Montepulciano Travel Guide: Piazza Grande, Vino Nobile Cellars and the Bravìo delle Botti

Montepulciano is a medieval village on a limestone hilltop in the Valdichiana Senese, on the ridge between Val d’Orcia and Valdichiana. It suits travelers who like to wander piazzas, Renaissance churches and wine cellars dug into the rock. The Montepulciano Lake Nature Reserve lies a few kilometers away, close to the Umbrian border.

The town sits at the top of a hill. Piazza Grande is reached by walking in through Porta al Prato in the lower part of the city and following the street uphill. The big dates cluster in summer: Le Notti del Vino on Fridays in July and the Bravìo delle Botti in August.

At a glance

• Setting: hilltop village in the Valdichiana Senese, on a ridge between Val d’Orcia and Valdichiana
• Main square: Piazza Grande, reached through Porta al Prato and uphill
• Wine events: Anteprima del Vino Nobile in February, Le Notti del Vino on Fridays in July
• Summer festival: Bravìo delle Botti on the last Sunday in August
• Weather in July: high of 87°F (31°C) in Siena, 3 rainy days
• Entry for U.S. citizens: up to 90 days without a tourist visa

Where is Montepulciano and what is it like?

Montepulciano is in the heart of the Valdichiana Senese. It overlooks the Valdichiana and the Val d’Orcia from the top of a hill, on the border with Umbria.

The landscape around it is rolling hills and small lakes. The Montepulciano Lake Nature Reserve takes in the lake, the Canale Maestro della Chiana and the surrounding farmland, in the southern part of Valdichiana. The town itself is a compact hilltop village.

The Republic of Siena built the Medici Fortress here in 1261 as a military building. Its spaces are now used for exhibitions.

What is there to do in Montepulciano?

Piazza Grande and its palaces

Piazza Grande is the heart of Montepulciano. The Pozzo dei Grifi e dei Leoni well, designed by Antonio da Sangallo, stands in the square. The Palazzo Comunale has a Gothic travertine façade and a crenellated tower reachable by an internal staircase. The Palazzo Tarugi, entirely covered in travertine, stands on the same square.

The Cathedral, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, was built between 1586 and 1680 on a design by Ippolito Scalza. It has a Latin cross plan divided into 3 naves. Piazza delle Erbe and Palazzo Cervini are also on the list of sights nearby.

The walk up from Porta al Prato is uphill all the way, so wear comfortable shoes. Give the square a slow stop, since the palace, the cathedral and the well are all within a few steps of each other.

The Temple of San Biagio and Sant’Agostino

The Temple of San Biagio was designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder and built between 1518 and 1548, with consecration in 1537. It has a Greek cross plan, a central dome and a semicircular apse, flanked by 2 bell towers. It stands isolated from the rest of the town.

The Church of Sant’Agostino is a Gothic-Renaissance building. Works began in 1285 and were completed around 1440. Its travertine façade was partly designed by Michelozzo di Bartolomeo in the early 1400s.

San Biagio stands apart from the center, so plan it as its own outing on the way to or from the square. Check opening hours locally before you go.

The Civic Museum, the Medici Fortress and the walls

The Civic Museum is inside the 14th-century Palazzo Neri Orselli. It holds paintings, terracottas and archeological finds. The Medici Fortress, built in 1261, now hosts exhibitions in its spaces.

The Passeggiata Poliziana stretches about 650 feet (200 meters) beneath the ancient walls. It connects Porta delle Farine to Piazza Santa Maria dei Servi.

The museum suits a day with poor weather. The walk under the walls is short and works as a break between sights. The Montepulciano Lake Nature Reserve, a few kilometers from town, is the choice for a green outing.

Vino Nobile cellars and the thermal baths

The historic Vino Nobile wine cellars are in the basements of Renaissance buildings in the historic center. They run along tunnels dug into the tuff. The Anteprima del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano takes place in February.

Le Notti del Vino runs every Friday of July, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. It starts on July 3 at Palazzo Vecchio, Valiano.

The Montepulciano thermal baths offer therapies using sulfur-rich waters. They also offer treatments for respiratory, rheumatic and skin conditions. They fit a day built around rest rather than sightseeing.

The Bravìo delle Botti and the Bruscello Poliziano

The Bravìo delle Botti is held on the last Sunday in August. Eight Contrade, the town’s districts, roll 176-pound (80-kilogram) barrels along a 1,800-meter uphill course in the streets of the city.

The Bruscello Poliziano is a theatrical show based on Tuscan popular traditions. It has been repeated every year since 1939 in the cathedral forecourt, around the 15 August Ferragosto holidays.

The two events fall in the same stretch of late summer, so a trip in August can include both. If you want wine and history, the cellars, Piazza Grande and the churches fill a visit in any season. If you want the festivals, plan for July or August.

When should you go to Montepulciano?

Late spring and early summer make an easy window. May brings a high of 73°F (23°C) and June 81°F (27°C), with about six rainy days in June. July reaches 87°F (31°C) and has 3 rainy days, and it also brings Le Notti del Vino.

August has the Bravìo delle Botti and the Bruscello Poliziano, so book ahead if you plan to be there for them. Winter is cooler: January highs reach 50°F (10°C) and the month has 7 rainy days. February adds the Anteprima del Vino Nobile for wine lovers.

The month-by-month detail is on the best-time page.

What to know before visiting Montepulciano

According to the U.S. State Department, U.S. citizens can stay in Italy for 90 days without a tourist or business visa.

• Passports must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area. A 6-month validity is recommended. Passports must have 2 blank pages for entry stamp.
• You will need proof of sufficient funds and a return plane ticket.
• Italy sets a 10,000 euro currency limit, or equivalent, on entry and on exit.
• There are no vaccination requirements.
• If you intend to stay longer than 90 days, you must apply for a visa from an Italian Embassy or Consulate, then obtain a permit of stay (permesso di soggiorno) once in Italy.