Florence: a treasure chest brimming with artistic masterpieces. Symbol of the Tuscan capital and the spiritual heart of the city, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its majestic dome designed by Brunelleschi dominates the historic center. Next to the cathedral there is the bell tower, realised by the great 14th century painter Giotto, and considered by many to be the most beautiful "campanile" in the whole of Italy.
Piazza della Signoria, with its imposing Palazzo Vecchio, is the city's administrative center. Next to the town hall we find the Uffizi Gallery: home to many of the world's greatest work's of art. Yet more masterpieces can be found in the Accademia Gallery, the Bargello Museum, the Cathedral Museum, the Spedale degli Innocenti, and in the numerous churches scattered across Florence, houses of Worship such as the Churches of Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce, Orsanmichele, and Santa Maria del Carmine, each of which conserving artworks of inestimable value and great historical importance.
Just eight kilometers divide the center of Florence from the hilltop town of Fiesole. Here, on a site once occupied by an ancient acropolis, there is a charming little church and cloisters built in Tuscan Gothic style. Those wishing to admire the work of the Della Robbia brothers should head to the Bandini Museum, which boasts a fabulous collection of their terracotta pieces. Whilst in Fiesole, a visit to the Badia, with its splendid Romanesque façade, is an absolute must.
Travelling onwards to the west we soon come to Poggio a Caiano and what is widely considered to be the most beautiful of the Medici villas. Known as the Capriccio del Magnifico, the villa was built in 1480 for Lorenzo il Magnifico according to the designs of Giuliano da San Gallo and adorned with the frescoes by artists of the calibre of Filippino Lippi, Pontormo, Andrea del Sarto and Alessandro Allori. The chapel adjacent to the villa was painted by Giorgio Vasari.
A brief detour takes us to the town of Vinci where to pay homage to Leonardo. The museum illustrating the instruments invented by the genius of the renaissance is situated within the walls of the 13th century castle of the Counts Guidi.
Moving further away from Florence, the road begins to snake its way through the gentle hills of the Chianti. We make our first stop at San Casciano Val di Pesa where to visit the watch tower, the clock tower, and the Church of Santa Maria al Prato in which a splendid crucifix by Simone Martini can be seen.
From the valley of Pesa we come to that of Elsa, this latter dominated by the town of San Gimignano, the medieval aspect of which has remained miraculously intact - from its old perimeter walls to its soaring towers, cobbled streets, and charming piazzas.
An art the roots of which can be traced back to the Etruscan era, the crafting of Alabaster still represents one of Volterra's principal sources of income. The streets of the town center are, in fact, lined with any number of workshops and boutiques where to purchase items made from this precious material. The streets of the town converge in Volterra's impressive central piazza dominated by the medieval Palazzo dei Priori, Palazzo Pretorio and the Torre del Porcellino.
Encircled by a massive perimeter wall complete with sturdy watch towers, the tiny fortified hamlet of Monteriggioni perfectly conserves its medieval appearance. Built by Siena so as to survey the strategic Cassia-Francigena road, its fame was such that Dante mentioned it in his Divine Comedy.
Continuing our journey along the Via Chiantigiana we come to the towns of Castellina and Gaiole, from where to take the road leading to the Badia a Coltibuono. This is where the great wine producing traditions of the Chianti region began and where we find a splendid 11th century monastery, now home to one of the area's most prestigious wineries.
Our journey concludes in Greve, considered to be the capital of the Chianti Classico "Gallo nero" wine. Piazza Matteotti and Piazzetta Santa Croce are the highest expression of architectural harmony: the terraced porticoes gracefully uniting with the elegant façade of the Church of Santa Croce. Each year, in the latter half of September, Greve hosts an important Chianti wine show.
