Montepulciano
A medieval, walled city, Montepulciano offers visitors stunning views, wine and food. Located in Southern Tuscany and one of my favorite places in Italy, Montepulciano is a must see.
The Details
Travel & Getting Around
Montepulciano is located in Southern Tuscany in the province of Siena. There is no direct train station or airport here so it can only be reached by car/bus/moped/etc. A walled in city, you must enter through a gate which automatically begins your trip back in time. Parking is located outside the wall/gates and might be hard to find on a crowded day. Some hotels or AirBnBs may offer parking permits to park within the walls but please note the streets are very narrow and may be difficult to navigate. The city of Montepulciano can be visited on foot, there are some hills throughout the city so be sure to wear appropriate footwear (you don't need hiking boots, but I'd be careful in stilettos).
Where We Stayed
I've visited Montepulciano three times, two times staying in the city center and once in the nearby countryside. Depending on your situation, how many people and your goals for the trip either are a great option. In the countryside you can find a beautiful old villa with a lot more space but you'll have to worry about driving/parking. The last time I went, it was with a larger group during the summer and so we rented a big house with a pool, outdoor pizza oven, grill and table to eat. This was perfect for our group as we all wanted to stay together, cook at home, blast music and swim.
Twice I stayed in the center, once in a hotel and the other in an AirBnB. Both options were great, the purpose of these trips were to eat, drink and shop. Staying in the center made all this easy as could walk anywhere at anytime within the city. There are many places to try wine, so it is nice to have the option to taste and drink without having to worry about driving.
Where & What We Ate
Montepulciano is famous for their wine, but its various restaurants and enotecas have lots to offer as well.
Restaurants
Triscele-- this was by far our favorite meal, fresh and absolutely delicious fish
Enoteca Le Petit Tonneau--we went for a tagliere (meats & cheeses), the wine and the view. They only have 3 tables out on their balcony, so be sure to make a reservation if you can.
La Chat Noir
What We Did
We were really here for la spiaggia (the beach), and so that is where we spent every day. There is some free public beach space, but during the peak summer (we went in July), it fills up quickly. I'd recommend getting there early and setting up your space, and be prepared for people to be close to you. We opted for a lido, basically a "beach club" where you can book and rent chairs and an umbrella for the day. At most lidos, there is a small restaurant where you can order coffee, food or drinks.
We decided on Lido Eolo, it is a little further down the lungomare (promenade near the sea, with restaurants and bars) but a little less crowded and the water is sparkling. At some of the other lidos they had water toys for children, so maybe a better option if you have kids. If you're looking to relax a bit more without having children running by and splashing you, I'd walk a few extra steps to get here. Remember, you won't have to bring chairs or umbrellas so there is really nothing to lug!
Vineyards
