Another beautiful well, made of travertine and topped with griffons and lions, stands in a corner of Piazza Grande in Montepulciano. Antonio da San Gallo il Vecchio was the architect responsible. All around we see imposing palazzi and other masterworks of great architects, all hymning the Renaissance. When the town market moved home to Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza Grande became primarily symbolic, the face of the village, as it were. In this role it does very well indeed, thanks to the quadrangular plan bordered by the bulks of the cathedral, the town hall (in this case an impressive copy of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, as requested by Cosimo I de' Medici). Other buildings that crowd the square include Palazzo Contucci, Palazzo Nobili-Tarugi and Palazzo del Capitano. If Torrita, if only in its name, betrays its role as a Sienese stronghold, then the interest that Florence took in Montepulciano was driven by anti-Sienese sentiment, though in fact the city was always much disputed. All year round Piazza Grande shines with its own light, thanks both to its defining travertine and to its architectural splendour. But what makes it still more unique are the events that, starting from the summer, follow one another in this unique natural stage: the International Art Workshop, the Bruscello Poliziano, Calici di Stelle. Then in the festive period it turns into one of the most beautiful Christmas villages in Central Italy.
