Chianti

Many places in this area are known because famous people were born or lived there: Giotto and Beato Angelico were born in Vicchio in Mugello, Boccaccio was born in Certaldo, in Vinci we can find the house where Leonardo da Vinci was born and the museum dedicated to him, the paternal home of Petrarca is in Incisa Valdarno, the humanist and philosopher Marsilio Ficino was born in Figline and Machiavelli wrote "The Prince" at Albergaccio of St.Andrea in Percussina. Many places have preserved their lovely age-old craftsman's traditions: ceramics and glass in Montelupo, "Cotto" brick in Impruneta and wrought iron in Scarperia. On the cultual and artistic side, apart from the various Etruscan and Roman remains, it can be noted that works by Beato Angelico, Della Robbia, Botticelli, Benozzo Gozzoli, Filippo Lippi, Donatello, Rossellino, Mino da Fiesole etc. may be come acros at every step in the churches and small museums of towns and villages of this area, and examples of great architecture by Michelozzo, Giuliano da San Gallo and Leon Battista Alberti are also frequently encountered.
The prestigious Chianti Area is another reference that is inextricably linked to Tuscany, to Florence and its territory. The Chianti, with its characteristic hilly landscape, where the geometric pattern of the vineyards, with the aligned rows of vines stretching out in different directions, creates changing effects of light and colour. It stretches between the cities of Florence and Siena, west of the Valdarno, and includes a number of minicipalities. Its Florentine part contains large numbers of farms where one of the most famous wines in the world made. The vineyards alternate with olive groves and, here and there, with rows of cypresses, castles, cottages, ancient parishes, villas and gardens. Each year, the most noble product of this land, Chianti Classico, is honoured in various high level events. Referring to the natural landscape and environment of the whole Florentine territory, we cannot overlook the mountain areas: Vallombrosa, surrounded by century-old woods of fir trees, is set at 958 m, and Consuma is located at about 1,000 m on the Casentinese main road n. 70.nd farmhouses are scattered throughtout every hill and valley, as if they had been built to watch over an area known the world over for its artistic heritage, history and beauty: Greve with Chiesa di Santa Croce; Chiesa di San Cristoforo and Castello Magnana; Tavernelle Val di Pesa's territory which boasts a famous Abbey, an interesting Town Hall; Montespertoli with its Pieve and the Castello degli Acciaioli.

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