A Day in Chianti: The Heart of Tuscany

PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR OF TUSCANY AND CHIANTI

Known throughout the world, the Chianti area lies between two important cities, Florence and Siena. It stretches from the valley of the river Arno to that of the river Ombrone, encompassing the Valdelsa to the west, while to the east it reaches the Valdarno Superiore.

Chianti has always been a wine-producing area (there is evidence of viticultural activity right back to Etruscan times), and it is worth visiting both for the unmatched beauty of its natural landscape (inextricably linked with the work of man) and for the many villages, castles, tiny country churches and farms spread throughout the region.

Running through this historic area is the Via Chiantigiana, which joins Florence and Siena. The beauty of the landscape together with the possibility of a visit to a winery where you can taste some of the best wines and food in Italy, will make a trip to this area an unforgettable experience.

The Chianti region, known all over the world for its great wines, offers travelers a stunning landscape dotted with grapevines and olive groves.

During this Chianti tour, a private car service will be arranged for you. Your guide will take you to one of the main villages in the Chianti area, Montefioralle. This town is one of the oldest town in Florence Chianti and its charming name comes from the fig trees that grow around the area.

Montefioralle is the oldest settlement in Florence Chianti dating back to 1085. Its old medieval street plan is perfectly preserved and some its original tower houses can still be seen as you climb up the narrow and charming streets of the village. The view from the ancient castle and rampart os the city is simply breathtaking; you will be enchanted by the silence of this virtually car-free city surrounded by symmetrical vineyards and fruit trees.

After visiting Montefioralle, the tour of Chianti continues to the village of Greve, the birthplace of Giovanni da Verrazzano, the explorer who discovered Hudson Bay in New York. New Yorkers might remember the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge that connects Staten Island to Brooklyn!

After Greve, you will continue to Lamole and Volpaia, the heart of Chianti and the Black Rooster lands. The Black Rooster is the symbol and label of Chianti Classico, one of the finest and world renown brands of wine in the world. The vineyards, castles, traditional workshops and little streets of these enchanting medieval borghi will stun you with their authenticity and unique flavors.

Volpaia is a fortified village sitting between Siena and Florence, usually referred to as Castello di Volpaia. The feudal lords of the city were the Volpaia family, who were famous architects, mathematicians and clock makers as well as allies to the Medici family. Lorenzo della Volpaia became famous after building a clock for Palazzo Vecchio in Florence and being a friend of Lorenzo il Magnifico and Leonardo da Vinci. Its strategic position on a hilltop gives Volpaia a prominent position in the Chianti Classico region and, unlike many other villages close by, Volpaia is still a "città murata", meaning a "walled city" with its original defensive structures, churches and little piazzas.

In Volpaia, you will have the chance to taste a wonderful meal at a local restaurant (not included in the tour price).

After this enchanting walk, your driver can take you to visit a winery for a wine tasting of three different red wines and then enjoy a light lunch of regional specialties, including a taste of the area’s fine extra virgin olive oils, salami, ham, cheeses and bruschetta, a local specialty, and traditional biscuits (Cantuccini).