Destinations: Italy > Tuscany and Umbria > Chianti area

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Chianti area

Rolling hills, endless horizons and vineyards steeped in history

Chianti is famous throughout the world for its red wines, but visitors return year after year for its beautiful scenery, character, history and abundance of places to visit. Throughout the Chianti region Chianti is famous throughout the world for its red wines, but visitors return year after year for its beautiful scenery, character, history and abundance of places to visit. Throughout the Chianti region are medieval towns and villages such as Greve in Chianti, Castellina, Radda and Gaiole, all steeped in the history of centuries of wars between the great cities of Florence and Siena. Hilly throughout, with the hillsides invariably covered in the vines, for which the region is most famous, the scenery nevertheless changes from serried rows of vines and meadowland in the area nearest to Florence to olive groves and oak forests closer to Siena. With both Florence and Siena within an hour’s drive of all parts of the region, even the smallest villages throughout Chianti are worth a visit. Hilltop villages, such as San Donato in Poggio and Barberino Val d’Elsa to name just two, offer narrow cobbled streets flanked by medieval buildings with pretty window boxes bursting with geraniums and local markets held weekly, or more often, are always worth a visit. Read More...

Wine routes There are several wine routes in Chianti, of which the SS-222, with a maze of subsidiary country roads, is considered the main one. The original Chianti Classico is denoted by the symbol of the black rooster “Gallo Nero”. Whether following a specific wine route, or just following your nose, the signpost to look out for is “degustazione”, which denotes a wine-tasting venue where the wine is actually produced. Also look out for “enoteca” where wines from several estates can be tasted and purchased

Dining While Chianti is famous for its wine, the whole of Tuscany is famous for its food. Even the smallest village has at least one restaurant and usually several and many other excellent restaurants can be found at the side of the main roads, so don’t be afraid to stop and look. Outside the cities, the restaurants generally offer excellent value and always offer traditional dishes using fresh local produce. Menus of the day are best value and look out for hearty Tuscan soups and wild boar.

Sightseeing Florence and Siena are easily accessible via the Superstrada, which cuts through the Chianti region, and neither is more than an hour’s drive away. Both cities offer historical sights, churches, art and architecture, but it’s best to avoid Mondays, when museums are often closed. The towns and villages of the region have places of interest to visit, including Greve with its medieval piazza and Castellina in Chianti with its imposing castle and Via delle Volte underground tunnel.

Shopping Florence is a shopper’s paradise, bursting with designer shops. However, bargain hunters can shop at one of the city’s street markets, offering excellent quality leather goods, clothes, jewellery and souvenirs. The largest of these is San Lorenzo, close to the Piazza del Duomo and the art and antique shops of the Ponte Vecchio are also worth a visit. Siena offers similar street markets and shops on a smaller scale and all of the region’s towns and villages have a market at least once weekly, offering leather goods, clothes, jewellery and pottery, as well local produce, wine and olive oil.