Page 175 - DK Eyewitness: Back Roads Northern and Central Italy (Travel Guide)

DRIVE 17: Val d’Arno and the Chianti Hills 173

PLAN YOUR DRIVE

Start/finish: Ponte Buriano to Volpaia.
Number of days: 2–3 days.
Distance: 100 km (62 miles).
Road conditions: Roads are generally
good and well signposted. In winter
the Chianti roads can be icy and snow
chains may be needed on some roads.
When to go: Chianti has a definite
season, May–Oct, and at other times of
Póggio Uomo
S. Polo Palazzolo Póggio Uomo
S. Polo
Palazzolo
di Sasso
Reggello
in Chianti
in Chianti Villa Pitti Reggello di Sasso Above Looking towards the church of Santa Croce in Piazza Matteotti, Greve in Chianti, see p174 the year many restaurants and amenities
Villa Pitti
1538m
1538m
Stradaada close. Autumn is less crowded and the
Str
Póggio alla
in Chianti
in Chianti Póggio alla Casamora Rocca Rocca changing colour of the leaves is beautiful.
Casamora
Croce Croce Ricciarda
Ricciarda
Pian di Scò
Brollo Brollo Vággio Pian di Scò Póggio MasserecciPóggio Masserecci
Vággio
Póggio Tondo
Póggio Tondo 1548m1548m KEY Opening: Major museums are open
788m 788m 8:30am–7:30pm and often close Mon.
Malassino
Castelfranco
Cin
Cintóiatóia FiglineFigline Malassino Castelfranco
di Sopra
ValdarnoValdarno di Sopra Drive route Small museums often only open on
Le Bolleolle Faella Faella
Le B
Greve
Greve
Certignano
Certignano Trévaneane weekends outside the summer months.
Trév
Piantravigne Loro Loro Churches vary but are generally open
Piantravigne
Ciuffenna
Dudda
Dudda Ciuffenna 7:30am–noon and 3–7:30pm. Shops
VIA SETTE
Bagnena
Gaville Arno Arno VIA SETTE Bagnena
Gaville
Montefiorallealle GREVE IN PONTI Bibbiano open 10am–1pm and 4–8pm and
Montefior
PONTI
GREVE IN
Bibbiano
CHIANTI
Sambuca
Sambuca CHIANTI Lucolena S. GiovanniS. Giovanni Vezza Vezza Subbiano close Sun and Mon mornings.
Lucolena
Subbiano
S. Giustino
Penna
Terranuova
Pesa Pesa ValdarnoValdarno Terranuova Penna S. Giustino M. CapanninoM. Capannino
Valdano
Valdano
Bracciolini
Monte San MicheleMonte San Michele Bracciolini 747m747m Main market days: Loro Ciuffenna:
Castelnuoro
Panzano 893m893m Castelnuoro Mon; Pian di Scò, Greve in Chianti and
Panzano
Gainghereto
Lámole
dei Sabbioni
Barberino
Barberino Torrente Pesa Lámole dei Sabbioni Gainghereto Castiglion Arno Arno
Castiglion
Torrente Pesa
Val d'Elsa Campogialli BORROBORRO Fibocchi Castellina in Chianti: Sat; Radda in
Val d'Elsa
Campogialli
Fibocchi
VOLPAIA TOSCANATOSCANA
VOLPAIA
Ponte alla
S. Donato Cavríglia Monticelloello Ponte alla Chianti: 4th Mon of month.
S. Donato
Montic
Cavríglia
Chiassa
Castelluccio
Lucarelli
Lucarelli MontevarchiMontevarchi Levanella Laterina Castelluccio Chiassa
Laterina
Levanella
PONTE BURIANOPONTE BURIANO Major festivals: All over: Cantine
Levaneane Antría Antría
Lev
Pietrafitta M o n t i d e l C h i a n t i i Lago dellaLago della Aperte (tasting day at wineries), last
Pietrafitta
Badia aBadia a
ColtibuonoColtibuono PennaPenna Sun in May; Calici delle Stelle, night of
Pratan
Torre Torre Indicatore Pratanticotico San Lorenzo (wine-tasting in the
Indicatore
RADDA
CASTELLINA
CASTELLINA RADDA Gaiole Búcine Ponticino ArezzoArezzo
Ponticino
Búcine
Gaiole
IN CHIANTI
IN CHIANTI
IN CHIANTI IN CHIANTI in Chianti Pogi Pogi Póggiolaiola piazzas), Aug 10; San Martino, cantinas
in Chianti
M o n t i d e l C h i a n t
Pógg
Staggiano
Monte Luco
Monte Luco Staggiano open for tasting of the new wine, 2nd
838m 838m Battifolleolle
Battif
Nusenna
Nusenna week Nov. Greve: Chianti Classico
Capánnole
Fonterútoli
Fonterútoli Capánnole San Zenoeno Wine Festival, 2nd weekend in Sep.
San Z
S. Martino al Vento
Lecchi
Stággia
Stággia Lecchi S. Martino al Vento Olmo Olmo
CASTELLO
CASTELLO Ambra Pieve Pieve Shopping: The area is famous for
Ambra
Civit
Vagliagli
al Toppo
Vagliagli Civitellaella al Toppo
DI BROLIO
in Val di Chiana
Lornano S. Regolo DI BROLIO Rosennano in Val di Chiana wines and olive oil. Wine shops and
S. Regolo
Lornano
Rosennano
Monti Monti most vineyards have the capacity to
CHIANTI Villa a Sesta Below Glorious country villa and autumn vines in the Val d’Arno, see p174 Far left A traditional ship locally and internationally.
CHIANTI
Villa a Sesta
Pievasciata
SCULPTURE PARK Pievasciata SanSan Palazzuolo majolica platter in Castellina in Chianti, see p175
SCULPTURE PARK
Palazzuolo
Felice Felice La Selva Alto Alto
La Selva
Bossi Bossi
Castello di
Castello di DAY TRIP OPTIONS
Mantalto
Monteliscai Pianella Mantalto
Pianella
Monteliscai
Castelnuovo
Castelnuovo
Berardenga
Berardenga Using Greve in Chianti as a base,
families will enjoy the drive through
pretty hamlets along the Via Sette
Ponti, picking up a picnic on the way
to Ponte Buriano Natural Reserve,
ideal for a walk. Wine lovers can stay
at Castellina in Chianti to enjoy a wine
tasting, tour a vineyard and explore
cellars in Chianti wine towns. History
buffs will enjoy medieval town halls
and churches, castles and Etruscan
finds, then contrasting this all with a
walk around an outdoor modern
sculpture park. For full details, see p177.
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