An Overture
Montepulciano is the largest town in the Val d'Orcia (around 14,000 people) and, by several accounts, the best-equipped base in southern Tuscany — it has the strongest selection of hotels and restaurants in the area. A steep, handsome Renaissance hill town, it is famous for its Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wine and for the historic cantinas (wine cellars) burrowed beneath its streets where you can taste underground. Rick Steves rates it a top driver-friendly base. Its combination of serious wine, sweeping Val d'Orcia views, and good services makes it a favorite for travelers wanting to settle into southern Tuscany.
Top Things to Do
Piazza Grande
The elegant Renaissance main square at the top of town, with the Palazzo Comunale (climb its tower for Val d'Orcia panoramas) and the Duomo.
Underground wine cantinas
Tour and taste Vino Nobile in the ancient cellars beneath the town (e.g., the historic Cantina Contucci and others); the signature Montepulciano experience.
The Corso (main street climb)
A long, atmospheric uphill walk lined with wine shops, cantine, and palazzi from the town gate to Piazza Grande.
Walking Tours
The Corso & Piazza Grande Walk
The long, atmospheric climb up the Corso — Via di Gracciano nel Corso into Via di Voltaia nel Corso — ducking into Vino Nobile cantinas, to the austere hilltop Piazza Grande and the town-hall tower for the view over the vineyards and the Tempio di San Biagio below.
Porta al Prato → Via di Gracciano nel Corso → Via di Voltaia nel Corso → Piazza Grande → Palazzo Comunale di Montepulciano
Day Trips & Beyond
Hidden Gems
Chiesa di San Biagio
A perfectly proportioned 16th-century High Renaissance church set on a lawn just below the town walls, strikingly beautiful and often quiet (Wendy Perrin).
Getting there — ~1 km below the walls — a 15-min downhill walk from Porta al Prato, or a short taxi/drive.
SearchTempio di San Biagio at sunset
and the cypress-lined approach are photographic highlights.
Getting there — ~1 km below the walls — a 15-min downhill walk from Porta al Prato, or a short taxi/drive.
SearchMontepulciano's streets stood in for a
Montepulciano's streets stood in for a New Moon (Twilight) film location, a minor draw for fans.
SearchFood & Dining
Signature Dishes
Restaurants
Local Food Notes
Where to Stay
- ~$160
- Untold Italy
Practical Notes
Getting There
- without a car: Difficult — like most Val d'Orcia towns, public transport is limited and indirect. The Montepulciano rail station sits well below town in the valley, requiring a bus/taxi connection.
- with a car: The clear best option; Rick Steves lists Montepulciano among the driver-friendly bases. Park in the lots outside the walls (strict ZTL center).
Getting Around
- Getting around: Steep but walkable within the walls; a car is needed to explore the wider Val d'Orcia.
Practical Tips
- Timing: September harvest and late spring are ideal; avoid August closures. The climb up the Corso is strenuous — pace it and use the cantina stops as breaks.
- ZTL & parking: Park outside the walls; the center is camera-enforced.
- Tastings: The underground cantinas often offer free or low-cost tastings as you climb — a built-in, walkable wine crawl.
Notable Insights
Good to Know
- Consensus: Blonde Atlas singles out Montepulciano as having the best hotel and restaurant selection in the Val d'Orcia — the practical reason to base here rather than in tiny Pienza or Montalcino.
- Consensus: Rick Steves classifies it as a driver's base, reinforcing that a car is essential for the southern hill towns.
- Consensus: The combination of underground Vino Nobile cantinas and the San Biagio church gives Montepulciano two standout, distinctly local experiences.