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What to do in Chianti is a more appropriate question than what to see in Chianti. In fact, this area of Tuscany is a place that offers many activities. The small towns of Chianti are beautiful and interesting, but the real uniqueness of Chianti lies in its landscapes and food and wine culture.
This post, therefore, aims to list various activities to do in Chianti. Of course, I do not want to forget the small towns, because they deserve a mention! Speaking of small towns, the borders of Chianti are still debated. The Chianti Classico area coincides with Gaiole, Castellina and Radda. These have been joined by Greve, Barberino Val d’Elsa, Castelnuovo, Poggibonsi, San Casciano and Tavarnelle Val di Pesa.
Recently, there is a tendency to expand the boundaries of Chianti even more by including San Gimignano, Vinci, Montepulciano and Volterra, among others. In this post I will dwell only on Chianti Classico: there are already so many things to do!
What to do in Chianti: drink wine!
Let’s start with the important things right away. Where to drink in Chianti? The list could be endless, and here I mention only the places I know. Molino di Grace (in Panzano in Chianti) and Borgo Casa al Vento (Gaiole in Chianti: it also has rooms) are excellent places to do wine tastings. Some wineries are located in beautiful historic castles: Castello di Meleto (two kilometers away from the center of Gaiole), Castello di Brolio (ten kilometers from Gaiole) and Castello di Ama (along the provincial road Traversa del Chianti) are spectacular and worth a visit just for the place where they stand!
In wine heaven I feel compelled to talk about beer as well. In fact, in Radda there is Chianti Brew Fighters, which produces an excellent double IPA called ‘Double Blasphemy.’
What to do in Chianti: cycling
Cycling in the Chianti area is absolutely a must-do activity. I participated in Eroica, the cycling event dedicated to historic bikes, and it was a great event! Gaiole and Chianti stop for a couple of days and make way for vintage bikes. The event is spectacular, and the stage is wonderful. With the medium route (134 kilometers long) I was able to appreciate the white roads of Chianti, the castle of Brolio, Siena, Castelnuovo Berardenga…in short, I was able to fully appreciate the beauty of Chianti!
The 46-kilometer route
is doable by anyone with a decent state of fitness: it could be a good start to get to know Chianti in depth!
What to do in Chianti: walk through the vineyards
Biking is not the only sporting activity to do in Chianti. In fact, walking among the Chianti vineyards, especially in the fall season, is an unforgettable activity! Working as a tour guide, I was lucky enough to walk between Panzano and Greve, passing through Montefioralle. The walk is only eight kilometers long (mostly downhill, some sections are quite steep and trekking poles might be useful: here you can find the
TRACK
) and allows you to admire wonderful vineyards and olive groves. Along this trek, you can also appreciate the beautiful town of Montefioralle (apparently the birthplace of Amerigo Vespucci) and Greve in Chianti. This town boasts a beautiful square, adorned with a statue of Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first explorer of New York Bay.
From Greve you can return to Panzano by AT bus service.
What to do in Chianti: the top three towns in Chianti Classico
The three historic towns of Chianti Classico are Gaiole, Castellina and Radda. I must say that they are quite different from each other. The historic centers of Castellina and Radda are very interesting: in particular, Castellina in Chianti boasts a beautiful medieval fortress. Both Radda in Chianti and Castellina in Chianti boast beautiful panoramic terraces that allow you to admire the beauty of the Chianti area. Gaiole, on the other hand, in my opinion, is not as beautiful as Castellina and Radda: the surroundings of Gaiole, however, are sensational (the castles of Meleto and Brolio are not to be missed!).
What to do in Chianti: the other towns of Chianti Classico
There are other towns in Chianti that are worth a visit. I have already mentioned Greve (which also houses the Wine Museum), Panzano (from here you can admire panoramic views that leave you breathless for their beauty, and also you can appreciate the Macelleria Cecchini, one of the most famous in Tuscany) and Montefioralle. Castelnuovo Berardenga also deserves a mention: the central square is a real medieval jewel!
