Sustainable tourism in Montepulciano

The Municipality of Montepulciano has obtained international certification from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, becoming a “Sustainable Tourist Destination”.

Montepulciano, the “pearl of the Renaissance”, as it is called, is a land characterized by a strong national and international projection, its territory is reasonably identified, in the collective imagination of tourists and operators, as the most classic Tuscan countryside.

Paesaggio di Montepulciano con Vigne e centro storico

Homeland of the great poet and humanist Agnolo Ambrogini, known as Polizano, rich in history, art and culture, Montepulciano, surrounded by some of the most fascinating vineyards in the Belpaese, is a city closely linked to rural activities and, in particular, to the production of wine , which represents a strong connotative element of the landscape, of the economic, tourist, social and even cultural structure of its territory.

The path to certification

Since the beginning of 2023, the Municipality of Montepulciano has undertaken the path to achieve international certification of sustainable tourism, an objective achieved in February 2024. To date, Montepulciano is the first among small and medium-sized municipalities to be certified as a sustainable destination according to the criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC-D).

The official certificate delivery event took place on March 2, 2024 in the presence of the city authorities and the actors involved in the certification process.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council

It is an international body born from the push of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), to promote the sustainability and social responsibility of the tourism system.

The project partners

An operational task force has been identified where it is made up of Valoritalia Srl (one of the main internationally recognized professionals in the certification sector), University of Siena, Consorzio del Vino Nobile, Strada del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano e dei Sapori della Valdichiana Senese and Arezzo Siena Chamber of Commerce, as well as an operational work team within the administration.

2024 certification

An Action Plan has been prepared to guide actions regarding tourism according to the precise standard criteria identified at an international level by the same GSTC. For each action, one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been identified, which must help the tourist destination Montepulciano contribute to the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Montepulciano is taking many steps, shared with local operators and institutions, to improve its tourist destination with a view to sustainability.

In this section of the site we collect our commitment to a sustainable future, which has already borne fruit.

POLITICA DI SOSTENIBILITA’ DELLA DESTINAZIONE TURISTICA

VADEMECUM PER LA SOSTENIBILITA’ RIVOLTO ALLE AZIENDE

Enjoy, Live and Respect Montepulciano

Tips for sustainable travel

Visiting Montepulciano means finding yourself protagonists of an extraordinary history: walking in the ancient heart of the city with its sumptuous Renaissance homes and palaces, immersed in the most evocative of the Tuscan countryside, among vineyards, rolling hills, ancient churches and rustic farmhouses. It means delighting in unique flavors such as Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the delicacies of local cuisine. It means embracing an unparalleled historical and artistic heritage, to be jealously contemplated, experienced and preserved. We therefore ask you to join us in respecting the beauty of this city and our community, to explore and narrate it in an ever new light.

Tourism Etiquette Guide

• Please throw the garbage inside the specific bins. If you stay in a holiday home, find out about the door-to-door waste collection service (download the app junkerapp.it).
• Please use the public toilets or those of the shops where you go.
• Please respect the monuments and the cultural attractions: do not damage or deface them, adopt behavior appropriate to the places you visit.
• Please keep your dog on a leash and clean up after your dog.

Suggestions for Sustainable Tourism

• Choose local food and wine products to support local producers and savor the fruit of these lands.
• Visit and support local craftsmanship.
• Visit the Montepulciano Lake Regional Nature Reserve
• Use public transport or rent an electric or classic pedal bike to visit the area around Montepulciano.
• Bring a water bottle and drink from the public fountains in the historic center (find them on the map on QR-code).
• Walk along the Montepulciano Active routes to discover the area

Download the City Map: Cartina Montepulciano IT-EN

Download the Sustainable tourism brochure: Brochure Montepulciano Destinazione Sostenibile