Travel tips and information about the charming village of Montepulciano in Italy! Reasons you should not miss this Tuscany town!
Hey travel friends, let’s talk about Italy! Many of you have heard of Tuscany, Italy but have you heard of Montepulciano, Italy? It’s time that you know a little bit more about Montepulciano! So let’s talk Montepulciano travel tips and all the info you need to know about traveling to this picturesque hilltop town in Tuscany, Italy. My husband’s family traveled with us to Rome, Italy last year. We spent a whole day in Tuscany and I have to say that my favorite place to visit was Montepulciano. So I’m happy to discuss my favorite things about visiting Montepulciano and basic Tuscany travel info to get your started.
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Where is Montepulciano, Italy and what is it like?
If you are looking for a charming, Italian village then you will definitely want to stop in Montepulciano while you are visiting Tuscany, Italy. It is an old renaissance town in southern Tuscany, and it is situated up on a hilltop overlooking the Tuscan valleys below. It is about 70 miles from Rome, Italy. We traveled by bus with a day tour.
You have to drive up the hill to get there and once you get there, the views will take your breath away. All the buildings are old and rustic looking and yet they look sturdy and strong. The buildings are used for bookstores, gelato shops, wineries, cheese shops, and souvenirs, etc. When we visiting in April in was quaint and fairly quiet. I am told it is much busier in the peak travel times like summer. The streets are cobblestone and you will walk up and down little hills throughout the town as you wander.
Is Montepulciano worth visiting?
Definitely yes! Montepulciano will appeal to foodies who love cheese and wine and quaint Italian eats. Montepulciano is known for it’s wine, but there’s a lot of other food there to try. We bought some of our favorite cheeses there. It will also appeal to history enthusiasts because of the rich history at every step. There is a historic cathedral, town hall, wineries, churches, and archeological finds. And for movie buffs, it’s the location of a few movies, including Twilight, according to The Tuscan Mom. But for me, I found Montepulciano to be one of the most peaceful places of our whole trip to Italy. It was quiet and beautiful–another side of Italy that I could find in Rome. I took a million pictures, and you will too.
How much time should I spend in Montepulciano?
I recommend spending at least a half of a day in Montepulciano, Italy. If you can, try to spend a whole day there or even two. It’s definitely worth taking a full day to slow down and enjoy the quiet village life. We spent only 4 hours there and we were able to get the main feel of the town and walk through a lot of it, but I definitely felt rushed. We were not able to visit inside the town hall, or the cathedral in the short 4 hours we were there. We had time to visit many shops and try some food and wander through the streets.
We also visited a winery as part of our tour (we don’t drink alcohol, but it ended with a delicious homemade pasta that was heaven-on-earth). The winery was so old and full of history. It was fascinating! So if I could go back in time and change how long I was in Montepulciano, I would stay for an entire day. Gift yourself the gift of taking extra time here.
10 Things to do in Montepulciano, Italy
- Visit the Piazza Grande which is the large piazza in the center of town. It includes the town hall and clock tower. It’s where the main action of Montepulciano is located.
- Visit San Biago church just outside of the town. It was built in the 1500’s and it’s peaceful with a beautiful view.
- Get some pecorino cheese. It’s a specialty there!
- Visit the Sant’Agostino church
- Tour a winery (even if you don’t drink–the history is pretty cool)
- Try some gelato
- Enjoy the view from the hilltop and take pictures
- Shop your heart out. There’s chocolate and pastries, books, toys, cooking supplies, trinkets, souvenirs, cheese, clothes, bags, books, and more. We loved the quaint shops!
- Visit a museum in Montepulciano and learn about the history
- Climb the clock tower on Palazzo Comunale. It’s worth the view.
As you can see, Tuscany is a landscape full of lush greenery and rich with history and culture. I hope you will give Montepulciano a look when you travel to Italy. It’s worth it.
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