Senior Oenophiles and Historians Visit Montepulciano, Italy

Senior travelers will find this small hill town, Montepulciao, in Tuscany, in the province of Siena. It is most famous for its many medieval buildings and its natural scenic beauty.

Perched on top of a limestone ridge, Montepulciano is fairly close to Siena, Florence and Rome. Montepulciano’s economy is mainly based on agriculture and is known for its beautiful wines including “Il vino Nobile di Montepulciano” which is considered to be the best in Italy by wine connoisseurs. The locals call themselves Poliziani after the Roman name for the town.

Montepulciano is one of the many colorful Tuscany towns in Central Italy. The regional capital is Florence. Montepulciano is a medieval/Renaissance village of 14,500 inhabitants, with many small shops and a peaceful atmosphere that tourists enjoy.

 Seniors Find Very Old Hilltop Village

According to scholars and archeologists the first inhabitants in the area go back to the 3rd and 4th century BC, even before the Etruscans. After the Etruscans, the area was then ruled by the Romans.  Montepulciano has notoriety for the wealth of excellent vineyards from which we can obtain the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG.

The hilltop location provides a wide-angle view of wonderful Tuscan landscapes. The village is surrounded by many fortifications and walls. The center of Montepulciano (located at the highest point of the town) is Piazza Grande.

Montepulciano provides senior visitors with views, villas, and vino. The narrow streets are lined with noble palazzos because Florentine nobility favored Montepulciano as a breezy and relaxed place for a summer residence.

The Palazzo communal of Montepulciano was designed by Michelozzo. The design of the palace is very similar to the Palazzo della Signoria in Florence. Thanks to aristocratic egos, each palace was constructed to outdo its neighbor.

 Seniors, Set Your Sights On Montepulciano

The Piazza Grande a Montepulciano is the main square in town with a beautiful cathedral.  Look for the ancient well with the Medici coat of arms designed by Sangallo. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Montepulciano were designed by two of the finest architects of the Renaissance, Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, and Michelozzo Michelozzi Ippolito Scalza.

The Civico Museum, housed since 1957 in the Palace Blacks Orselli, is a major tourist draw to the city along with the Piazza Grande and Il Duomo. Let my travel hero Rick Steves, take you on a short video tour of the town.

Frommers notes: “Few better places to aim for than Montepulciano, with its famous, violet-scented, orange-speckled Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Wine that flows like water is a major attraction, but the beauty of this place is not to be found only at the bottom of a glass. Noble palaces, proud medieval gateways, and a jumble of enticing alleyways spread out below airy Piazza Grande at the very top of the town, and views over the surrounding hills and valleys are as intoxicating as the wine.”

So set your sails for Montepulciano in Tuscany and plan to spend a few days in this historical village. -jeb