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The Village of Montepulciano in Tuscany Italy

Montepulciano still offers the same characteristics today that it had when it first formed as a medieval town: its stone and brick houses "cling" to the top of a hill that rises up between the Val di Chiana and the Val d'Orcia. Legendary tradition maintains that Montepulciano was founded by the Etruscans' mythical King Porsenna. Yet it most likely originated as the property of the Roman gens Publicii, who would have given it the original name "Monte Publiciano".

After it became a free municipality at the beginning of the 14th century, Montepulciano was contested at length between Siena and Florence before it finally became the established property of the Medici family in 1511.

During that period, the city's history was peppered with battles between the noble families that were vying for power.

Yet credit is due to those families for constructing important public and private buildings that allowed Montepulciano to aspire to compete with Siena and even Florence.

It was precisely during that period, in 1454, that the famous poet Agnolo Ambrogini was born in Montepulciano. Known as "Il Poliziano", the poet later went to Lorenzo de' Medici's court to educate Lorenzo's two sons. "Il Poliziano's" fame brought such good fortune to Montepulciano that most of the town's structures were rebuilt in the 16th century as requested by the Florentine nobles and by Pope Leo X (Giovanni de' Medici), whom "il Poliziano" was very fond of.

Today's Montepulciano is nearly identical to what it was five centuries ago: its building and streets form a historic center that appears to have been frozen in time. The beauty and majesty of the Renaissance buildings have remained intact, allowing the center to boast of its nickname as the "Pearl of the 1500s." From the city's lowest entrance, alternating buildings lead up to Piazza Grande that were designed by Antonio Sangallo il Vecchio, Andrea Pozzo, Vignola, and Michelozzo.

The Piazza Grande is where the Palazzo Comunale was built by Michelozzo. Palazzo Contucci and Palazzo Nobili-Tarugi were also built here, along with the characteristic wells Pozzo dei Grifi and Pozzo dei Leoni, and the majestic Duomo where Taddeo di Bartolo's triptych is kept.

Some of the most renowned buildings include the splendid temple of San Biagio, which was constructed in a Greek cross layout, the Poliziano Theater, and various noble buildings that were owned by the Ricci, Cervini, Bucelli and Avignonesi families.

One must not forget the churches of Santa Lucia, Sant'Agostino and the unique Torre di Pulcinella.Other noteworthy sites are the Museo Civico, which was recently remodeled and expanded, along with the Fortezza (Fortress), the Casa del Poliziano, and a great number of others.

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