Chianti Road
Italy
Toscana simply doesn't get more bella than the SR222 through Chianti country, linking two great medieval cities through gently rolling countryside striped with cypress trees, olive groves, and vines. Most photogenic during the late springtime eruption of poppies and wildflowers; stop at every enoteca for Chianti Classico, a sangiovese-dominated drop that tastes like the landscape.
Explore on the interactive map →Stops along the route
- Florence
The Uffizi, Brunelleschi's dome, Michelangelo's David, and the Ponte Vecchio before heading south on the SR222 into Chianti wine country.
- Greve in Chianti
The informal capital of Chianti, centred on a triangular arcaded piazza. The Saturday market and Enoteca Falorni cover every local producer.
- Panzano in Chianti
Butcher Dario Cecchini has made this hilltop village world-famous. His Officina della Bistecca serves Florentine T-bone at communal tables to devoted pilgrims.
- Radda in Chianti
A walled medieval village with panoramic Chianti views and a 15th-century Palazzo del Podestà covered in coats of arms. Vineyards peak in October colour.
- Castellina in Chianti
A Florentine ridge fortress with a Rocca keep and the Via delle Volte, a vaulted medieval lane tunnelled through the rock beneath the town walls.
- Siena
The Gothic Duomo and the Piazza del Campo, one of the world's great medieval squares, where the Palio horse race convulses the city twice a year.
Where to Eat
- Antica Macelleria CecchiniTraditional Florentine Meat
Experience communal feasts with various beef preparations at this renowned butcher shop in Panzano.
- Il VescovinoItalian, Mediterranean
Enjoy Tuscan dishes with a Brazilian flair on a terrace offering incredible views in Panzano.
- Ristorante Oltre Il GiardinoItalian
Savor authentic Italian cuisine with delicious local wines on a terrace with amazing views in Panzano.
Things to Do
- MontefioralleHistoric Site
Visit this small fortified village near Greve, known for its medieval charm and the Vespucci family home.
- Pieve di San CresciHistoric Site
Explore this hidden Romanesque church near Greve, featuring a narthexed façade and mullioned windows.
- Museo di Arte Sacra di San FrancescoMuseum
Admire sacred art, including a 14th-century Annunciation, in this museum set in a former hospital in Greve.