Chianti Guide
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHIANTI REGION
Rent a villa or farmhouse in one of the greatest wine producing regions of the world, the Chianti region. Here you can go wine tasting, visit castles or even go horse riding through Tuscany, or biking in the Chianti hills.
The territory of Chianti runs on the north/south axis from Florence down to Siena. Stay in a beautiful rented villa here and you will be able to enjoy the vineyards and hilltop towns, such as Greve, Radda and Castellina...
Chianti's countryside is characterized not only by its beauty, but also by its diversity; by its undulating pattern of hills and valleys, by endless rows of wine grapes hanging from their vines; the symmetrical graphic of the vineyards in stark contrast to the gentle movement of the hills.
The walls and turrets of ancient castles mark the region, perched on hilltops and precipices, and surrounded by the proud vineyards which have made the region famous throughout the world.
CHIANTI WINERIES
This 11th Century castle once hosted Leonardo da Vinci. Here you can sample and buy wines, homegrown olive oil, vin santo and grappa. The estate once sold Tuscany's greatest honey. FATTORIA CASTELLO DI VICCHIOMAGGIO
Vicchiomaggio
Tel. 055 854 078
(open daily 8am - 8pm)
Built for the bishop of Florence sometime in the 1200s, today the castle is the centerpiece of a 700-acre wine estate. CASTELLO DI UZZANO
Via Uzzano 5
Tel. 055 854 032
(open daily 10am - 6pm)
A beautiful renaissance villa that was once the residence of La Gioconda - the Mona Lisa. You can tour the gardens - some of the most beautiful in Tuscany - Monday to Friday if you call in advance for a reservation. Kenneth Branagh filmed "Much Ado About Nothing" here. After a tour of the gardens, you can enjoy a wine tasting in the front office. VIGNAMAGGIO
Tel. 055 854 661
(call for reservation)
>for Villas in Chianti Tuscany click here
RESTAURANTS IN CHIANTI
This is 1 michelin star restaurant in Villa a Sesta, a tiny village near Castelnuovo di Berardenga and only about 30 minutes drive from Siena. The food is without any doubt excellent and the chef Sonia Zacchei will choose for you starters and first courses. The service is first class and rather familiar and friendly. There is a lovely coutyard for outside summer dining. LA BOTTEGA DEL 30
Via Santa Caterina 2
Villa a Sesta
Tel. 0577 359 226
http://www.labottegadel30.it
(closed Tuesday and Wednesday)
Run by two young brothers, this charming restaurant is located on the main piazza in San Gusmè - a tiny, almost too perfect village near Castelnuovo di Berardenga. The food is simple but well presented and there is a good list of local wines. LA PORTA DEL CHIANTI
Piazza Castelli 10
San Gusmè
Tel. 0577 358 010
>for Villas in Chianti Tuscany click here
THERMAL SPAS IN CHIANTI
This is a perfect outing for a day when the weather fails. This Spa is built around natural springs, so you can bathe in warm swimming pools all day (11 Euro entrance fee). The Spa also offers various treatments that can be booked on the day (arrive early), such as mud baths, facials, massages and beauty treatments. ANTICA QUERCIOLAIA
Via Trieste 22
Rapolano Terme
Tel. 0577 724 091
www.termeaq.it
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