Chianti area  (Tuscany):  [ MAP ] 

Chianti lies in the hearth of Tuscany, between the cities of Siena and Florence. Chianti is an area full of  vineyards  from which the famous Chianti wine is produced. The landscape is  also characterized by rolling hills, woods, winding roads,  scattered by hamlets, farmhouses, castles, and lonely churches watched out by dark cypresses and obviously wineries. Chianti is much more than a wine, Chianti is ancient peasant culture,  the balance of a landscape with nature,  a blend of art history and traditions, a place where the time is marked by the sun and by the seasons, where shopping is not to fill the trolley and pay, but is to meet people,  exchanging a few words and information, to have a direct relationship with people and maybe, at last, enjoy together a good glass of good Chianti wine.

A trip to Chianti represents a unique and unforgettable experience for everyone involved. From Florence the main road to the Chianti is the the very attractive State road No. 222, best known as "Chiantigiana", which connects Florence with Siena crossing the whole Chianti and passing through Bagno a Ripoli, Grassina, Strada in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Panzano in Chianti, Fonterutoli and Quercegrossa.

The first stop for travelers is Bagno a Ripoli, where the Romanesque church preserves some 3th Century frescos by Piero Nelli, while in the nearby Gothic oratory of "Santa Caterina delle Ruote" (14th Century) are other beautiful frescos by Spinello Aretino.

Crossed the small village of Grassina, in a series of hills are the fields of Ugolino Golf Club and later on (5 km) you arrive in the village of Strada in Chianti, where the best attractions are the 15th Century Crucifix by Neri di Bicci, housed in the Church of San Cristoforo and the ancient Castle of Vicchiomaggio.

Continuing on one's way among vineyards, olive groves and cypresses rises the Castle of Verrazzano, belonged to the great navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano, with a beautiful Italian-style garden and in whose chapel is an altarpiece by Ghirlandaio.

Next stop is Greve in Chianti, that thanks to its strategic location, at the crossroad of two of the most important lines of communication,  can be considered the Capital of Chianti. Greve in Chianti is a vibrant town, full of life and with a  beautiful triangular piazza with lovely arcades where is a pleasure to enjoy the scenery tasting a glass of Chianti wine and/ or eating an exquisite "panino imbottito" (stuffed rool). Afterward  stroll around the delightful piazza and visit the famous delicatessen factory Falorni, bursting of salami, cheeses and wild boar sausages. The historical butchery dates back from the 1729 and produces very good local specialties, from the Tuscan prosciutto, to the Finocchiona or the Noble Salami of Chianti, made with the noble parts of the pig.  Under the porticos of the triangular piazza, surmounted by terraces full of flowers,  open libraries, art galleries, workshops and especially grocer and butcher's shops full of good things.

If you wish, you can stop in at a local  Chianti Classico wine tasting center.  The wine cellar dates back to the second half of the 1800's and covers 600 square meters. In this enoteca (wine shop) visitors have easy access to a selection of over a hundred wines, in addition to a wide range of other local products, including Tuscan olive oil, Vin Santo (sweet wine of Tuscany) and Chianti grappa.
 
The church of Santa Croce preserves a tripthyc by Bicci di Lorenzo  and a 13th Century Annunciation. In the former convent of San Francesco is housed the "Museo di Arte Sacra, preserving a collection of paintings, sculptures and scared vestments. Worthy of note, among the works, is the "Pietà", a large polychrome terracotta by Santi Buglioni (16th Century).

Nearby, on a hill,  emerges Montefioralle with the castle and the hamlet (11th Century) which looks medieval and overlooks the Greve in Chianti from the top. (there is a steep slope and if you are not an active people, to get there by car is recommended).

The next stop after Greve in Chianti is Panzano in Chianti, a lovely hill town which preserves one of the most important churches of the whole Chianti, the Romanesque parish church of San Leolino: Panzano also is the right place to taste the "Bistecca alla Fiorentina", thanks to the contribute of the famous Antica Macelleria Cecchini, a real mecca for gourmet food lovers.

Crossed Panzano, after 10 km you reach Castellina in Chianti, a small town located in the center of a flourishing wine area rich in scattered hamlets and churches. The village is dominated by the Rocca ( Fortress) and the best sight is the suggesting  Via delle Volte from where  visitors can enjoy a beautiful view from the embrasures. In the church of Sant'Agnese is an altarpiece by Bicci di Lorenzo, while in the Church of San Salvatore preserves a valuable detached fresco by Maestro di Signa (15th Century). Just outside of the town is the Etruscan settlement of Montecalvario which bear witnesses to its very ancient past.

On the road towards Siena also lies Fonterutoli whose name is famous for the excellent Chianti Classico wine produced in the area close by.  A stop is recommeded.

 Then continuing after 7 km you meet Quercegrossa and  within 10 minutes you are in Siena.

From Castellina in Chianti, through through the state road No.429,  you can reach  the town of Radda in Chianti  whose buildings and urban layout  have medieval features. Of note are the Palazzo del Podestà, located in the central piazza, and the 17th Century  Palazzo Minucci.   Nearby is the Castello di Volpaia,  a medieval hamlet still intact, characterized by rural homes and  small palazzos fully immersed in a landscape rich in Vineyards and olive groves. The Castle has been converted in agricultural estate and produces Chianti Classico wine and Vinsanto wine.

Lastly the village of Gaiole in Chianti, at few km from Radda, is a very important wine center with many Chianti classico wine producers in its territory among which: Castello di Brolio (a pentagonal very impressive fortress-castle on the side of a hill at 12 km. from Gaiole in Chianti dating back to the 9th Century and preserving the ancient keep, the fortifications and the chapel) and Castello di Meleto (a rare example of a fortified medieval farm, with impressive circular towers) owned by Ricasoli family; Castello di Ama and Badia a Coltibuono a 11th C Romanesque abbey and cloister, nowadays transformed into wine cellars.

South of Siena the Chianti area extends as far as Castelnuovo Berardenga  where the best sights to see is Villa Chigi  with a beautiful classic "Italian style garden", with the park hosting a wide variety of trees, a nice fountain by Tito Sarrocchi (1866)  and a large collection of statues dedicated to great musicians, a sort of gallery of music. Other sights:   Museo del Paesaggio (Museum of Landscape) -  The Parish Church of Pacina - San Gusmè, small fortress preserving the ancient medieval look with the 13 C defensive works and the ancient doors. - Pievasciata - Vagliagli beautiful hamlet in panoramic location - Badia d'Ombrone - San Felice -  Certosa di Pontignano, a very harmonious complex of medieval and renaissance buildings - Villa a Sesta  and  Borgo Monastero.