You will believe that Tuscany is a paradise when you see it!
Montemaggio is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico region in Tuscany and is a short drive from Radda in Chianti, Panzano, Greve in Chianti and Gaiole in Chianti, some of the prettiest and most important wine-producing villages.
The peculiarity of this area is that only in this specific region, Chianti Classico wines can be produced according to the Chianti Classico Consortium rules and regulations .
Radda is the historical village of Chianti Classico and is a magnificent medieval town. Located up on a hill, it is dominated by a magnificent Palazzo del Podestà (City Hall), which was built between the end of the XIII century and the beginning of XIV century. It has 51 coats of arms imbedded in its façade in memory of the Podestà family that presided the village in the past.
In the surrounding area, you can visit the beautiful Romanesque abbey and cloister of the Badia di Coldibuono, which was built in the 10th century and inhabited by the Vallumbrosan Benedictine monks until the beginning of the 19th century. Today the abbey is open to visitors, and the estates produce some of the region’s best wines.
Moreover, don’t miss the medieval fortress of Castello di Meleto and the fairy-tale hamlet of Volpaia, built as a military outpost in the 10th century. If you rent your villa in the month of September and October you may also go to the “Sagra della Bruschetta” (Festival of the toasted bread) in Gaiole, where hundreds of varieties of the famous Italian antipasto (appetizer) will be on offer in the town’s main square. During the year, there are also various wine festivals. The wine festival in Radda is on June 4th and 5th.
Just few minutes away by car, you can reach other beautiful destinations such as Florence, Siena and San Gimignano.
Florence is just over an hour away from Fattoria di Montemaggio. We advise to dedicate a day-trip to Italy’s ‘Capital of Art’. It is a must-do for any guest of Montemaggio. Viit Michelangelo’s David in the Academia Art Gallery, enjoy a visit to the famous Uffizi Museum and stroll through the Piazza Signoria with its impressive medieval buildings. And for a break, enjoy a homemade ice cream as you wander around the Boboli Gardens.
Siena, with its stunning Gothic cathedral and beautifully preserved Piazza del Campo (the main square) where the thrilling “Palio” horse race is held twice a year, is also a 40-minute drive away.
And the picturesque town of San Gimignano with its narrow streets and magnificent medieval towers is within an hour away.
For food lovers, local farms selling delicious cheese and some of best Tuscan wines are nearby, and there are open-air markets in different villages every day of the week.
To find out what the differences between Chianti Classico wine and Chianti wine are and the reasons why Chianti Classico is one of the most renowned and appreciated wines worldwide, read our blog article here.