Sightseeing in Montepulciano - what to see. Complete travel guide

Montepulciano is an incredibly beautiful Tuscan town with a history dating back to the early Middle Ages. Modern travelers are attracted by a great variety of historic and cultural monuments, remarkable nature attractions and old wineries where special vintage wines are produced. The population size of the modern town is almost 15 000 people. Montepulciano is famous as an important center of the food industry, so it will certainly impress gourmets too.

Special kinds of pasta and cheese that you can not only taste in national restaurants, but also buy on local markets are produced here. Most of the cheese factories are open for tourists who can go on an interesting excursion and taste the best products. The town is noted not only for gastronomic attractions. Well-preserved architectural constructions give it some special charm.

When walking along the town streets, you can see a great number of glorious palaces, each of which is unique and interesting in its own way. The most fascinating palaces are Palazzo Signoria and Palazzo Tarudzhi. As for religious attractions, Tempio di San Biagio that is considered as a wonderful example of the Renaissance architecture deserves a special attention. Montepulciano has recently attracted an attention of the Twilight Saga fans, as exactly here one of the film episodes was shot. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Among the important peculiarities of the town with an inimitable medieval atmosphere, a minimum number of motor vehicles should be noted. A lot of town streets are available only to pedestrians. Moreover, some streets are so narrow, that it is hard to ride even a two-wheeled vehicle. It is also necessary to mention the culinary culture of Montepulciano, as this old town is a perfect place to get acquainted with peculiarities of the Tuscan cuisine.

One of the most popular treats you can try almost in all upscale restaurants is tagliatelle with truffles. Those who are delighted with meat dishes should definitely taste sausage products of the local production. In addition to exquisite treats, visitors of the restaurants are offered to try delicious local wines. The most popular wine that has literally brought the town world fame is Nobile. Connoisseurs of red wine are recommended to taste Rosso wine. Those travelers who want to visit the Tuscan town in autumn can taste young Novello wine.

The tourists who prefer relaxing in the most top-rated places should visit the La Grotta restaurant that is considered as a real culinary gastronomic attraction of the town. The restaurant is situated in a marvelous mansion built in the 15th century and offers its guests exclusive dishes of haute cuisine. Thrifty tourists will be definitely delighted with streets stands and outdoor cafes that can be found everywhere in Montepulciano. Popular and simple national dishes for all tastes are served here. In conclusion, the town features a friendly and harmonious atmosphere that attracts people to relax and admire their vacation. Montepulciano, this calm and picturesque town has long been very popular with fans of sightseeing tours and walks along scenic places.

Don’t forget to visit the main square of Montepulciano on Thursday as this is the time when the largest market in the city starts working. Local farmers bring their best products to the market, so gourmet visitors have an opportunity to try different sorts of cheese and meat delicacies or simply buy true homemade wine. There are also several shopping stalls with souvenirs and exclusive crafts by local artisans.

Nature fans will feel charmed during a walk on the shore of Lake Montepulciano. Warm months are the best time for admiring the beautiful local nature. The lake is currently located in the territory of a large protected area, the size of which exceeds 300 hectares. This region is famous for its rare flora and fauna, so visitors can see various birds and wild animals during their excursion in the reserve. The area has a number of interesting cycling and hiking trails. Many visitors prefer to make boat rides on the lake that are very refreshing in summer. Finally, there are several historical vineyards not far from the lake, and tourists are welcome to attend them during an excursion.