Touring Chianti on a mountain bike

Cycling is probably the best way to discover and enjoy the Chianti experience.
One can choose among a wide range of routes, starting from easy, gently rolling hills to almost impossible climbs. The subsequent relaxing descents will reward you for the previous strenuous exertion.
The charming Tuscan landscape, famous all around the world, is the sort of dream-like environment where hills and plains and the work of man all join in nature’s harmony.

The Chianti offers over 400 kilometers of uncongested blacktop, as well as a wealth of well-kept unpaved country roads branching out in an almost limitless number of cycle paths probing the lovely woodlands.

With each turn one is met with spectacular views of medieval hamlets, austere Romanic parish churches, watchtowers, hilltop castles, ancient farmsteads……..and all along, vineyards and olive groves in between which rows of noble ash trees point to the sky.
The beholder intimately feels the profound balance of an elegant and almost unreal beauty.

For CYCLING HOLIDAYS in Tuscany between Siena and Florence visit:
www.terresiena.it

Nature trails

Hikes, cycling tours, motorcycle excursions, horseback riding in Chianti

The countryside of Chianti is an ideal location to appreciate the colors and scents of nature.
Come and lose yourself in a landscape cultivated in geometrical vineyards, where the most famous DOC wine in the world is produced, and tread the paths leading you to where abbeys, monasteries, castles and fascinating medieval hamlets cling to the hills, steeped in a thousand-year old history.

The historical town squares, where people meet and visitors find the most important monuments, between March and June become the setting of typical markets where wine, olive oil, honey, seasonal produce, and yet still, cheeses made from different kinds of milk, jams and preserves, are the fruit of the farmers who lovingly tend to the land and pass on the tradition of their crafts.

From Chianti to Val d’Orcia, through Valdichiana, there’s a wealth of choices, and in each town one can spend a holiday in tune with nature and history. The unpaved roads winding through the gently rolling hills of central Tuscany are ideally suited to walks, rides on bicycles, motorbikes or on horseback, to fully enjoy Chianti’s nature in all its charm. Breath-taking sights, spectacular landscapes, peculiar features, all basking in the warm sun and the rich scents of this region will all contribute to an unforgettable experience.

The same trails will lead you to centuries-old hamlets and farmsteads, castles, wineries and traditional meat-curing workshops, as well as to other relevant spots in this Senese-Florentine country siding to no less important areas of Tuscany. There are itineraries, which specifically point to the vegetation and wildlife, so abundant here, to please nature lovers, bird-watchers and sports enthusiasts.

Among them we recommend: LE VIE ROMEE: GUIDED TOURS TO EXPLORE TUSCANY

The Vie Romee follow the ancient Roman roads that were used by pilgrims heading to Rome: the section through urban Florence, the “via Bolognese”, the “via Senese”, and the “via Pisana”.

They are all designed for an easygoing stroll, to better savor the local tradition and history. Each one strives to maximize the experience and to expand one’s knowledge of the territory, be it naturalistic, gourmet, of history and the arts, of local lore and crafts.

These tours come at no cost, though booking is required; a specialized guide will lead you from the beginning to the end. For more information please visit www.vieromee.it

Further information at www.ecomuseochianti.org

Castle treks

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Chianti thermal spas

Those who wish to join holidays to wellness will find that the region around Siena is rich in hot springs with beneficial therapeutic properties. There are for-profit or free thermal facilities; spas and wellness centers, in this article one can find useful information and links for further inquiries.

Petriolo free hot springs
At 20 minutes of main road, these are the closest free thermal facilities to Siena. Enclosed by the ruins of the ancient walls, Petriolo is known since antiquity for its healing sulfurous waters. There, one finds a concentration of history, art, and nature. Situated on the banks of the Farma River, close to Basso Merese Nature Reserve, the springs are set in a stunningly beautiful landscape.

The therapeutic waters form a number of natural pools on the banks of the river. Edging away they mix with the cooler water and gradually drop in temperature. Thus, one can find an ideally suited spot to best take advantage of their healing properties. The springs provide a flow of approximately 20 litres per second at a temperature of 42-43 degrees Celsius.

