Montepulciano

Montepulciano is situated on the top of a hill between Val di Chiana and Val d'Orcia, and is the largest municipality of Val di Chiana.
Founded by the Etruscans, the popular tradition located in Montepulciano, a sort of summer residence of King Porsenna.
In the Middle Ages, despite the ambitions of Florence, Siena and Perugia, Montepulciano managed to remain free and built a strong wealth. The stability and wealth grew even more after the alliance with Florence, in 1390, and from the beginning of the fifteenth to mid-sixteenth century Montepulciano knew the most important period in its history, with the construction of numerous buildings and the flowering of art and poetry (among the most famous people of Montepulciano we remember 'Il Poliziano'). With annexation of Siena to Florence's possessions in 1554, Montepulciano lost its strategic role, but retained its importance as a center of excellence, where many great personalities belonging to the fields of literature, art and religion were born and grew.

With the Lorena family to rule the village, Montepulciano recovered a bit of the ancient splendor and was converted to an agricultural center, while the whole production activity moved to Chiusi and Chianciano.

Events in Montepulciano

Bravio delle Botti, the last Sunday of August in honor of patron St. John the Beheaded, where the eight districts of Montepulciano are vying the Bravo (a cloth painted with the image of the patron saint) in a race with a barrel of 80kg which must be pushed for a distance of 1.7 km.

Bruscello Poliziano, in August. Bruscello is a competition of ditties sung and played by amateur actors who carry on the tradition and dialect of Montepulciano.

Montepulciano wines

Montepulciano is also known for the excellent local wines produced. Among them we mention:
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, produced from Sangiovese grapes gentle Prugnolo, black Canaiolo and Mammolo. The wine is aged 24 months before being sold.
Rosso di Montepulciano DOC, with the same blend of the Nobile wine, but also other varieties of the area authorized. It's immediately placed on the market without passing in wooden barrels.
Vin Santo di Montepulciano: dessert wine produced with Malvasia Bianca and Trebbiano Toscano Puncinculo, and any other white grapes permitted in the province.
Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice, it is a more prestigious variety obtained by Blackthorn kind and other varieties.

In Montepulciano you can visit the cellars of Vino Nobile and wine bar, where you can taste all the wines produced by companies members of the Consorzio Vino Nobile.

See also: wine of Siena and wine of Florence.

Hotel in Montepulciano

Montepulciano offers many opportunities to those who want to spend their holidays there.
You can stay in a hotel, in a bed & breakfast or guesthouse, or you can rent a residence or an apartment, depending on your needs.

Find your accommodation in Montepulciano for your travel in Tuscany!