The building was constructed using light-colored travertine stone quarried from the surrounding Tuscan landscape.
The interior dome design was influenced by the technical innovations of the Roman Pantheon.
The church was officially consecrated by Pope Pius IV in 1564.
The original design included two bell towers, but only one was ever completed to its full intended height.
The building stands as one of the most significant examples of Renaissance architecture in the Val d'Orcia region.
The Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio is a High Renaissance pilgrimage church located in the Tuscan countryside just below the town of Montepulciano. Designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder and constructed between 1518 and 1548, the church follows a Greek cross floor plan. It is renowned for its central dome and the travertine stone facade that glows in the afternoon light. The interior features a 12th-century fresco of the Virgin and Child, which is attributed to the cause of the church's construction following a reported miraculous movement of the painting's eyes in 1518. The church was modeled after Bramante’s design for St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. It sits isolated in a valley, intentionally separated from the urban density of the nearby historic center. The building remains a consecrated Catholic site that continues to host religious services.
From the cypress-lined driveway leading to the church, framing the building against the backdrop of the Montepulciano skyline.
Walk the path from the base of the Montepulciano hill to approach the church on foot for the best perspective of the building within the landscape.
Bring a wide-angle lens, as the building's scale and isolation are difficult to capture in a single frame from close range.
Do not attempt to walk from the town center during the midday summer heat, as the descent and ascent are steep and lack shade.
Closed on some weekdays during the low winter season; typically open daily during the spring and summer months.
Modest dress is required: shoulders and knees must be covered. Silence is expected as it is an active house of worship.
