PLACES TO VISIT NEAR SAN DONATO IN POGGIO

Castellina in Chianti is situated on a ridge along the Chiantigiana highway between Florence and Siena. The municipality of Castellina is entirely within the Chianti Classico wine zone. Castellina has an attractive old town centre marred by a grotesque formation of industrial silos and an abandoned warehouse, the latter scheduled to be re-developed or demolished at some future time. There is an intriguing covered road inside the town wall and Etruscan tombs in the vicinity.

Since the 13th century A.D. Castellina is part of the Lega del Chianti, meaning Chianti Alliance. This was a administrative and military alliance within the state of Florence. Because of its optimal strategic location which guaranteed the control of all surrounding roads, as well as the whole valley of the Elsa river, Castellina retained its military position. Proof of this is the existence of the imposing fortress, nowadays used by the local town govemment.
In the 15th century square defence towers were placed along the defence walls, which had only two gateways: one towards Siena and the other towards Florence - neither survive today. The higher part of town has a crenellated rectangular keep that was converted into the town hall in 1927 after undergoing substantial restoration works.
One of the most interesting elements of Medieval Castellina to survive remains Via delle Volte, however - a sunken walkway with narrow openings through the walls that afford magnificent views over the surrounding countryside.

The Via Ferruccio is the main street of Castellina and is home to a number of restaurants, some with outdoor seating. On the right-hand side to the north stands Palazzo Ugolini, formerly Palazzo Squarcialupi.nserisci qui il tuo testo...

Greve in Chianti is a small town situated in the valley of the Greve stream, half-way along the scenic Chiantigiana highway (SS 222) that runs from Florence to Sienna.

Situated between the Chianti Mountains and the initial stretches of the valleys of the Greve and the Pesa, the commune of Greve in Chianti was settled in ancient times and in the Middle Ages became an important commercial and cultural center, as indicated by the presence of numerous castles and parish churches.
Until recently it has been a quiet, almost bucolic town because it was, and still is, well off the main roads. Even in ancient days Greve was not isolated because it was well-connected by secondary roads to the via Volterrana and via Francigena. Historical documents of the 11th century refer to an ancient monastic settlement on a nearby hill, which is now called the hill of San Francesco. Before the Franciscans established their monastery in the 15th century, an earlier monastery dedicated to Santo Savi had already been built, and also a small hospital.

Among the most important monuments to see in Greve in Chianti we point out here the Chiesa di Santa Croce, the Pieve di San Leolino a Panzano, the Pieve di San Cresci, the Castello di Montefioralle, the Castello di Uzzano (Castle of Uzzano) and the Castello di Vicchiomaggio (Castle of Vicchiomaggio).

The Franciscan monastery is still at the heart of the old part of the city, as is the triangular main piazza, where a market has been running more or less continuously for centuries serving the nearby castle communities and hamlets. The piazza is fronted by numerous medieval aged buildings, including the 11th century Chiesa Santa Croce which was rebuilt in 1325 after being burned to the ground, along with the rest of the town, by the Duke of Lucca, Castruccio Castracani. After further renovation, the church, which houses paintings of the school of Fra Angelico, now features a neo-classical facade and houdes a small museum of religious art.
In the piazza there is also a monument to the discoverer of New York harbor, Giovanni da Verrazzano (1485-1528), who was born nearby.

The road that leads to Greve in Chianti is plotted with historic residences and castles which have been transformed into wine vaults. You find for example the Castello di Vicchiomaggio, from the 13th century which was transformed into a villa in the 16th century, the Castello di Uzzano and the Castello di Verrazzano, a villa/farm which was the home of the family of Giovanni da Verrazzano, a navigator from Greve who discovered the Hudson Bay, where New York now is situated.

At 2 km from the centre of Greve is the castle of Verrazzano, sitting on a 348 m-high hill. Built probably by the Lombards, it was a possession of the explorer's family, and in the 17th century was turned into a villa. Of the 13th century manor a tower remains.

A nice itinerary in the surroundings of Greve in Chianti starts at Strada and goes to La Panca, immerged among a lovely landscape and majestic architectonic buildings. Stop at Castello di Sezzate. The Borgo di Cintola still preserves its aspect from the 13th century. From here you reach the imposing Vallombrosian Abbey Montescalari, today transformed into a farm.
A nice excursion from Greve in Chianti is the one to Monte San Michele, the highest mountain in the Chianti region and often is covered with snow in wintertime. The forests of San Michele are protected and offers lots of tracking paths and areas suited for picnics, a running path and a small hotel-restaurant where you can taste the typical dishes of the Chianti region.
The 1993 romantic comedy film Much ado about nothing, directed by Kenneth Branagh and based onWilliam Shakesperare's play, is entirely set in VillaVignamaggio in Greve in Chianti, Tuscany.

Tavarnelle Val di Pesa Tavarnelle Val di Pesa is a small and nice town situated in the south of Florence province, on the border between Sienna and the Chianti territory. It rises at 378 m above the sea level.
Since 1898 Tavarnelle is a municipality. There were gather together to its area the rural communities of Sambuca Val di Pesa and San Donato in Poggio, until that time governed by the neighbouring Barberino Val d'Elsa.

