Chianti is the rolling hill country between Florence and Siena, a landscape of vineyards, olive groves, stone farmhouses, and cypress-lined roads that has come to define the Tuscan postcard. It is also one of Italy's great wine regions — Chianti Classico, the heart of the appellation, produces some of the country's finest reds.
The main towns are small and scattered. Greve in Chianti, with its arcaded central square and Saturday morning market, is the unofficial capital. Gaiole in Chianti sits further south, surrounded by medieval castles and vineyards. Impruneta, on the edge closest to Florence, is famous for its terracotta.
The best way to explore Chianti is by car, winding along the SS222 (the Chiantigiana) between Florence and Siena. Nearly every village has a cantina or enoteca offering tastings. The landscape is gentle enough for cycling too, though the hills are steeper than they look. In autumn, the grape harvest brings festivals and the smell of fermenting wine to every town.
