The Fortress of Montepulciano

Today I want to introduce you to another little jewel of our town, the Fortress of Montepulciano, a military fortress built in 1261 during the age of the Republic of Siena.

This fortress has been repeatedly destroyed and reconstructed due to the controversies over Montepulciano between Siena and Florence. The last reconstruction is attributed to the architect Antonio da Sangallo il Vecchio, so the fortress is called “Medicea”. In the next centuries, further renovations have been done here, one of the most important is dated 1885 and was designed by the architect Augusto Corci. But the fortress has been recently restored and it has been completed at the beginning of this year.
Until the 90’s of the last century the fortress was used as school, but oday it has a new life and is a venue for temporary exhibitions or events, as well as being home to an important American university. This university is the Kennesaw State University of Georgia (USA), which uses it for its academic courses.

Since last April, this site is also home to the Consorzio Del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and its Enoliteca. A careful restoration effort has brought to light important archaeological finds that have been highlighted by a crystal floor. The Enoliteca (the wine bar) has a terrace with panoramic views over the Temple of San Biagio, Val di Chiana and Val d’Orcia.
It’s also the ideal place where to taste over 100 labels of all producers associated with this consortium, as well as a selection of local products. This is another great spot for tourist and locals who want to and have a glass of DOCG wine.

Credits preview photo: By Valeri Rossano (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.