naviquan

Signs like this are misleading - but if you want to go to the historic center (centro storico), go left following directions to Piazza Grande and Palazzo Comunale.

If in doubt when trying to find your way to the historic center of Montepulciano (Italy) take the road that goes up (on the photo - left)

The higher you go while going up to the top of the hill where Montepulciano (Italy is located), the views on the Tuscan countryside are.

Via del Poliziano - at this point you are very close to the historic center of Montepulciano (Italy). As soon as you cross this gate you are in. The street continues as via di San Donato going to piazza Grande.

Cantina Gattavecchi with underground grottos and caves is on via di Collazzi off via del Poliziano. Gattavecchi is an historical name in Montepulciano. This family has dedicated to the production of wine for more than 100 years (four generations).

Via di San Donato (Montepulciano, Italy). Palazzo Comunale on piazza Grande is in the background on the left side of the street.

Palazzo Comunale with its tower on piazza Grande in Montepulciano, Italy. The back part of the building is very old. The front, in Florentine style, was designed by Michelozzo (15th century). The building is used currently for the town government.

Piazza Grande (Montepulciano, Italy). In the middle - Palazzo Tarugi, attributed to Antonio da Sangallo il Vecchio (the Elder). On the right side of the photo is Palazzo Contucci. On the left - Palazzo del Capitano. All palaces are closed to public.

Close-up on Palazzo Tarugi (Montepulciano, Italy). Its facade is entirely in travertine.

Detail of the well (il pozzo) located on piazza Grande (Montepulciano, Italy) in front of Palazzo Tarugi.

Accademia Europea di Musica e Arte - Palazzo Ricchi (via Via Giuliano Ricci 9-11, Montepulciano, Italy). The historic but neglected Palazzo Ricci was leased by Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln on the condition that the school would be responsible for the Palazzo’s restoration. Academy of Music and Arts has become a May to October program offering master classes and scholarship residencies and organizing interdisciplinary projects.

Albergo Duomo, Via San Donato 14, Montepulciano, Italy. Its location is very close to piazza Grande. Hotel has 13 rooms and a private garden. Prices are €70 - 120.

Dream Tuscany Srl on via San Donato 9 - this is a real estate agency (agenzia immobiliare).

This is the very end of via Ricci that opens to piazza San Francesco.

Camere Bellavista (Via Ricci 25, Montepulciano, Italy). This inexpensive hotel or rather hostel (€70-90) located very close to piazza Grande in Montepulciano can be a good option for the budget traveler.

Porta San Francesco (Montepulciano, Italy) - the fastest way to reach Tempio di San Biagio on feet is through this gate.

"The guy" is on the facade of one of the buildings near piazza San Francesco (Montepulciano, Italy). I could not find any information on this sculpture. NOTE: One of our users left a message telling us that this person "is the very very last of the Medici dynasty, Gian Gastone, and the building is Palazzo Benincasa." Thanks!

I already mentioned La Cantina Gattavecchi (Montepulciano, Italy) when we were entering the town. This is their wine store on via Ricci, 20 (between piazza Grande and piazza San Francesco).

Gattavecchi window display. Among wines are Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Rosso di Montepulciano, Collepio, Nobile Reserva.

There are plenty of such narrow and forgotten in time streets in Montepulciano (Italy).

Looking at these walls I am wondering how many times houses and palaces in Montepulciano were re-built.

Piazza San Francesco, Montepulciano (Italy). B&B Locanda di San Francesco is on the left side of the photo.

Enoteca (wine shop) Contucci on via San Donato. Contucci is a well known family in Tuscany and Montepulciano being involved in Montepulciano (Italy) political and public life since the 14th century. Contucci were also one of the founding fathers of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

Terre Toscane (or, as they call themselves the "incoming travel agency") is located on Via del Teatro 19, Montepulciano (Italy). They offer apartments in the historic center of Montepulciano for weekly rents, country houses, holiday homes and hotels in Southern Tuscany for daily rents.

Meuble il Riccio via Talosa 21, Montepulciano, Italy. The hotel itself is located just off the square of Piazza Grande, the center of the historic hilltop town. Rooms are €100.

Meuble il Riccio is located in a palazzo which history can be traced to 11th century. This beautiful courtyard with tiled pavement and arches supported by travertine columns is a part of it.