The hot waters are helpful to treat joint, bone, and muscle ailments. The vapours help nose and throat (pharyngitis, sinusitis, rhinitis) problems. The sulfurous mud treats skin diseases (acne, psoriasis, eczema), smoothes out wrinkles and makes for a velvety skin. These waters are noted for their high content of dissolved hydrogen sulfide.
Where: Monticiano (Siena) - Access: free. www.termelibere.com/termeliberepetriolo/

Bagni di San Filippo: a sight of nature!
In Bagni San Filippo (Castiglione d’Orcia), in addition to for-profit thermal baths, there are also the free hot springs, a true sight of nature. Monumental trees, waterfalls and sparkling multicolored rock formations are there to be seen. The place and its visitors are covered in a fine white dust (the boron in the water).
The most striking of the solidified waterfalls is the so-called “white whale”; it’s a huge limestone deposit, which really looks like the hump of a white whale rising from the deep. The baths were renovated first in 1566 by order of Cosimo I de’ Medici. Other patrons were Lorenzo il Magnifico, who was there in 1485, and the Grand-duke Ferdinando II, trying to get rid of a persistent “headache”. Towards the end of the 17th century Giorgio Santi attempted the first chemical analysis. In the 18th century, Antonio Targioni Tozzetti performed an accurate study, while Giuseppe Giuli, after drafting a chemical description, evaluated the waters’ therapeutic properties.
The springs of San Filippo are not only tied to medical hydrology, but also to the links between art, science and technology. They are very rich in calcium carbonate, which, after precipitation forms some very distinctive white concretions.
Where: Bagni San Filippo (Siena) - access: free. www.bagnisanfilippoterme.it

San Casciano dei Bagni: wellness since ancient times.
One of Emperor Octavian Augustus’ favorite spots, the springs of San Casciano and the thermal baths are widely known in Italy for their healing properties and for the landscape. San Casciano Terme ranks third in Europe for the daily water flow (estimated at 5 million liters), thanks to 42 springs at a temperature of 42 degrees Celsius.
The mineral-rich waters (magnesium, calcium, fluorine) are useful in the treatment of vascular, respiratory, skin, joint, and urinary ailments.
San Casciano dei Bagni is steeped in history (the Via Francigena is very close), cited by Boccaccio in the second novel of the 10th day of his Decameron, and characterized by an unspoiled natural setting, lush woodlands, and charming landscape.
Unsurprisingly, it is a favoured location for those who enjoy wellness holidays.
Where: San Casciano dei Bagni (Siena) - Access: free and for a small fee. www.sancascianobagni.com

Terme di Chianciano: to recharge one’s batteries and fight anxiety.
Five springs and a designer thermal center (the sensory spa) where pools, massaging whirlpools, saunas, cosmetic mud, aroma and chromo-therapy, and the caves, all merge in four wellness itineraries; depurative, to get rid of toxins; equilibrating, to enhance harmony between mind and body; energizing, for those who need to recharge, relaxing, to get rid of anxiety.
Where: Chianciano Terme (Siena) - Access: for a fee. www.termesensoriali.it

Terme di Querciolaia e di San Giovanni: health equals to beauty.
Terme di Querciolaia houses therapeutic thermal baths and a wellness spa. The mud, deposited in the thermal pools, is recommended for body wraps, with a firming and hydrating effect. Mud, massages and biosaunas, facemasks and body wraps, all according to the guests’ needs.
Where: Rapolano Terme (Siena) - Access: for a fee: www.termeaq.it

Terme di San Giovanni
Operating since the fifties, in the countryside at about 2 Km from Rapolano a Terme, they are surrounded by a holly oak park. A little distance away is the archaeological site of Campo Muri, where a thermal pool used by the Etruscans and then the Romans was found. The mineral waters of San Giovanni Terme a Rapolano freely flow from the source at a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius.
They contain mostly sulphur (which accounts for the distinctive smell) and calcium bicarbonate. These two substances, along with the high temperature, make the waters particularly useful in treating skin, joint, and respiratory ailments.
Where: Rapolano Terme (Siena) - Access: for a fee. www.termesangiovanni.it

