Montepulciano is the largest municipality in the region called “Valdichiana”.
the poet Angelo Ambrogini, known as il Poliziano, was born here in 1454.
The town is said to have been founded by the Etruscan king Porsenna anda exhibits impressive archietecture, mainly but not only Renaissance. The architectual character of its magnificent Piazza Grande is often compared to that of Florence. Michelozzo, baldassarre Peruzzi and Vignola all worked here, as did Antonio da Sangallo Il Vecchio who designed the graceful neoclassical Tempio di San Biagio (1516-1618), still not entirely completed.
The local economy is based on agriculture, including Olive Oil, Wheat, honey, pasta sauces, preserves, spices, pastries and its special Sangiovese based wine “Vino Nobile di Montepulciano”. In the summer the town hosts an art festival called “Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte” and in the mid-August holyday the “Bruscello”, a traditional show spoken in rhyme, is performed on the Cathedral steps and on the last Sunday of the month of August a barrel raced called “Bravio” takes place
