Travel Guide: Tuscany, Italy (Chianti Region)
ABOUT
Chianti is an extremely stunning region of Tuscany just south of Florence, and it’s also the region that produces some of the most famous wine in the world. If the rolling hills and infinite vineyards weren’t enough to bring you here, the deep history and gothic castles are an additional unique feature of the area. We stayed in the Chianti Classico area when we visited on our two week trip to Italy. We spent 4 nights total in this area and felt it was the perfect amount of time.
Fun Fact: The Chianti Classico region is famous for their black rooster stamp on the neck of their wine bottles!
Note: This blog is specific to our itinerary and experience - I know there are many more wonderful spots to visit that we didn’t get the chance to see. If you’re traveling to the area, I recommend doing some additional research to find your own hidden gems!
GETTING THERE
We rented a car out of the Florence regional airport and drove about 35-40 minutes South to our Airbnb. The roads were fairly self explanatory, just expect tolls on your route (cash/change only).
There’s definitely ways to get to Chianti from Florence by bus (ex. for a day trip), but renting a car is definitely the best option if you’re looking to visit multiple castles and vineyards while you’re there. Many of the best locations are in the middle of nowhere on back roads!
THINGS TO DO
Castello Di Gabbiano: A quiet, quaint castle in the middle of rolling hills and vineyards. Eat a meal or have a glass of their wine at their restaurant terrace, Il Cavaliere. Walk around the property and take in the beautiful views.
DiVino: We went twice in three days we loved it so much! A perfect casual lunch or dinner spot in a small town next to a castle. Sit outside on the terrace with vineyard views, enjoy some wine, and have one of their amazing focaccia sandwiches.
Airbnb Experience (pictured above): This experience, hosted in English, was fantastic! The hosts are very welcoming and generous. We learned about their wines, the Chianti Classico region, went on tours of the vineyard and cellar, and ended with a beautiful lunch outside at the back of the castle. We received 10 wines to taste (very generous pours), several cheeses, salami, breads, and olive oils. Not to mention the many new friends we met from around the world!
Antinori nel Chianti Classico: We unfortunately didn’t make it to this spot in time, but it was up there on our list of places to see. Look this place up on Google Images and you’ll understand why.
Coop: The local grocery store. Get some prosciutto, cheese, fresh bread, local wine and enjoy. This will be the best bang for your buck!
Siena (30-50 minutes South): This is a really beautiful town with very old renaissance history. Walk around the hilly streets of Siena and see the beauty of this place. Some highlights are the Duomo, the Piazza Del Campo (main square), and a coffee and croissant at Nannini while you’re at it!
OUR AIRBNB HOME (Pictured Above):
OUR AIRBNB WINE EXPERIENCE:
https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/393845
Have you ever been to Chianti or tried any of their incredible wines?
Enjoy your trip! Please let me know if you visit any of these places or found this blog helpful.
Cheers!
