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Eating
out in Castellina |
Castellina
in Chianti is located on a ridge between the valleys of the
Arbia, Elsa and Pesa rivers. The county of Castellina is
entirely within the Chianti Classico wine zone. The town is of
Etruscan and Roman origin, and was a fife of the nobles of
Trebbio in the 11 C and then an important Florentine garrison. |
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Castellina
became the seat of local government for the ancient Chianti
League together with Radda
and Gaiole
in the 13 C, but in the 14 and 15 C raids and pillaging were
common. The Florentines built the town walls between 1400 and
1402. |
Cinta
Muraria
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Via
delle Volte
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The
wall is dominated by the fortress and huge keep, and is
characterised by underground vaulted passages such as the Via
delle Volte. The inhabited part of Castellina retains some of
its 14 C character, and in the countryside there are many
farmhouses from the era of the Grand Dukes of Florence and even
earlier. |
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Not
far from the centre of Castellina there is a large Etruscan tomb
which dates back to 6 C BC.
The churches in the surrounding area are numerous and all
interesting, particularly San Martino a Cispiano which has
conserved most of its Romanesque features, including a beautiful
apse and a single nave, and San Leonino in Conio which holds a
Madonna and Child by Lorenzo di Bicci. |
Etruscan
tomb
Tumulo di Montecalvario 7-6 C BC
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Palazzo Ugolini
formerly Palazzo
Squarcialupi
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The
village of Futerutoli, cited in a document from 998, has a long
and interesting history. The peace agreement between Siena and
Florence was signed in 1201 in its Church of San Miniato (since
destroyed). |
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