Montepulciano

By road

Montepulciano is a few kilometres from the A1 Autostrada and from the more scenic SS2 from Rome to Florence. Cars are not allowed inside the historical old town (except with a permit, available from hotels) so park in one of the numerous lots at the edge of the town. The lots fill up quickly in late summer, the height of the tourist season.

By bus

Buses, departing from Piazza Pietro Nenni, connect Montepulciano with many other Tuscan cities: Siena (75 minutes, 4/day none on Sunday), Pienza (30 minutes, 8/day), Montalcino (1 hour, 10/day, change in Torrenien) and Chiusi (hourly). Route #146 into Montepulciano is quite scenic. See Tuscany#Get_around for tips.
If you are walking into town from the bus station (autostazione in Italian), there is a pedestrian short-cut with an elevator and stairs to the top of the cliff. The entrance is through a portal on Via delle Lettere at the corner of Piazzale dello Sterro, about 50 m from the bus station.

By rail

The nearest railhead is a half-hour away at Chiusi from where there are frequent trains to Florence and Rome.

The only way to get around is to walk along the steep pathways.

• Tourist Information

  phone: +39 0578-757-341
  The office is on Piazza don Minzoni.

• Piazza GrandePleasant piazza surrounded by great architecture, like the medieval Palazzo Comunale, Contucci Palace, & Palazzo de' Nobili-Tarugi

• Civic Museum

  phone: +39 0578-717-300
  address: on Via Ricci
  This small museum's highlight is the della Robbia ceramic alterpieces & Etruscan artifacts.

• San Biagio ChurchA wonderful Renaissance church with soaring nave & dome, with a challenging walk from the church to the town center.

• Palazzo ComunaleThe clock tower of the Palazzo Comunale can be climbed for a great town view (€1.60 open daily 10:00-18:00)

• Wine tasting can be done in the Cantinas along Via Ricci & Via di Gracciano nel Corso, but the most fun one is in the basement of the Contucci Palace, on Piazza Grande. Free tasting, no food, open daily 08:30-12:30 & 14:30-18:30. Groups welcome with a reservation. Telephone: +39 0578-757-006
• The house and property of La Foce is a short drive away. The 15th century villa was built as an inn for pilgrims and merchants traveling on the ancient road to Rome, Via Francigena. Restored as a private home by Iris and Antonio Origo, the house and the gardens make for a pleasant two hour visit from Montepulciano. The villa and property (as also are Montepulciano and Chiusi) are the centerpiece of the very readable book War in the Val D'Orcia by Iris Origo. Summertime music concerts are also featured. All tours are guided, so call ahead.

• Market Day is Thursday

• Enrico Crociani men's clothing

  phone: +39 0578 758823
  address: Via Dell'Opio nel Corso, 6
  Handicrafted local-made man's clothing

• Bottega del Rame

  phone: +39 0578 758 753
  address: Via dell'Opio nel corso, 64
  Copper cookware, fine copper pieces for kitchen and whole house

• Ai Quattro Venti

  phone: +39 0578-717-231
  address: Next to city hall on Piazza Grande
  Fresh, flavorful, & fun, on Piazza Grande with indoor & outdoor seating.

• Osteria dell'Aquacheta

  phone: +39 0578-717-086
  address: on Via del Teatro

Montepulciano is the center of an ancient wine-growing region, so go ahead and sample some. Three varieties of wine are available (all are mostly from the sangiovese grape): Rosso di Montepulciano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Reserva, in increasing order of subtlety and price. The wines tend to be full-bodied, the kind that goes well with a picture of generations of Tuscan peasants, sitting in the fields, eating cinghiale (boar) while swigging the good stuff!

• Mueble il Riccio

  phone: +39 0578-757-713
  6 medieval elegant rooms, an awesome rooftop terrace, & friendly owners. Breakfast €8, air-conditioning, a block below main square at Via Talosa. Gio & Ivana speak English, Gio or his son give country tours in one of their classic cars for €25/hour.
• Camere Bellavista has 10 rooms, some with better views than others. Room 6 has a terrace worth reserving. Double w/bathroom €55, nicer double w/bathroom €65, breakfast €2.50, cash only, no elevator, on Via Ricci 25, little English spoken, Mobile phone: 347-823-2314

• Via della Stella15 km from Montepulciano and Cortona. Complex comprises 2 buildings each equipped with own outdoor areas and finished and furnished with Tuscan pieces, with wrought-iron beds. 9x18 m pool, whirlpool (extra), ping-pong, playground for children, bowl-court and barbecue. Parking by the farmhouse.

• Borgo Tre Rose

  phone: +39 0578 724231
  address: Via dei Palazzi, 5
  3-star hotel with swimming pool, located in the Tuscan hills not far from Montepulciano historical center.

• Agriturismo B&B Casa di Bacco

  phone: +39 3388054069
  address: Via della Fornace Valiano 16
  Farm home hotel with seven rooms (four with a shower and three with a Jacuzzi) and one apartment (with fireplace and Jacuzzi). Each room has an LCD TV, satellite decoder, minibar and air conditioning. Private parking, barbecue and gazebo available. A swimming pool is open all day and at night. A continental buffet breakfast is included.

• Fonte Martino Guest House & Estate

  phone: +39 3291567491
  address: Via di Valardegna 8
  A new (as of 2019) bed and breakfast with panoramic views of town and the Valdichiana. Each suite includes a private terrace. A homemade seasonal breakfast is included each morning.

• Chiusi
• Chianciano Terme
• Pienza
• Radicofani
• Siena