Montepulciano is one of the most beautiful hill towns in Tuscany, a medieval and Renaissance jewel perched on a limestone ridge between the Val d’Orcia and the Val di Chiana, famous for its Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (one of Italy’s great red wines), its elegant Renaissance palaces, and its starring role as Volterra in the Twilight film series. The town’s main street, the Corso, climbs gently from the Porta al Prato to the Piazza Grande at the summit, lined with wine shops (enoteche) offering free tastings of Vino Nobile, Renaissance palazzi designed by the likes of Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, and hidden courtyards opening onto views of the classic Tuscan landscape of cypress-studded hills, vineyards, and olive groves.
In This Article
Quick Facts: Montepulciano, Italy
- Best time to visit: April–October; late September for the grape harvest and the Bravìo delle Botti (a barrel-rolling race between the town’s contrade, wildly entertaining); the Corso can be steep in the summer heat; morning is the best time to explore
- How to get there: ~1.5 hours from Florence by car; ~1 hour from Siena; parking is restricted outside the walls: use the designated car parks and walk or take the shuttle up
- Don’t miss: A tasting of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano in one of the historic underground wine cellars; many wineries have cellars carved deep into the tufa rock beneath the town’s Renaissance streets
- Combine with: Pienza (the perfect Renaissance town, 15 min), Montalcino (Brunello wine country, 40 min), and the Val d’Orcia hot springs at Bagno Vignoni
Montepulciano is an Italian city situated in southern Tuscany. Today the town has about 14.000 inhabitants. It is located at an altitude of over 600 m and is built in the hills on a narrow limestone ridge. In the center of Montepulciano, you can visit many churches and Renaissance palaces, which were built with the participation of Florentine architect Antonio da Sangallo the Elder. The city is also famous for its local wine – Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which is one of the best wines in Tuscany.
Among the most valuable sights in Montepulciano you can find Sant’Agostino church or ancient gate Porta al Prato. On the Piazza Grande there is the Gothic palace Palazzo Comunale from 14th century. From its tower you can enjoy a beautiful view of the surroundings. Other palaces worth visiting are Palazzo Neri-Orselli, which is now a museum and a gallery, or the Palazzo del Monte Cantucci from 16th century. Not far from the center of the town you can visit a church of Santa Lucia. On the slope below the town of Montepulciano there is situated Renaissance pilgrim church of San Biagio, built by Antonio da Sangallo. In its interior you can see the original artistic decoration.
View Montepulciano – a medieval and Renaissance hill town in Italy in a larger map
Underground Wine Cellars: Tasting Vino Nobile
Montepulciano sits on a ridge of tufa limestone tunnelled over centuries to create an extraordinary network of underground wine cellars. Beneath the Renaissance palaces along the Corso stretch vast barrel-vaulted cellars carved deep into the rock, where the temperature remains a constant 12 to 14 degrees Celsius year-round, providing ideal conditions for ageing Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The Cantina del Redi, beneath the Palazzo del Redi, offers one of the most atmospheric experiences with a cellar extending 30 metres below street level and an underground tasting room lit by candlelight. The Contucci Cellars on the Piazza Grande have been in continuous use since the 16th century. Most wineries welcome visitors for tastings, often free of charge. Plan your visits for late morning, when the cellars are quietest and shopkeepers have time to discuss the nuances of each vintage.
Day Trips from Montepulciano: Pienza and the Val d’Orcia
Montepulciano’s position in southeastern Tuscany makes it an ideal base for exploring the region’s most celebrated landscapes. Pienza, just 15 minutes away, is the perfect Renaissance town, redesigned in the 15th century by Pope Pius II. The view from the walkway behind the cathedral, overlooking the Val d’Orcia with its rolling wheat fields and cypress avenues, is one of the most photographed in Tuscany. A 40-minute drive west brings you to Montalcino, home of Brunello di Montalcino, Italy’s most prestigious red wine. To the south, the Val d’Orcia hot springs at Bagno Vignoni offer a unique bathing experience in a Renaissance-era stone pool fed by thermal waters at 49 degrees Celsius. The free Cascate del Mulino nearby lets you soak in natural hot waterfalls surrounded by travertine rock formations. These destinations can be visited comfortably in a single day, forming a loop that showcases Tuscan hill-town culture, wine, and landscape.
Have you tasted Vino Nobile in Montepulciano or discovered Tuscany’s hill-town treasures? Share your wine-tasting adventures in the comments! 🍷
Explore all our Italy travel guides, from the Dolomites to Sicily.
Explore More
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like:
