Agriturismo "Il Villino" farmhouse vacation apartments in Chianti

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Things to see and do in Chianti within easy reach of Agriturismo "Il Villino"

• Sienna was an ancient Etruscan town and in the Middle Ages was the great rival of Florence until its fall in the XVI th century. That was the end of a dream but Sienna preserved its glorious memories inside its walls. Walking through its streets, its lanes and squares, you feel an extraordinarily unique atmosphere, which reaches its peak with the Palio, a uniquely Sienese event that should not be missed if you are here when it takes place (twice per year). Siennese cuisine offers specialities of ancient times such as panforte, ricciarelli and cavallucci, while the wines from the surrounding hills match tasty dishes of the best Tuscan tradition. More about Sienna.
Sienna

• Colle di Val d'Elsa is of mediaeval origin. In the upper part one can observe the ruins of the XII century walls and the tower house where Arnolfo di Cambio seems to have been born. Sant'Agostino church, designed by Sangallo, is also interesting as well as the Duomo (cathedral) in Baroque style and the Bandinelli Archaeological Museum which preserves interesting Etruscan finds coming from Monteriggioni Necropolis. More about Colle di Val d'Elsa.
Colle di Val d'Elsa

• Castellina in Chianti was a fortified village which was part of the Lega del Chianti. The Fortress with its mighty fourteenth-century battlemented tower and Ugolini Palace (XVI cent.) are of interest, and Castellina will be your source of supplies and a place to eat out. More about Castellina in Chianti.
Castellina in Chianti

• San Gimignano is still surrounded by thirteenth-century walls and thanks to its famous eleven towers it preserves its undamaged appearance of a mediaeval municipality. The Collegiata (XII century) is the most prestigious monument in S. Gimignano, and houses the works of Jacopo Della Quercia, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Barna Da Siena. It is also interesting to see Podestà's Palace, the Civic Museum inside Palazzo del Popolo and S. Jacopo church which probably belonged to Templar Order. More about San Gimignano.


• Monteriggioni is one of the most charming fortified villages in Tuscany. Its oval shape is composed of 570 mt. of mighty walls and 14 square towers which are nowadays partially truncated. Monteriggioni was built by Siennese between 1212 and 1219 in order to defend their own lands. It only has two entries: one to the east towards Florence, call S.Giovanni, the other to the west towards Sienna, called Franca or Romea. Dante Alighieri, in his "Divina Commedia" in canto XXXI of Hell, compares the tall and mighty towers of Monteriggioni Castle to the enormous giants surrounding the well that allows entry the ninth ring:

Perrocchè come in sulla cerchia tonda
Monteriggion di torri si corona
Così la proda, che 'l pozzo circonda,
Torreggiavan di mezza la persona
Gli orribili giganti. . . . . . . . . .

The Castle of Monteriggioni is well-kept with several small shops that create the atmosphere of an ancient but still lively place. In this regard it is interesting to attend the mediaeval feast that is celebrated every year during the second week of July where one can really feel and enjoy the mediaeval atmosphere among craftsmen at work, minstrels, acrobats, maids and jesters, spiced wines and old-style food, and also the Monteriggioni scudo as money. More about Monteriggioni.


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