Montepulciano

Montepulciano is a town with 14,180 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012) in the Italian region of Tuscany and belongs to the province of Siena.

Geography

Montepulciano is located southeast of Siena, between the Valdichiana and the Val d' Orcia. Location and construction of the city are extremely charming and picturesque. The city is located on the top of a 600 m high hill and is surrounded by a medieval wall.

At its districts include Abbadia, Acquaviva, Gracciano, Montepulciano Stazione, Valiano and Sant'Albino. Borders the following municipalities: Castiglione del Lago ( PG), Chianciano Terme, Chiusi, Cortona (AR), Pienza and Torrita di Siena.

History

The history of Montepulciano can be traced back to the year 715 BC, until the middle of the Etruscan period. The place was subject to 1202 the protection of Siena, then explained in Florence and then changed hands several times, the rule until he was finally Florentine beginning of the 16th century. 1561, the city was a bishopric.

Montepulciano is the birthplace of the humanist and poet Angelo Ambrogini (1454-1494), who became known as Poliziano and as a private tutor and friend of Lorenzo de Medici helped to shape the spirit of the Renaissance. Another son of the city 's Cardinal Bellarmine ( 1542-1621 ).

During the Second World War, the German Wehrmacht had already arranged in retaliation of partisan attacks, the destruction of the historic old town. This was the Count Origo and his wife, the writer Iris Origo ( " Tuscan Diary" ), be prevented at the last minute. Busted was only the eastern gate " Porta al Prato ".

Attractions

Most of the buildings in the old town dating from the time of the Renaissance. Older the castle, the Palazzo Pubblico from the 14th century and the portal of the church of Santa Maria ( 13th century). There are a number of beautiful private houses, some of which by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder (1455-1534) and Baldassare Peruzzi (1481-1536), others by Vignola (1507-1573) were built.

The Church of the Madonna di San Biagio - probably the masterpiece Sangallo - was built from 1518 to 1537. The Cathedral by Bartolomeo Ammannati ( 1570), modified by Ippolito Scalza, and completed in 1680 ( with the exception of the facade, which is still unfinished) houses a large altar by Taddeo di Bartolo of Siena, and the fragments of an imposing monument, the 1427 - was named in honor of Bartolommeo Aragazzi, the secretary of Pope Martin V., erected in 1436 by the Florentine architect Michelozzo, and which was demolished in the 18th century. The facade of San Agostino is probably as Michelozzo work.

Also worth seeing is the meticulously restored Museo Comunale is the collection of paintings Crociani. Down in the Val di Chiana is situated on Lago di Montepulciano, a Natural History Museum, which recalls the centuries in which the valley was a giant lake and swamp.

Regular events

  • Cantiere Internazionale d' Arte: The music festival Cantiere Internazionale d' Arte, the initiator (1976 ) was the German composer Hans Werner Henze, takes place annually from late July to early August.
  • Find master classes of the College of Music and Dance Cologne in cooperation with the European Academy of Music and Performing Arts annually with their weekly final concerts at Palazzo Ricci: European Academy of Music and Performing Arts.
  • Bruscello: is a local theater with music, it takes place every year to Ferragosto ( 15th August) instead.
  • Bravio delle Botti: a competition of the eight districts in the wine barrels the mountain must be rolled up; it takes place every year on the last Sunday in August

Tourism

In addition to wine connoisseurs also many music lovers come to Montepulciano (see section Regular events ).

In recent years, Montepulciano was repeated scene of award-winning feature films such as " The English Patient ", " Heaven" or "A Midsummer Night's Dream and" New Moon - Bis (s ) at noon, " with Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.

Viniculture

Soils, layers and climate of the area favor the wine, by which the place is known. The red wine has a " posh " names: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, whose name could be mistaken but with the wine Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from the Marche and Abruzzo. The wineries of Montepulciano make all the difference in the varieties, durability and quality and are guided by the Tuscan neighbors from Montalcino. The simpler wine from Montepulciano is called " Rosso di Montepulciano ".

Twinning

  • Moulins Allier in the Auvergne (France)

Personalities

Sons and daughters of the town

  • Angelo Poliziano (1454-1494), humanist and poet of the Renaissance
  • Marcellus II (1501-1555), Pope
  • Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621), theologian and Jesuit
  • Roberto de Nobili (1577-1656), Jesuit, India missionary and linguist
  • Vanneschi Luca (born 1962 ), composer

Gallery

Palazzo Comunale

Tarugi Palazzo Sangallo

Clock tower Torre di Pucinella in Piazza Michelozzo

Italy Provinces of Italy List of postal codes in Italy List of dialling codes in Italy National Institute of Statistics (Italy) Province of Arezzo San Biagio, Montepulciano The English Patient (film) Heaven (2002 film) A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999 film) Moulins (Allier) Allier (river) Auvergne (region) Abbadia San Salvatore Asciano Buonconvento Castellina in Chianti Castelnuovo Berardenga Cetona Chiusdino Monteriggioni Monticiano Murlo Piancastagnaio Poggibonsi Radda in Chianti Radicofani Radicondoli Rapolano Terme San Casciano dei Bagni San Gimignano Sarteano Sinalunga Sovicille
580583
de