An agritourism in the Chianti area just outside Florence
The farmhouse Villa Ulivello in Chianti boasts an excellent location thanks to the fact that it is only 15 km from the center of Florence. The Tuscan capital can be easily reached either by car or by suburban bus. Once you reach the city, the historic center, where all the main attractions are concentrated, can be easily visited on foot so you can also enjoy the charm of the narrow medieval streets where boutiques, artisan stores and restaurants are crowded.
TUSCANY: CITIES OF ART, SMALL VILLAGES AND BEAUTIFUL RURAL LANDSCAPES
In addition to the aforementioned city of Florence, Tuscany boasts numerous cities of art among which the most important are certainly Siena, Pisa, Lucca and Arezzo. Smaller in size than the Tuscan capital, these cities have very different histories that make the tourist offerings very varied and appreciable that would each be worth at least a day dedicated to them.
Siena
Siena is located south of Florence about 60 km from our agriturismo and can be reached in less than an hour by car. Its historic center spread over the top of three hills, has remained almost unchanged since medieval times and has developed in perfect harmony with the landscape and the morphology of the land as perceived when walking through both the streets and the city's main square, Piazza del Campo.
The square, in the heart of the city, has a distinctive shell shape and is considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world.
The square, in the heart of the city, has a distinctive shell shape and is considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world.
It is overlooked by various palaces built between the 13th and 15th centuries, the most famous of which is surely the Palazzo Pubblico with the Torre del Mangia, the tallest tower in Siena. Piazza del Campo is also the place where, twice a year, on July 2 and August 16, the historic Palio di Siena takes place, a competition of medieval origin among the city's 17 contrade (districts), which compete in a horse race during this event. For all art lovers, the Cathedral of Siena with the Piccolomini Chapel and Library, the Museum of the Opera del Duomo, the Museum of Santa Maria della Scala, the National Picture Gallery and the Baptistery of San Giovanni, where you can admire frescoes, paintings and statues mainly from the Renaissance period, are also must-sees.
Pisa
It is located west of Florence about 90 km from our farmhouse and can be reached in one hour and twenty minutes by car. Pisa owes its fame to the popularity of the Leaning Tower considered of such beauty that it has been proposed as one of the seven wonders of the world. Standing 56 m tall, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is located in the Piazza dei Miracoli together with the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Baptistery of San Giovanni; it was built between 1173 and 1372 at the city's moment of greatest historical importance when it was one of the four Maritime Republics along with Amalfi, Genoa and Venice. In addition to the Piazza dei Miracoli, it is also worth visiting Piazza dei Cavalieri, which houses the Royal Palace and the ancient arsenals where warships were built.
Lucca
To the northeast of Pisa, 20 kilometers and a half-hour drive from it, is the city of Lucca, another city of art that is definitely worth a visit although less well known than Florence, Siena and Pisa. One of the main attractions of the city are the splendid Renaissance walls that surround it and that offer, thanks to their 12 meters high and 30 meters wide, the possibility of a pleasant walk with views of the city and the surrounding countryside. Two other places from which unique views can be enjoyed are the 44-meter-high medieval Guinigi Tower with a roof garden with tall trees (holm oaks) at the top, and the bell tower of the Cathedral of Lucca built together with the church in the 4th century AD
Remodeled numerous times between the 4th and 18th centuries, the Duomo also houses numerous works of art inside that alone justify the stop. Then a visit to Lucca's most famous square, Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, with its distinctive elliptical shape derived from the ancient Roman amphitheater above which it stands and which can only be accessed through four small gates, cannot be missed. Just outside the city, the Serchio River Park offers the possibility of a walk or bike ride surrounded by nature. Also, with only a 20-minute drive north, it is possible to reach the Ponte del Diavolo or Ponte della Maddalena, which due to the boldness of its major archway legend has it was completed by the devil in exchange for the soul of the first person who would cross it.
Arezzo
It is located southeast of Florence, about 70 kilometers from our farmhouse and can be reached within an hour's drive. The birthplace of important artists and writers, Arezzo owes some of its most important attractions to some of them such as Giorgio Vasari and Piero della Francesca. These include the Palazzo delle Logge designed by Vasari, the "Casa Vasari" museum he personally frescoed, and the Basilica of San Francesco, which houses "The Legend of the True Cross," a 15th-century fresco painted by Piero della Francesca and considered one of the most important in Italy. Also worth visiting are the Romanesque church of Santa Maria della Pieve and the Medici Fortress built in the 16th century. In addition, Arezzo is famous for the many workshops of its master goldsmiths who still follow ancient procedures making almost everything by hand and offering jewelry of the highest quality.
The Chianti
Chianti is that hilly territory in the heart of Tuscany between the cities of Florence and Siena. Always a predominantly agricultural area devoted to the production of high quality wine and extra-virgin olive oil, Chianti offers splendid rural landscapes characterized by a unique harmony thanks to the continuous alternation of vineyards, olive groves and woods. Within this enchanting setting rise villages such as Greve, Panzano, Castellina, Radda and Gaiole, all of which deserve at least a brief stop. Greve is the largest and best-known village in Chianti, and its triangular-shaped square, which began as a market and is surrounded by arcades, is an essential stop. In Greve you can visit the Wine Museum and experience the Chianti Classico Expo on the first weekend in September.
From Greve in Chianti it is worth reaching the small village of Montefioralle on top of the hill overlooking the town. Going south along the historic Via Chiantigiana, one first encounters Panzano and then Castellina, where one can visit the castle and walk along the charming Via delle Volte. Continuing east are Radda, the Castle of Volpaia and Gaiole in Chianti, famous for the numerous castles scattered throughout the municipal territory: Brolio, Barbischio, Vertine and Meleto finally the Romanesque Pieve of Spaltenna.
Just outside the Chianti area, 5 minutes from our farmhouse, there is also the town of Impruneta with the Sanctuary of Santa Maria in the main Piazza Buondelmonti with its late 16th-century loggias, a center famous throughout the world for its top-quality terracotta and where, on the last Sunday of September, the traditional Festa dell'Uva takes place.
Just outside the Chianti area, 5 minutes from our farmhouse, there is also the town of Impruneta with the Sanctuary of Santa Maria in the main Piazza Buondelmonti with its late 16th-century loggias, a center famous throughout the world for its top-quality terracotta and where, on the last Sunday of September, the traditional Festa dell'Uva takes place.
San Gimignano
With only 40 minutes by car from our farmhouse you can drive 50 km and reach this medieval town famous for its many towers (there are currently 13 left but at the time of its heyday there were as many as 72!) that will transport you back in time making you live a very special experience. San Gimignano offers its visitors many places of interest, among the main ones: the Cathedral of Romanesque origin and the adjacent Palazzo Pubblico, which houses the Civic Museum with the picture gallery from which you can access the Torre Grossa, the highest tower in the town. Also noteworthy is the Torture Museum to learn about one of the most disturbing aspects of medieval times. The villages of Certaldo and Monteriggioni with its beautiful medieval walls can also be visited on the same day