San Biagio, Montepulciano
Antonio da Sangallo the Elder · Montepulciano, Italy · 1545
San Biagio stands below Montepulciano as a compact centralized church set against open fields and vineyards. Antonio da Sangallo the Elder organized a Greek-cross plan beneath a high dome, using warm travertine and a disciplined classical order to make the volume legible from every side. Two planned towers flank the entrance, although only one was fully completed, adding asymmetry to the ideal scheme. Inside, the clear geometry and resonant stone surfaces create a calm spatial focus around the crossing. The isolated landscape setting is essential to the monument's effect and distinguishes it from the dense urban churches of nearby hill towns.