Chianti hills are a short mountain range (about 20 km) on the boarder between the provinces of Florence, Siena and Arezzo which mark the boundary of the eastern region of Chianti with Valdarno and Val di Chiana.
Famous all over the world for its rich wine-food tours, a natural and artistic unparalleled heritage (we are available to customize various itineraries inside Chianti territory).
Curiosity: a part of the territory results mostly hilly and the municipalities present in this area are a part of the production area of Chianti, DOCG red wine.
Pills of history… from the historical point of view Chianti is considered the “terroir” among the municipalities of Gaiole, Radda and Castellina, known as the ancient Chianti League, nowadays becomes the Chianti Province, all in the province of Siena.
LUCCA
Provincial Capitol of Tuscany, counts 82.245 inhabitants.
Famous for its XV-XVII century intact walls city.
Curiosity – the 100 churches city: the historical centre has remained intact in its original appearance, could therefore include several monumental architectures of honour, like the many medieval churches of great architectural richness.
Pills of history… Lucca was born as a Ligurian settlement and develops as a Roman city since 180 BC, in the VI century, becomes the Capitol of the Lombard Duchy of Tuscia, to develop in the XII century as common and then republic.
To visit closeness:
GARFAGNANA, mountain area rich in cultural and wine-food tours
VERSILIA, the famous Tuscan coast is not too far from the city
LUCCHESIA, an overview of ancient villas, or at least visible, scattered just outside the city: Villa Reale di Marlia, Villa Grabau, Villa Oliva, Villa Bernardini, Villa Mansi and Villa Torrigiani, with the frescoes, the rich green parks and age-old trees, are an important architectural heritage of Italian history.
MONTALCINO
Municipality of 5115 inhabitants in the province of Siena.
Famous enchanted and full of history hill in the Val d’Orcia, as weel as homeland of the excellent Brunello. A land full of wine shops and natural beauties to visit.
Curiosity: the name of the village comes from Latin words mons and ilex, that is “mountain of holm-oak”. Among local traditions, the Thrush Festival in the last Sunday of October, and the tournament for the hunting opening every August.
Pills of history…this land, occupied since the Bronze Age, became an Etruscan community; then the village had many adventures with its most historical importance during the Middle Age.
MONTEPULCIANO
Municipality of 13.883 inhabitants in the province of Siena, it’s settled on the hills between Valdichiana e Val d’Orcia, with a landscape of olives trees and vineyards
Famous to be the homeland of the well-known Nobile di Montepulciano wine.
Curiosity: since July 2007 Montepulciano is the new location of the TV fiction Carabinieri.
PIENZA
Municipality of 2231 inhabitants in the province of Siena, the most famous village of the Val d’Orcia for its artistic value.
Famous for its delicious Pecorino cheese.
Pills of history…the history of Pienza is linked to the Pope Pio II’ s one, who transformed his homeland from a small medieval suburb in a Renaissance Pope residence.
PISA
Regional Capitol of Tuscany, Siena isat the centre of a vast hilly landscape, among the valleys of the rivers Arbia south, Merse south-west and Elsa on north, among the Chianti hills on north-east, Montagnola on west and the Crete Senesi on south-east.
Famous for its artistic heritage and the substantial stylistic unity of its medieval urban furniture
Curiosity: Siena was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Pills of history… Siena was founded as a Roman colony at the time of the Emperor Augustus and took the name of Sæna Julia. The little reliable information before the foundation, suggested the existence of an Etruscan community on which settled the Roman military colony at the time of Augustus.
To visit closeness:
CRETE SENESI, a journey into the natural architecture of this enchanted land
VAL D’ORCIA, on the road between the spectacular views of the Valley in the midst of fortresses and castles.
SAN GIMIGNANO
Tuscan Municipality of 7.105 inhabitants located in the province of Siena, stands with the profile of its towers on a hill overlooking Val d’Elsa.
Famous for being one of the best European example of urban organization of the municipal age.
Curiosity: for the characteristic medieval architecture of its old town was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Pills of history… San Gimignano had a great development during the Middle Age thanks to the Via Francigena which crossed the city. In fact, there was an extraordinary flowering of works of art that adorned churches and convents.
To visit closeness:
VAL D’ELSA, is simultaneously the door of the sea, the path of the sacred, the artery that makes scrolling the “tuscanity” from Florence to Siena.
SIENA
Regional Capitol of Tuscany, Siena isat the centre of a vast hilly landscape, among the valleys of the rivers Arbia south, Merse south-west and Elsa on north, among the Chianti hills on north-east, Montagnola on west and the Crete Senesi on south-east.
Famous for its artistic heritage and the substantial stylistic unity of its medieval urban furniture
Curiosity: Siena was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Pills of history… Siena was founded as a Roman colony at the time of the Emperor Augustus and took the name of Sæna Julia. The little reliable information before the foundation, suggested the existence of an Etruscan community on which settled the Roman military colony at the time of Augustus.
