Terre di Toscana

Montepulciano

Montepulciano started out by covering the mountain ridge (605 m) which divides Val di Chiana and Val d’Orcia with houses, towers, palaces, churches, “rughe” (streets) and squares. The beauty of its Renaissance architecture built into the medieval town, make it a destination for tourists from all over the world.

HOW TO GET THERE
By train
The nearest station to Montepulciano is Chiusi (lines from Florence or Rome).
Continue by bus or local trains.
By bus
Montepulciano can be reached by coaches which leave from Rome (SIRA) or
Florence (TRAIN line) LF1.
By car
Take motorway A1 and exit at Chiusi-Chianciano Terme (coming from the south)
or Valdichiana (coming from the north), and continue on SS146 for 20 km.
From Siena or from Perugia take the dual carriageway Siena-Bettolle-Perugia.

The "Termae"
In Sant’Albino, 3 km from Chianciano Terme, there is the modern Spa of Montepulciano. Already a spa in the 16th century where mineral waters are still used to treat many pathologies.

The Lakes
Both Montepulciano Lake and Chiusi Lake are the remains of a vast Pliocene basin. Today it is a protected area, where the reed beds are home to a variety of aquatic birds that can be seen in the LIPU Oasis.  (tel 0578 767518).

Happenings
This town offers the visitor many events – fairs, theatre and music festivals and traditional feasts.
Every second weekend in the month in Piazza Grande there is the Art and antique fair.
May 1st is dedicated to the traditional Fiera di Sant’Agnese with a Historic pageant in costume through the streets.
In May the Fiera delle Tre Berte is held. This is a three day fair dedicated to agriculture and livestock.
The summer season (July-August) offers the full programme of the famous Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte di Montepulciano, with opera, theatre, symphony concerts, ballets and workshops.
Thought up in 1976 by Hans Werner Henze, the Cantiere has kept the original idea where professional artists, students, enthusiasts and those who are simply dilettantes “create” the performances and put them on in various parts of the historic town.
Around August 15th, on the front steps of the Duomo, there is a performance of the Bruscello Poliziano which takes up the formula of traditional country theatre, acted in “ottava rima” (octaves).
The last week in August is that of the Bravìo delle Botti, a game where the eight quarters of the town centre compete. The teams, made up of two “rollers”, try to win by rolling barrels weighing 80 kilos uphill for 1800 metres to Piazza Grande where the race ends.
Other unusual feasts are celebrated in the outskirts, like the Palio dei Carretti, in Valiano.