Terme di Bagno Vignoni
The “Le Terme” wellness center is situated in Bagno Vignoni, a medieval hamlet famous for Piazza delle Sorgenti, where since two thousand years there is a hot spring noted for its therapeutic properties. This gift of nature has made the construction of the wellness center possible.
A visit is recommended to the Bagno Vignoni free thermal baths and the ancient mill park, as well as to the San Quirico d’Orcia Archaeological Park.
An itinerary snakes through the Mediterranean scrub, with its vegetation typical of a saline environment, and the rivulets of hot water gouging the rock (gorelli); the pools and cisterns storing the same water also used to drive the stonemills situated at the mouths of the springs, the whole site well explained by the signs illustrating the local history.
At the end the flow falls down a ravine, here, amid the limestone concretions, stand four medieval mills in sequence carved in the very rock, a uniquely complex feat of hydraulic engineering.
This is Parco dei Mulini, immersed in aromatic shrubs of mastic, mixed with other halophytes.
For a fee, there is Adler Thermae, where one can take advantage of the pools and massaging whirlpools and waterfalls, and the saline cave. Its thermal waters are of the sulphate-bicarbonate-alcaline-terrous kind, and spring from beneath at a temperature of fifty degrees Celsius, the different compositions suitable for various clinical uses and wellness programs.
Where: Bagno Vignoni, San Quirico D’Orcia (Siena)
Access: free and for a fee www.termedibagnovignoni.it e www.adler-thermae.com/it

Castello di Velona: wellness spa in a Renaissance setting.
The spa situated in this castle of the Renaissance, set in the hills (and vastly known vineyards) of Montalcino is a real surprise. Recently renovated, it features two thermal springs, the waters gushing at 50 Co, rich in salts (bicarbonates, sulphates, calcium, magnesium), are collected in four pools (two inside, two outside).
Where: Velona, Castelnuovo dell’Abate, Montalcino (Siena)
Access: for a fee. castello-di-velona-montalcino/it/

Terme di Montepulciano: tradition and modernity.
Because of their chemical and physical characteristics, these waters are well suited to a variety of treatments.
Among these, higher and lower respiratory tract as well as hearing ailments (rhino-deafness); vascular pathologies, rheumatic, dermatological and gynecological problems.
Furthermore, by joining the thermal springs to modern wellness techniques, solutions such as the Lunar Cave (thalassotherapy) are employed to combat insomnia and fluid retention.
Where: Montepulciano (Siena) - Access: for a fee. www.termedimontepulciano.it




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Wine cellars and olive oil mills of Chianti

“Olive oil and wine: a passion made in Chianti”. Principles and highlights of Tuscan cuisine.


Olive oil mills open to the public in the Province of Florence


AGRICOLA VALLE NEL CHIANTI S.r.l.

Via degli Artigiani 24 - PANZANO IN CHIANTI (GREVE IN CHIANTI)
Tel +39 055 852807/856161 - www.oleariadelchianti.com - Visits by appointment


FATTORIA DI ROBBIANA

Via Rubbiana 15 - SAN POLO IN CHIANTI (GREVE IN CHIANTI)
Tel +39 055 855194 – 338 4754428 - Visits by appointment


FRANTOIO DEL GREVEPESA

Via Provinciale Chiantigiana 6 - MERCATALE VAL DI PESA
Tel +39 055 821353 – info@grevepesa.it - Visits by appointment


TENUTA "IL CORNO" di Frova Antonio e Maria Teresa

Via Malafrasca 64 – Loc. S. Pancrazio - SAN CASCIANO VAL DI PESA
Tel +39 055 82485300 - www.tenutailcorno.com - agriturismo@tenutailcorno.com Visits by appointment


AZIENDA AGRICOLA PIEVE DI CAMPOLI

FATTORIA DI S. MARIA NUOVA Istituto diocesano per il sostentamento del clero
Via Colle d’Agnola 1/9 - SAN CASCIANO VAL DI PESA
Tel +39 055 4633677 - +39 055 822386 only during oil-pressing season - www.pievedicampoli.it Visits by appointment (no tasting sessions)


VILLA S. ANDREA S.r.l.

Via di Fabbrica 63 - MONTEFIRIDOLFI (SAN CASCIANO VAL DI PESA)
Tel. +39 055 8244254 – www.villas-andrea.it Visits by appointment (Olive press off limits)


AZIENDA AGRICOLA "LE FONTI"
Via Pisignano 33 - SAN CASCIANO VAL DI PESA
Tel +39 055 828822 Visits by appointment only during the pressing season


EMPOLESE VALDELSA IMPRESA ENOAGRICOLA S.r.l.

Piazza Mazzini 10 - BARBERINO VAL D’ELSA
Tel +39 055 8075019 - www.pasolinidallonda.com - info@pasolinidallonda.com Visits by appointment


MONTAGNA FIORENTINA FRANTOIO PASQUINI S.n.c.

