Montepulciano
The Basilica of San Biagio in Montepulciano - a masterpiece of Tuscan Renaissance!
The Temple of San Biagio is a masterpiece of Italian Renaissance architecture and was built between 1518 and 1548 on the project of Antonio da San Gallo il Vecchio, who took inspiration from the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Carceri in Prato, which was designed years earlier by his brother Giuliano (taken from the works of Brunelleschi!). This important project was supported by Pope X.
The Renaissance basilica was built on the site of an ancient early Christian parish church dedicated to Santa Maria and at the beginning of the sixteenth century very few remains of the parish was preserved.
The Church of San Biagio has a Greek cross plan, with four symmetrical rectangular arms that meet in the square cross, covered by the dome, 13 meters in diameter, which was built between 1536 and 1544.
This masterpiece stands just outside of Montepulciano and deserve a stop!
Michelle
