{"id":1127,"date":"2024-01-27T23:25:53","date_gmt":"2024-01-27T22:25:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/?page_id=1127"},"modified":"2024-01-27T23:27:10","modified_gmt":"2024-01-27T22:27:10","slug":"montepulciano","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/it\/montepulciano\/","title":{"rendered":"Montepulciano"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Montepulciano
Montepulciano Free tour<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Montepulciano Free Tou<\/strong>r<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Information:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montepulciano<\/strong> (Italian: [\u02ccmontepul\u02c8t\u0283a\u02d0no]<\/a>) is a medieval and Renaissance<\/a> hill town<\/a> and comune<\/a><\/em> in the Italian<\/a> province of Siena<\/a> in southern Tuscany<\/a>. It sits high on a 605-metre (1,985 ft) limestone ridge, 13 kilometres (8 mi) east of Pienza<\/a>, 70 kilometres (43 mi) southeast of Siena<\/a>, 124 kilometres (77 mi) southeast of Florence<\/a>, and 186 kilometres (116 mi) north of Rome<\/a> by car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montepulciano is a wine-producing region. The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano<\/a> has Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita<\/a> status[3]<\/a><\/sup>[4]<\/a><\/sup> and is, with the Brunello di Montalcino<\/a> and Chianti Classico<\/a>, one of the principal red wines of Tuscany. The Rosso di Montepulciano<\/a> and Vin Santo di Montepulciano<\/a> have Denominazione di origine controllata<\/a> status.[3]<\/a><\/sup>[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to legend, it was founded by the Etruscan<\/a> King Lars Porsena<\/a> of Clusium<\/a> (modern Chiusi<\/a>). Recent findings prove that a settlement was in existence in the 4th-3rd centuries BC. In Roman times<\/a> it was the seat of a garrison guarding the main roads of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire<\/a>, it developed as a religious center under the Lombards<\/a>. In the 12th century it was repeatedly attacked by the Republic of Siena<\/a>, which the Poliziani faced with the help of the Perugia<\/a> and Orvieto<\/a>, and sometimes Florence<\/a>, communes. The 14th century was characterized by constant struggles between the local noble families, until the Del Pecora family became rulers of the town. From 1390, Montepulciano was a loyal ally (and later possession[5]<\/a><\/sup>) of Florence and, until the mid-16th century, lived a period of splendour with architects such as Antonio da Sangallo the Elder<\/a>, Jacopo Barozzi<\/a> da Vignola, Baldassarre Peruzzi<\/a>, Ippolito Scalza<\/a> and others, building luxurious residences and other edifices here. In 1559, when Siena was conquered by Florence and Montepulciano lost its strategic role, its importance declined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the unification of Italy<\/a> and the drying of the Val di Chiana<\/a>, the town remained the most important agricultural centre in the area, while the industrial activities moved mostly next to Chiusi<\/a>, which was nearer to the railroad being built in that period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A competitive “barrel race through the city” called the Bravio delle botti<\/a> has been held on the last Sunday of August since the 14th Century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main sights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since the Second World War<\/a>, tourism has been a significant aspect in the economy of the urban part of the commune. Many of the streets are designated as car-free<\/a>. Most of the shops and restaurants are on the main street, which stretches from Porta Al Prato to Piazza Grande[6]<\/a><\/sup> for 1.5 kilometres (0.9 mi).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main landmarks include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n