Via Fornacina 253 - REGGELLO
Tel +39 055 869260 - www.frantoiopasquini.it - info@frantoiopasquini.it Visits by appointment


FRANTOIO "I BONSI"

Loc. I Bonsi – Pietrapiana - REGGELLO
Tel +39 055 8652118 - www.agriturismoibonsi.it - info@agriturismoibonsi.it
Traditional stonemill. Visits during pressing season only.


FATTORIA DI MANDRI

Via di Mandri 41 - Loc. Mandri - REGGELLO
Tel +39 055 868895 – www.fattoriadimandri.com fattoriamandri@inwind.it
Traditional stonemill. Visits during pressing season only.


FRANTOIO DI SANTA TEA

Via E. De Nicola 41 - REGGELLO
Tel +39 055 869140/868117 - www.gonnelli1585.it - info@santatea.it Visits by appointment



WINE-CELLARS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN THE CHIANTI AREA


Casa Vinicola Carpineto Snc
Loc. Dudda, 17/B , Loc. Dudda 50022 GREVE IN CHIANTI - (FI) Tel: 055 8549086 8549062 Fax: 055 8549001.
Founded in 1967 by Giovanni Carlo Sacchet and Antonio Mario Zaccheo. Under their management it has risen to international fame as established by many awards. The aging process, lasting between 6 and 12 months, vastly exceeds the officially recognized protocols. The two innovation-minded partners are further extending their experimentation, though strictly adhering to the great Tuscan tradition. The line of products includes wines made according to the most prestigious DOCG standards. Visits by appointment only.


Castello di Querceto
Via A. François, 2 , Loc. Lucolena 50020 GREVE IN CHIANTI - (FI) Tel: 055 85921 Fax: 055 8592200
The Querceto castle, built by the Longobards and owned by the François family since 1897, served as a watchtower along the Via Cassia during Roman imperial times. Now, surrounded by lush hills, it still keeps its medieval flavour. In 1924 it was one of the original wineries of the Classic Chianti Consortium. Within its cellars one can find carefully preserved antique bottles dating from the early twentieth century vintages. In the underlying valley sits a picturesque lake devoted to trout fishing.
The cellars can be visited on weekdays from 9:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00.
There are ten available apartments for overnight stays, some inside the winery itself, right next to the castle, accessible by the ancient stone-tiled courtyard faced by the wine bar and the ancient aging vault.


Castello di Uzzano
Via di Uzzano, 23 50022 GREVE IN CHIANTI - (FI) Tel: 055 8544851 Fax: 055 8544851.
One of the historic Chianti Classico wineries, it spreads over 33 hectares, featuring grapes such as Sangiovese, Trebbiano, Malvasia and Canaiolo, with a yield of approximately 200.000 bottles. There’s a spacious wine-tasting hall and shop where the owners are delighted to host the connoisseurs and wine craft enthusiasts.
During the winter season visitors are welcome from 8:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00, daily. In the summertime an appointment is required, and the visiting schedule is 11:00-19:00.
We advise booking for overnight stays so as to fully savour the wines and the associated local fare.


Castello di Verrazzano
Via S. Martino in Valle, 12 50022 GREVE IN CHIANTI - (FI) Tel: 055 854243 Fax: 055 854241.
Il castello, di origine etrusca e poi romana, si erge in una posizione panoramica sulla Val di Greve. Dal VII secolo è di proprietà della famiglia Verrazzano e nel 1485, vi nacque appunto Giovanni, famoso scopritore della baia di New York e di gran parte della costa americana. La bellezza del castello e dei paesaggi naturali, giustifica un continuo e costante flusso turistico, attratto dal giardino tardo rinascimentale e dalla storicità delle cantine.
Visite in Cantina: lunedì - venerdì, 11.00 - 13.00 / 15.00 - 17.00.
Oltre alla visita con degustazione, è possibile pernottare all’interno della proprietà, in una casa colonica, adibita ad agriturismo.


Distillerie Bonollo
Via Citille, 43/C 50022 GREVE IN CHIANTI - (FI) Tel: 055 8544466 Fax: 055 8544520
The Bonollo stills are not about venture capital, but people, a family whose involvement stretches across five generations. It all began in the second half of the 19th century, when Giuseppe, the original owner, perpetuated the centuries-old family tradition of grappa production. In 1918 his son Luigi, a keen entrepreneur, set up a still in the town of Formigine, in Emilia, to make use of the fragrant Lambrusco marc and lee. With the passing of time the winery also acquired a reputation for its liqueurs. Visits by appointment.