As mentioned at the beginning of the post, I am only telling you about the Chianti Classico areas. San Gimignano, Colle Val d’Elsa are part of the Chianti of the Sienese hills and definitely worth a visit-I describe these places in the post dedicated to the province of Siena.
What to do in Chianti: get to know the roads of Chianti Classico
I have already mentioned the beauty of the Chianti roads. In addition to the Eroica routes there are other roads that deserve a mention. One of my favorites is the Strada Provinciale Traversa del Chianti, which passes through the village of Lecchi in Chianti. This road passes through beautiful vineyards and passes in the vicinity of the Pieve di San Polo in Rosso. This religious building dates back to the 12th century and can be visited only a few Sundays a year: I suggest you check with the Diocese of Gaiole. I guarantee, however, that the Pieve is beautiful even from the outside and the views of the vineyards are absolutely wonderful.
Another outstanding road is the one that connects Montefioralle to Sambuca. The road is very narrow but offers exceptional views. Also along the road is the beautiful Badia di Passignano: the abbey of San Michele is spectacular!
The history of Chianti Classico and the map
From 1384 until 1716 the Chianti Classico area was limited only to Gaiole, Radda and Castellina. Later, Cosimo III dei Medici decided to incorporate Greve and Panzano as well. In 1932 it was decided to enlarge the Chianti area: the added areas, however, are not part of Chianti Classico.
The League of Chianti had a Black Rooster as its symbol, which can be found on many bottles of Chianti Classico. The Black Rooster takes us back to the medieval battles between Florence and Siena. In fact, legend has it that the borders between Florence and Siena were decided by a very unique tussle. The two knights of Florence and Siena would set off, respectively, in the direction of Siena and Florence as soon as their own rooster would crow. The one from Siena, the white rooster, had eaten too much and did not wake up; the one from Florence, the black rooster, was hungry and woke up immediately. The border between Siena and Florence, therefore, was very close to Siena!
Here is a map of what to see in Chianti.
IN ADDITION TO WHAT TO DO IN CHIANTI YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….
USEFUL INFORMATION ON WHAT TO DO IN CHIANTI
- The Chianti area stretches between the provinces of Siena, Florence and Arezzo. Depending on the varying extent of Chianti, some people also consider parts of the province of Pisa to be Chianti territory.
- Chianti roads are provincial and regional. This means that the roads are often winding. For example, I personally have a hard time considering Volterra or Vinci part of Chianti since they are a good hour and a half by car from Gaiole. From Castellina to Gaiole already takes thirty minutes.
- Where to eat in Chianti? I have already mentioned Macelleria Cecchini (Panzano), Molino di Grace (also in Panzano). Borgo Casa al Vento (Gaiole). In Radda you can eat very well at Perla del Palazzo. Castellina also boasts excellent places: the Sosta del Gallo offers excellent lampredotto sandwiches, while the pici all’aglione at Le Tre Porte and Sotto le Volte are excellent.
- Where to sleep in Chianti? Palazzo Leopoldo in Radda and Borgo Casa al Vento in Gaiole are excellent places. In Castellina I mention Il Colombaio, which has more modest prices than the previous two-I had a very good time!
- When to go to Chianti? I recommend the spring and fall seasons, with preference for October!
- How many days is enough to visit Chianti? Counting only the Chianti Classico area, I would recommend at least four or five days, especially if you want to hike or bike.
- A car is extremely useful. AT bus service connects the Chianti villages with each other and also with Siena.
- Chianti Classico, to be considered as such, must have at least 80 percent Sangiovese grapes. Local grapes such as Canaiolo or international ones such as Merlot can be used for the remaining 20 percent. Gran Selezione Chianti Classico wine, on the other hand, requires at least 90 percent Sangiovese grapes: the remainder must come from local vines.