To visit closeness:
CRETE SENESI, a journey into the natural architecture of this enchanted land VAL D’ORCIA, on the road between the spectacular views of the Valley in the midst of fortresses and castles.
TERME DI BAGNO VIGNONI
In the heart of Tuscany, along the ancient Via Francigena you’ll find Bagno Vignoni, a small charming village, famous for the “Piazza delle Sorgenti”, a rectangular tank in the centre of the village that contains the original source of the steaming thermal water coming from the volcanic ground stratum.
CHIANCIANO TERME
Municipality of 7.205 inhabitants in the province of Siena.
Famous to be one of the most important thermal centre in Europe, with thermal curative waters and mild climate, surrounded by woody hills and sane and unpolluted thermal parks.
Curiosity: Inside the Acquasanta Park to visit the innovative sensorial thermal centre.
Pills of history…the beneficial properties of the mineral waters were appreciated also by Etruscans and Romans, that have occupied permanently this area building a small district. An ancient settlement due to the presence of many sepulchres in the nearby of the city of Chiusi.
To visit: the thermal baths, location of cure and relax but also starting point to discover the beauties of Tuscany and of the very close Umbria.
MONTECATINI TERME
Municipality of 20.721 inhabitants in the province of Pistoia, it’s one of the most ancient thermal centre in Tuscany.
Famous to be totally in Liberty style, with its sumptuous thermal centre of Tettuccio or Tamerici, but with the most modern wellness treatments.
Curiosity: The name of the city comes from the around mountain “basin-shaped”.
Pills of history…the human presence in this territory is ancient. Maybe since Paleolithic it was frequented from travelling hunters, and from Mesolithic many settlements are testified, especially in the hilly Valdinievole of which Montecatini Terme is the major centre.
To visit: the thermal baths of Montecatini Terme are divided into hot and cold ones, with or without sulphurous water.
SAN CASCIANO DEI BAGNI
Municipality of 1.745 inhabitants in the province of Siena.
Famous for its thermal springs: 42 springs with an average temperature of 104° F and a daily overall flow of 5.5 million litre of water, that settles San Casciano at the third place in Europe for water flow.
Pills of history…The tradition tells the tale that the first “Bagni Chiusini” was founded by the Etruscans, appreciated and frequented later also by the Romans, for the efficiency of the thermal water and for the closeness with Rome and the Via Cassia.
To visit: the thermal springs, which existence has always catalyzed the human presence in the territory.
BARBERINO DESIGNER OUTLET
More than 90 stores of fashion label are hosted in the new Designer Outlet close to Florence in the Mugello, projected and realized as a real Reinassance village.
OUTLET THE MALL
The Mall offers the opportunity to match a shopping experience with a charming trip in the culture and history of Florence and Valdarno. Submerged in an extraordinary natural scenery, the building is a solid innovative design structure.
PRADA OUTLET DI MONTEVARCHI
The Prada Outlet near Florence iso ne of the most furnished of Tuscany, where you can find clothing, shoes and accessories all strictly branded.
OUTLET VALDICHIANA VILLAGE - BETTOLLE
Open every day, it’s the first Outlet Village born in Tuscany. A suburb built as a real village of fashion with squares, streets, balcons and bridges.
CASTLE TOUR
Castello di San Sano (Gaiole in Chianti - SI)
Castello di Tornano (Gaiole in Chianti - SI)
Castello di Meleto (Gaiole in Chianti - SI)
Villa Vistarenni (Gaiole in Chianti - SI)
Rocca di Castagnoli (Gaiole in Chianti - SI)
Fattoria San Giusto a Rentennano (Gaiole in Chianti - SI)
Castello di Brolio (Gaiole in Chianti - SI)
Castell'in Villa (Castelnuovo Berardenga - SI)
Castello di Selvole (Castelnuovo Berardenga - SI)
Each tours include the visit to the wine cellar and the wine test, except Castello di Brolio that offers 3 different proposals:
classic tour: visit to the wine cellar with wine test
research and experimentation tour: detailed tour in the new technologies of the farm with wine test
castle tour: conducted tour to the gardens and to the S. Jacopo Chapel with wine test
Three different options for the tours (8 hours lasting):
Departure – visit to the first castle – visit to the second castle – lunch at castle.
If there’s time left, visit to one of the villages among Radda in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Greve in Chianti and then go back to Florence.
Departure – visit to the first castle – lunch at castle – visit to the second castle.
If there’s time left, visit to one of the villages among Radda in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Greve in Chianti and then go back to Florence.
Departure – visit to the first castle – lunch in one of the villages among Radda in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Greve in Chianti – visit to the second castle.
If there’s time left, visit to the other villages and go back to Florence.
MONTALCINO
PIENZA
TERME DI BAGNO VIGNONI
CHIANCIANO TERME
MONTECATINI TERME
SAN CASCIANO DEI BAGNI
OUTLET THE MALL
PRADA OUTLET DI MONTEVARCHI
OUTLET VALDICHIANA VILLAGE - BETTOLLE