Fattoria di Calcinaia
Via di Citille, 84 , Loc. Greti 50022 GREVE IN CHIANTI - (FI) Tel: +39 055 854008 Fax: +39 055 854008
Property of the Earls of Capponi since May 23rd, 1524, Calcinaia is the heart of the family. From generation to generation the members developed and nurtured the fields, vineyards and cellars, as springtime does to the land. What better example is there of this continuing care than wine production? With each harvest the family shares the hopes, the worries that make their toil worthwhile. Chianti Classico from Villa Calcinaia is maybe the truest expression of the pride of being named Capponi.
Guests can find lodging in any of the several recently renovated farmhouses. The apartments in nearby San Pierino are notable for the harmonious blending of modern comforts with the history and customs of the surrounding countryside. Visits by appointment.


Villa Vignamaggio
Via Petrolio, 5 50022 GREVE IN CHIANTI - (FI) Tel: +39 055 854661 Fax: +39 055 8544468.
Villa Vignamaggio, set in Italian-style gardens and standing in a splendid setting of vineyards and olive groves, is an ideal example of the renaissance rural lifestyle. The original core dates from the 14th century and was built by the Gherardini family, to which Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa belonged. The present owner, Gianni Nunziante, in 1988 has reclaimed the buildings and gardens and has started a project aimed at the restoration of the vineyards and wine cellars.
Bed and breakfast is available in any of the rooms, apartments and suites, all set in lovingly renovated farmhouses. Visits by appointment.


Badia a Coltibuono
Loc. Badia a Coltibuono 53013 GAIOLE IN CHIANTI - (SI) Tel: 0577 74481 Fax: 0577 749235
In 1051 the monks of the order of Vallombrosa started to build the “Buon Raccolto” (plentiful harvest) monastery, while at the same time planting the first autochthonous vines. During the 15th century, under Lorenzo de’ Medici, it enjoyed a further expansion. In 1810, under Napoleon’s rule, the monks had to forfeit the agricultural estate. Later on it was sold off and in 1846 was bought by Michele Giuntini, an ancestor of today’s owners.
Piero Stucchi Pinetti developed it to its present state, gaining wide recognition in Italy and abroad.
Daily visits, 14:00-17:00, every hour, on the hour.


Azienda Agricola Rocca di Castagnoli   
Loc. Castagnoli 53013 GAIOLE IN CHIANTI - (SI) Tel: 0577 731004 Fax: 0577 731050
This prestigious wine farm has succeeded in making a name for itself in very short time. One can find rest and recreation as well as good food. The restaurant and holiday farm, complemented by the cellars and vineyards all make for a pleasant and relaxing stay.
Visits to the wine cellars are: Mondays, Wednesdays to Fridays, 9:00-13:00/14:00-18:00; Tuesdays: 14:00-18:00; Saturdays: 9:00-13:00, by appointment only.


Castello di san Donato in Perano
Loc. San Donato in Perano 53013 GAIOLE IN CHIANTI - (SI) Tel: 0577 744121 Fax: 0577 745023. Visits by appointment.

The Mall: budget luxury shopping

Set in Italy’s heartland, is conveniently close to Tuscany’s main towns of FLORENCE, SIENA, AREZZO. A visit to The Mall is a truly unforgettable experience. Set in the Tuscan countryside, in elegant architectural spaces, The Mall hosts a one-of–a-kind spot to choose from the most exclusive international fashion brands. Within its refined setting visitors can freely stroll past many shops dedicated to fashion, women’s, men’s and children’s apparel, subtle and intoxicating fragrances, footwear and household wares.

Among the available brands are:

ALEXANDER McQUEEN - ARMANI JEANS - BALENCIAGA - BOTTEGA VENETA – BURBERRY - DIOR - EMILIO PUCCI - ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA - FAY - FENDI – GIORGIO ARMANI - GUCCI - HOGAN – LANVIN - LORO PIANA - ROBERTO CAVALLI - SALVATORE FERRAGAMO - SERGIO ROSSI - STELLA McCARTNEY - TOD’S – VALENTINO - YVES SAINT LAURENT.

For satellite navigation digit the following address: Via Europa 8 - 50066 Leccio Reggello - Firenze, Italia - www.themall.it