The area of Tavarnella Val di Pesa was already thickly populated in the 8th and 7th centuries BC circa as testified by the main Etruscan settlements which had been there founded.
Its name derives from the Latin word Tabernulae (tavern) due to the ancient ones emplaced in the 8th century AD along Via Cassia offering food and drinking to people on journey there and back from Florence to Sienna.
In the High Middle Age, as well as in the earlier Lower Middle Age, the area was under the dominion of some noble dynasties like the Albero and the Buodelmonti ones.
In the first half of the 13th century the area passed under the power of Florence.
In those times the main districts in the area were the Abbey of Passignano, Sambuca Val di Pesa and San Donato in Poggio. In the latter one, in 1176 and 1255, were signed two peace treaties between Florence and Sienna. But in 1260 Florence army was already organized in the Castle of San Donato to fight against Sienna in the famous Battle of Montaperti (4th September 1260). The Guelphs of Florence - supported by their Tuscan allies - were conducted by Bocca degli Abati. They moved an army of 35,000 men circa against the Ghibellines of Sienna. In spite of the great contingent of German cavalry sent by King Manfred of Sicily, the Ghibellines of Sienna could only put up an army of about 20,000 men led by the Count of Arras. Nevertheless, the day was won by Sienna.
It is said that the defeat of Florence was instigated by the treason of Bocca degli Abati, who was at heart a Ghibelline. In the 14th century Dante Alighieri positioned Bocca degli Abati in the ninth circle of Hell of the "Divina Commedia".
In the last decade of the 15th century one of its main districts, the Abbey of Passignano which belonged to the Vallambrosani monks was seized by the troops of Lorenzo the Magnificent. His second son, Giovanni de Medici returned the Abbey to the Vallombrosani. He became Pope Leone X on the 11th March 1513.

Nowadays Tavarnelle Val di Pesa is a prosperous municipality particularly due to its production of wine, extra virgin olive oil and wheat, as well as by the morocco leather manufacturing and paper, furniture and machinery industries.

Main monuments- The Church of S. Lucia al Borghetto. Former a Franciscan convent erected in the 13th century. Its single nave maybe is the most remarkable religious architectural in Gothic style in the Chianti territory.
- The Vallombrosan Monastery of Badia di Passignano: Located in the nearness of Tavarnelle is a huge architectural, religious and historical sight. 

Barberino Val d'Elsa 

Halfway between Florence and Siena, on the north-western borders of the Chianti area, a winding hilly road, once the ancient Via Cassia and now State road n° 2, leads up to the town of Barberino Val d'Elsa, situated high up above the valley from which it takes its name. The centre of Barberino Val d'Elsa is still ringed by its original fortifications. The town has retained its mediaeval elliptical shape with a main street running between the two turreted tower gates, the Porta Romana and the Porta Fiorentina. Two other streets run parallel with this main street and meet up with it again near the gates. 

Barberino Val d'Elsa received the Italian Orange Flag award for sustainable tourism.
Barberino Val d'Elsa is mentioned in a document of 1054 belonging to the Abbey of Passignano as a fortress or village situated in the Parish of San Pietro in Bossolo.
The Piazza Barberi includes the Church of San Bartolomeo which houses a fragment of an annunciation by the school of Giotto (14th-15th century) and a bust in bronze by Pietro Tacca.
The Via Francesco da Barberino leads to the 14th century Porta Senese (Sienese Gate), and the Ospedale dei Pellegrini (Pilgrims' Hospice) dating from 1365.
The Chapel of San Michele Arcangelo is particularly interesting. Built in 1597 by Santi di Tito, it is a perfect 1:8 scale reproduction of the Cupola or Dome of the Cathedral of Florence.
The Chapel of San Michele Arcangelo was built in 1597 by Santi di Tito as a perfect 1:8 scale reproduction of the Cupola of the Cathedral of Florence. It was constructed on the site of the ancient city of Semifonte, completely razed to the ground by the Florentines in 1202. The site remains a focus for archaeological study.
The noble Barberini family dynasty began at Barberino Val d'Elsa in the 11th century.
The Church of Sant'Appiano was built during the 11th century (part in stone) and 12th century (part in brick) and now includes the Antiquarium Museum housing various Etruscan artefacts from the many necropoli in the area, the village of Linari, the Castle of Poppiano at Vico d'Elsa and Petrognano.

Badia a Passignano is located on the road running from Greve in Chianti through Montefioralletowards San Donato and Sambuca, and in fact was probably built there because of the importance of this route in mediaeval times. The Abbey is extremely photogenic from almost any angle with its walls and towers emerging from the dense cypress forest that surrounds it.

 Badia a Passignano

Badia a Passignano was founded in 1049 as a consequence of the Vallombrosan monastic reforms and consists of a more or less square fortified monastic complex with corner towers. Towards the middle of the 15 C, the Abbey was augmented by the addition of cloisters and a wall. The vineyards surrounding the Badia a Passignano were bought by Antinori, one of the big names in Chianti Classico wineproduction, in 1987 and Antinori have leased the Abbey cellars for use in aging their wines. La Bottegaand L'Osteria are an Antinori wine outlet and restaurant respectively and are located very near the gate of the Badia a Passignano. It is possible to visit Badia a Passignano at 3 pm on the last Sunday of the month if a monk is available to act as guide. However, phone the abbey to check this timing.

Worth a visit.