Sighseeing
Montepulciano is a rarely interesting town. According to a Renaissance legend, it was founded in 509 BC by Porsenna, the Etruscan Lucomone of Chiusi, following the expulsion of Tarquinius the Proud from Rome. Though that cannot be proven, the Bishops of Siena and Arezzo did meet before the Steward of King Liutprando in about 700 AD, and argued bitterly for suzerainty of Montepulciano's Pievi. The Bishop of Arezzo won, perhaps sowing the seeds for the long-standing antagonism between Siena and Montepulciano that helped make the town one of Florence's staunchest allies in the centuries of war with Siena. In any case, Florence took considerable interest in Montepulciano, especially after Angelo Ambrogini, better known as Il Poliziano, befriended Lorenzo il Magnifico and educated his sons, one of whom later became Pope Leo X. In 1494 the Sienese finally succeeded in forcing Montepulciano to bow to them, but in 1511 Florence got the town back and dispatched Antonio da Sangallo, one of the greatest architects of the period, to shore up the walls. While he was there he found time to work on several palaces, which are delightfully variable in style, and designed the Tempio di San Biagio, one of Tuscany's most harmonious and graceful churches. Nor was Antonio alone: Michelozzo, Simone Martini and Taddeo di Bartolo contributed their talents too, as did many others.
The Church of St. Augustine
The Church of St. Augustine is probably one of the most beautiful and interesting buildings in Montepulciano. Its facade was designed by Michelozzo Michelozzi (1396-1472) in the first decade of the XV century. Been an architect and sculptor, the artist used simple and elegant Renaissance forms in the lower level. The portal has a lunette placed in the upper level and on its top an irregular tympanum stands between two thin and pointed towers like flames. They represent Gothic features which recur in the Gothic niches of the upper level. It is possible that the remaining part of the facade was completed by another architect who adopted Renaissance forms. The inside was rebuilt in the XVIII century and the original design was transformed. Inside the church can be seen and admired the masterpieces of Barocci, Allori, Lorenzo di Credi.
Church of The Lady of Servants
Just a few meters away is situated the Church of The Lady of Servants, built in the XVI century. It presents a beautiful pointed portal and, on its roof, Gothic hanging arches. The Baroque interior was designed by Andrea Pozzo. But just arriving at the town after having passed round the top of the hill along the beautiful tree-lined street and past the famous Poggiofanti Gardens, the Church of St. Agnes, the patron saint of Montepulciano who died in 1317 can be seen. In its modern facade (1926) there is a Gothic portal. The interior of the church was renovated in the XVIII century, the nave mostly in the XVII century. Many art works in the church date back to this period, among them - the monument where St. Agnes's body rests. If the same avenue is followed the Porta al Prato where the Via Roma starts appears.
Marzocco
The Via Roma Street, leads to a little square where the "Marzocco", the symbol of Florence's authority, stands on a column. This lion replaced the "She-wolf" of Siena in 1511 and is the work of the sculptor, Sarrocchi (1856). In front of the column is the Palazzo Avignonesi which is attributed to Vignola and dates back to the XVI century. Its style is pure late-Renaissance. Close to the Palazzo Avignonesi stands the Baroque Church of St. Bernard and in front of the Palazzo Avignonesi there is the late-Renaissance Palazzo Tarugi. Its lower level is characterized by ashlar-work.
This building is also attributed to Vignola. Other Renaissance palaces bordering the Via Roma are: Palazzo Cocconi-Del Pecora, designed by Antonio da Sangallo, and Palazzo Buccelli with Etruscan cinerary urns and tablets with Etruscan and Latin inscriptions displayed at its base.
