Culture of Montepulciano. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Fans of sightseeing tours are better to stroll along the streets of Montepulciano, as literally at each step you can find interesting historical constructions and cultural centers. The heart of the historic district of the town is a picturesque square, Piazza Grande. It is surrounded by outstanding architectural and symbolic monuments, each of which has a unique history.

The St. Mary's Cathedral of the Assumption Duomo is located exactly here. It is one of the most prominent architectural monuments of the 16th century. The cathedral stores a rich collection of pictures, so admirers of paintings will certainly appreciate its interior finishing. Fascinating Palazzo Kontuchchi is located not so far from Duomo. It is a unique architectural monument that is well known to connoisseurs of vintage wines. The matter is that there is a tasting room in this fabulous palace where the visitors can taste the most exquisite kinds of drinks from local wineries.

Near the picturesque square is Palazzo Tarudzhi that is one of the main symbols of Montepulciano too. The palace is incredibly beautiful and is distinguished by a gorgeous facade design but its interior has remained unchanged for several hundreds of years. One of the guests’ favorite entertainments is the visit of the old town hall, on the top of which an excellent viewing platform is equipped. It has a magnificent view of the town and surrounding valleys. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

One of the most unusual and symbolic town attractions is the Pulcinella Tower. This monument is named after the character of the famous Italian comedy. A tiny figure of Pulcinella is installed on the top of the clock tower. In Montepulciano, constructions built in different epochs are preserved. The oldest building on the town territory is a fortress. The exact date of its construction is unknown but the fortress was first mentioned in historical documents in the 9th century. Nowadays, this old building is completely reconstructed and turned into a first-class exhibition center where interesting cultural events are held every day. There is a beautiful park in the vicinity of the fortress and it will certainly impress nature admirers and fans of outdoor activities.

Art connoisseurs will not be bored too, as they can visit amazing cultural centers. The excellent art museum is situated in Palazzo Cervini and a rich collection of unique medieval paintings is stored here. In Palazzo Ricci, connoisseurs of exquisite wines can visit old canteens, specially equipped rooms used to store wine. Palazzo Buchelli presents some of the most unusual and most valuable exhibits, marble slabs with old inscriptions in Latin. The most brilliant Renaissance monument is Tempio di San Biagio . The church started being built in 1518 and finished 27 years later. The main feature of the construction is an impressive harmonious look. It is difficult to find even one extra element in its interior and exterior. The main gem of the old church is an organ that has been stored in the hall from the 17th century. An old marble altar is of great interest too. As for other wonderful cultural objects, there is the Montepulciano Museum that presents a collection of art exhibits and archeological finds.