Accommodations in Chianti near Florence, Italy

CHIANTI NEAR FLORENCE: FOR A CHARMING TRIP
Chianti near Florence is a vast geographic area situated in the heart of Tuscany, between Siena and Florence, bordering on River Ombrone in the north, the Monti del Chianti in the east, River Arno in the south and the Val d’Elsa in the west. With its amazingly beautiful landscapes, neat vineyards and olive groves, quiet villages, excellent accommodation, magnificent churches and castles, not to mention the superlative food and wine, the Chianti region has grown into a magnet for tourists looking for a peaceful holiday away from the more traditional and crowded travel destinations.

Of course, Chianti is the most celebrated for its wine, and many of the region’s wineries are open for a tour and a tasting, and some offer accommodation services as well as part of the growing trend of agritourism (agriturismo in Italian). The Chianti DOCG appellation is divided into seven sub-regions (Classico, Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, Colline Pisane, Colli Senesi, Montalbano and Rùfina), of which Classico is the best known. The wine is made with the Sangiovese grape, and many producers make the dessert wine Vin Santo del Chianti as well as “Super Tuscan” wines that do not adhere to DOC regulations.

Historically, Chianti was the object of numerous battles between Florence and Siena, of which the most famous was the Battle of Montaperti (1260) where Florentine Guelphs and Sienese Ghibellines met in a fierce struggle, which Dante described in Inferno. Today, Via Chiantigiana (SS 222 from Florence to Siena) leads to Chianti near Florence. A few kilometers from the 17th century Villa dell’Ugolino is the entrance to Ugolino Golf Club, an 18-hole course set in beautiful surroundings. Further on is the town of Strada, and you can see the castles of Mugnana and Sezzate.

The principal cities of Chianti are Florence, Siena, Greve in Chianti, San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Radda in Chianti and Castellina in Chianti. Accommodation facilities available in these cities range from the luxury to budget categories, but one of the most charming aspects of a holiday in Chianti is the opportunity to be an agritourist and stay at a typical Tuscan farmhouse away from the main cities, carefully restored to evoke nostalgia and delight in equal measure.

Agritourism accommodation is usually less expensive than hotels or pensiones and gives you a chance to prepare your own meals while participating in the daily life of a farm. But whatever your accommodation preference, you will find it here (www.yourwaytotuscany.com/Chianti-near-Florence.htm), so we invite you to take a look. Chianti awaits you.