Montepulciano

A monumental centre

Leaving from Porta al Prato, and following the main road which crosses the town, you can admire the main noble residences, such as Palazzo Avignonesi, Palazzo Bucelli which has cinerary urns built into the façade and Etruscan and Roman inscriptions, Palazzo Cervini, Palazzo Ricci which is the seat of the European Academy of music and dramatic arts, run by the Musical Academy of Cologne.

The most interesting architectures are S. Biagio and the buildings in Piazza Grande.

The surrounding walls and the 16th century fortress are also interesting. Every so often it is worth glancing sideways to get a view of the two valleys spread below.

Among religious buildings the main ones are Sant’Agostino, with a façade by Michelozzo which contains a terracotta group attributed to the same artist, and the Church of Gesù, built between 1691 and 1707 according to designs by Andrea Pozzo.
There is also the gothic Santa Maria dei Servi, Santa Lucia, built in 1633 and Santa Maria delle Grazie, designed by Scalza at the end of the 16th century.

Other interesting architectural sights are the Logge del Grano, built at the end of the 16th century, the 19th century Caffé Poliziano, the Agnolo Poliziano’s house (1454-1494), the Teatro Poliziano, end of the 19th century and the Tower of Pulcinella, at the top of which there is an automaton which chimes on the hour.