Fattoria della Talosa - the main aging cellar of the fattoria is in the historic center of Montepulciano on via Talosa in an underground area between two of the oldest buildings in the city: Palazzo Tarugi and Palazzo Sinatti.

La Terrazza Di Montepulciano is a comfortable hotel located on Via Piè al Sasso at #16 close to Piazza Grande, in the heart of the historic center of Montepulciano. Double rooms are €90.

Cassa di Risparmio di San Miniato (Savings Bank of San Miniato) on via San Donato (Montepulciano, Italy) - for whatever banking needs you may have.

Montepulciano branch of PIA Arciconfraternita di Misericordia - the Brotherhood of Mercy devoted to the care of those in need.

Chiesa di San Biagio or Tempio di San Biagio (The Sanctuary of San Biagio) as seen from Montepulciano is located at the foot of the Montepulciano hill. The construction of the church started in 1518. It was consecrated in 1739.

Porta dei Grassi in the external wall surrounding Montepulciano (western part of the town reachable from piazza San Francesco). Behind the gate starts via di San Biagio that leads to Chiesa di San Biagio.

Torre (tower of) di Pulcinella (Montepulciano, Italy) is located in front of the church of Sant'Agostino. On top of the tower is the metal-clad wooden statute driven by a clock mechanism striking the hours.covered with sheet metal, connected with a clock mechanism underlying strikes the hours.

Museo della Misericordia (Museum of Mercy), entrance (Montepulciano, Italy)

Via di Gracciano nel Corso (Montepulciano, Italy) - that's where most of shops and bars are located.

The store of Azienda Agraria IL GREPPO (Farmhouse Il Greppo) in Montepulciano. The farmhouse (located 3 km from the village of Abbadia di Montepulciano and 10 km away from Montepulciano) consists of 10 apartments accommodating from 2 to 8 people.

Inside the store Il Greppo in Montepulciano (Italy).

Our last stop on via Di Gracciano nel Corso (n.111) is this Ferro Battuto e Metalli Lavorazione (Wrought Iron and Metals) shop.

This interesting store, Salumeria Toscana, is located inside the gate Porta al Prato (with address at Viale dei Sangallo, Montepulciano, Italy.

Another street lost in time in Montepulciano, Italy.

When it rains in Montepulciano (Italy)

Montepulciano, Italy - looking at places like this I often think how the owners manage to survive without customers.

Montepulciano (Italy) is located on the ridge of the hill - this is the view from the town to its northern part.

Ruins are often a part of the Tuscan landscape - it seems they are almost part of it on this photo.

There are two signs above this bench on via di Voltaia nel Corso. On the left: "Sotto la panca la capra campa su questa panca si ferma la gente stanca." On the right: "Chi vuol reposare lo faccia pure tanto non si paga nulla... per ora...!!!!!" The first is a tongue twister variation. The second says "Who wants to have a rest, please do it costs nothing... for the time being" - locals having fan with tourists I guess.

Maledetti Toscani store on Via di Voltaia nel Corso (Montepulciano, Italy). This popular chain can be found in more than 20 Italian cities and some foreign countries such as France, Spain, England and the United States.

Maledetti Toscani is native to Montepulciano (Italy). The manufacture and sell a wide variety of leather goods such as briefcases, bags, agendas, gloves, wallets, belts and shoes.

We came across this strange narrow building on Corso (via di Gracciano nel Corso). I wonder how is that to be inside.

Palazzo Gagnoni on via di Voltaia nel Corso. There are few buildings like this in Montepulciano (Italy) where architects tried to mimic some famous palaces in Rome.

Rameria Mazzetti also known as Bottega del Rame (Via dell'Opio nel Corso, 64, Montepulciano, Italy). The copper goods for the kitchen and all the house crafted by hand using ancient techniques.

If you want to do a little moonshining, you can find Bottega del Rame (Montepulciano, Italy) very useful with equipment like this.

Participants of Bravio delle Botti - the challenge disputed every year in August by the eight contrades of Montepulciano.

Bravio delle Botti, the award ceremony. The name of the game originates from the vernacular Bravium and refers to the prize awarded to the winning Contrada - a painted cloth bearing the image of the patron saint of the city.

Teatro Poliziano in Montepulciano (Italy) was built in 1796 and is located in Via del Teatro 4. The capacity of the theater is 400.

The ceiling and chandelier in Teatro Poliziano in Montepulciano (Italy). Not bad for the town with population of less than 15,000 people.