Sole del Chianti is located in the heart of Tuscany, and this makes it the ideal starting point for visits to our art cities. Here are just a few of the places you should see to discover what a magnificent region Tuscany is:
Florence: Florence is just 30 km from Sole del Chianti and can be easily reached by car or scheduled bus service. Our staff will be happy to recommend itineraries to follow, or book your Walking Tour of the city of Dante Alighieri and Leonardo da Vinci. With three (3) days advance notice we can reserve your admission tickets to the city's most important museums so that you can enjoy them without long waits outside .
Siena : Siena is a place of great historic and artist interest barely 40 km from Sole del Chianti. Sites to see include the cathedral and Piazza del Campo where the famous Palio horse race is run twice a year – on 2 July ( Palio di Provenzano ) and 16 August ( Palio dell'Assunta ). Ten of the city's districts participate in the race – the 7 that did not run the previous year and 3 which are drawn by lots; each district is then assigned one of the ten, fit horses that are selected to compete – this, too, is done by drawing. The assignments are made on 29 June and 13 August for the July and August palio, respectively. This ritual is known as the tratta and it marks the beginning of 4 days of festivities.
To reach Siena, take the Firenze-Siena Superstrada, towards Siena and exit at Siena Nord.
San Gimignano : A 20 km drive will take you to San Gimignano, a farming town in the province of Siena famous for its Vernaccia wine and saffron crops. Vernaccia di San Gimignano is one of the finest white wines anywhere, and is only made in a small area of Tuscany between Siena, Pisa and Florence – the municipality of San Gimignano. It is known worldwide, and was the first Italian wine to obtain DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata – Certified Controlled Origin) designation in 1966.
Monteriggioni: Monteriggioni is 20 km from Sole del Chianti and you simply cannot help but notice its castle. Even though it is small, its beauty and position attract 70,000 visitors each year, and the first illustrious “tourist” to stop there was Dante Alighieri. His famous line Monteriggioni di torri si corona – Monteriggioni is crowned with towers – is also the title of the annual event held there at the end of July.
Badia a Passignano: This abbey that was founded by Saint John Gaulbert in 1049 is just 8 km from Sole del Chianti and is definitely worth seeing.
Pisa: : Pisa (80 km) certainly needs no introduction. The Leaning Tower, built of pure white marble between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries is certainly one of the world's most famous monuments that must be seen. The tower is located next to the cathedral on the Piazza dei Miracoli..
Greve in Chianti: (Circa 15 km) This town, the capital of the Chianti Classico wine district gets its name from the river that runs through it, and it is the venue for the big Chianti wine fair which is held every September. Here you can visit wine cellars, vineyards and taste wines in magnificent castles. “Must-sees” include the village of Montefiorralle and the hamlet of Lamole..
Montefioralle: ( 15 km) The village of Montefioralle with its castle and splendid view is definitely worth a visit . It is easy to reach from Greve either by car, or on foot. A network of roads starting from Montefioralle will take you to Panzano in Chianti.
Panzano : ( 15 km) is a quiet vacation village that is part of the Greve in Chianti township. It is located midway between Greve and Castellina at the intersection of the Strada dei Poggi that follows the hills on the right bank of the Pesa River and the Via Chiantigiana. Every Sunday morning: there is a market in the main square (open until 1:00 p.m.), and all the shops are open too! Panzano is the home of Dario Cecchini's famous butcher shop, and in addition to being a butcher, Dario is an excellent cook who has made his store into a true tourist attraction.
Castellina in Chianti (10 km) is an interesting Medieval town that can trace its origins to the Etruscans, as we can see from the many Etruscan tombs in the area, such as the, Tumulo Etrusco di Montecalvario , which is just outside the village on state road 222. Castellina in Chianti is famous for its processed meats and wine .
Montalcino: ( 80 km) This town is known for its wine, the great Brunello di Montalcino. It is situated northwest of Monte Amiata, at the end of the Val d'Orcia on the administrative boundary with the province of Grosseto. The Castello Banfi is definitely worth a visit.
Montepulciano : (90 km) Montepulciano is a town in the province of Siena, straddling the Val di Chiana and the Val d'Orcia. Its long history dates back to the Etruscans and the fourth century B.C., and it is famous for the vineyards that produce Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano DOCG.
These are just of a few of the places you can visit easily when you stay at Sole del Chianti…it would be impossible to list them all! .
But, there are a few more: Viareggio : a seaside resort, and the beginning of a coast that stretches for 10 km to Forte dei Marmi and then continues to the Cinque Terre. It is rich in bathing establishments, restaurants, cafés and fashionable stores, and is just a 15 minute drive from Pisa. At San Casciano in Val di Pesa: Museo d'Arte Sacra, church of the Misericordia, church of San Giovanni in Sugana, castle walls, , Sant'Andrea in Percussina (Machiavelli's house) At Montelupo Fiorentino: Museo della Ceramica; At Impruneta: the main square and basilica; At San Gimignano: Museo della Tortura; At Linari: the Medieval town. And: Certaldo (Boccaccio's house); Vinci (where Leonardo was born), Greve (home of the Verrazzano family); Arezzo, Lucca , and Montecatini (with its springs).
