignano  
Forte di Santa Barbara 

  Art and religion
Church of Sant’Agostino 
The Duomo – The Cathedral of the Assunta 
Church of the Osservanza  
The Oratory of San Bernardino 
Church of San Francesco 
Short Biography of St Catherine of Siena  
St Catherine Sanctuary 
Church of S. Niccolò al Carmine 

  Museums and galleries
The Museo Civico 
Bologna-Buonsignori museum 
Accademia dei Fisiocritici 
I Musei Senesi 

  Art and tourist attractions
Cappella di Piazza 
The Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia 
Piazza del Campo 
The Montagnola Senese and the Fortified Village of Sovicille 
The Castles of Belcaro and Quattro Torri 

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  The Palio of Siena
The Origins 
The July and August Palio 
The Contrade 
The Days of the Palio 
The Drappellone 
The Eve of the Palio 
The Corteo Storico Procession 
The Race 
The Patron Saint and Oratory of Each Contrada 
Weekly Appointments in each Contrada from April onwards 

  Sightseeing
Via di Città (formerly Via Galgaria), Siena’s Most Elegant Street 
Croce del Travaglio Place 
From Piazza del Campo to the Duomo Along Via di Città 
The Curves of Piazza del Campo 
Costarella dei Barbieri street 
Borgo d’Ovile 
The Terzo of Camollia – main streets 
Casato di Sopra e Casato di Sotto 
Terzo di San Martino district  
The Terzo di Città District - Via Stalloreggi, Via San Quirico 
The Terzo di Città District – The Pinacoteca Nazionale 

  What to see & do
Wedding in Siena 
Golf courses in Siena and Tuscany 
Wedding in Tuscany - Siena area 
San Casciano dei Bagni 
Chianciano Terme 
Bagni San Filippo 
Bagno Vignoni 
Rapolano Terme - Baths of San Giovanni and Baths of the Antica Querciolaia 
The Countryside around Siena and its Thermal Water Springs 

  Monte Amiata
Monte Amiata - nature tourism the year round 
SkiPass Monte Amiata 
WebCam sul Monte Amiata 
Meteo Monte Amiata 

  Specials - Out of town
Gift Ideas for traveling 
The Val d’Orcia and Its Main Towns 
Pienza - the old town centre 
Montepulciano - the old town centre 
San Quirico d’Orcia - the old town centre 
Montalcino and the Land of Brunello 
The Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore and the Crete 
The Crete Senesi 
Castellina in Chianti and the Via Chiantigiana Towards Siena 
Siena and Southern Chianti - from the Castle of Montalto to the Castle of Brolio and on to the Castle of Meleto 
The Chianti Hills - Monte Calvo, Monte Luco and Monte San Michele 
Cortona and the Valdichiana 
San Gimignano - The old town centre and its major sights 
The Val d’Elsa - Monteriggioni and Colle di Val d’Elsa 
Along the Old Via Francigena 

  Typical products
Typical Tuscan flavours 
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