In the 15th and 16th centuries, Montepulciano and Tuscany witnessed a period marked by patronage and the birth of the great characters, chief among them the poet and humanist Poliziano. Montepulciano, at that time, was the centre of the commercial and artistic life of the Val di Chiana: in 1467, with the establishment of Monte Pio, one of the first banks in the world was founded here! Even then the Montepulciano red wine was known and sold abroad beyond that, among the most important products of the area there were saffron, flax and quality timber. The 15th century signalled the beginning of a thriving time, made up of political and social balance that favoured a cultural renaissance that lasted until the mid-16th century. The next century is marked by constant struggles for power over these lands: at the end of this tumultuous period, the city chose to ally itself with Florence, which was very happy to counter the domination of Siena and get a stronghold in the south of the opponent city. During the 13th century, the strategic location and its many commercial and manufacturing activities made Montepulciano a very popular and disputed destination between the historical enemies of Florence and Siena.
![italy wine maps italy wine maps](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6f/c9/26/6fc926e9db765234144bbc2dfb01e513.jpg)
Subsequently, with the decline of the Latin civilization, the whole of Tuscany - Montepulciano in Tuscany at the time was still only a small village – fell under the dominance of the Lombards until the Middle Ages.įrom the 12th century, this town became more prominent and entered the sphere of influence of the Siena Republic. After the Etruscan rule, the Romans came who used the area as a military camp for the allocation of an army of defence close to the route of the direct journey to the capital of the empire. Beyond the myth, numerous testimonies prove its ancient origins and the history of the following centuries. According to legend it was founded by Porsenna, king of the Etruscan city of Chiusi. Montepulciano history dates back to the 4th century B.C. If you have a good Montepulciano Tuscany map it will be much easier to recognize its characteristic shape and follow the route of the old walls! When you arrive in the old town you will not notice its well-known ‘S’ shape (clearly visible from above), but you'll soon notice the medieval walls that surround it. Before getting to know Montepulciano through its wine, we must mention that Montepulciano history has had a long past that is worth reviewing here in order to fully appreciate the character of this medieval village. But do not just take a leap to the first wine shop to buy only one bottle of Nobile of Montepulciano! Whatever your holiday program, this small town is well worth a visit, especially in the beautiful historical centre. In the charming town famous for its wine there is no shortage of interesting things to do and see for example, the famous Spas of Montepulciano are located just ten minutes from the town! This spa is not very well known among the traditional ones in Tuscany, but this should not deter you…It is a state of the art structure dedicated to specialized treatment and physical rehabilitation (even for children!).ĭo you want to discover more about the world of the Tuscan Montepulciano wine history? Montepulciano wineries and the neighbouring towns are one of the destinations that we suggest you include in your travel schedule.
![italy wine maps italy wine maps](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/36/9a/09/369a09bde800db2b8177b127f69f100a.jpg)
Montepulciano in Italy is a charming medieval town in the province of Siena in southern Tuscany, in a very strategic map location for your holiday: from here you can easily reach Arezzo, visit the Val d'Orcia, relax at the Montepulciano spas and much more!