Autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons to visit the hills of Chianti near Siena.
Between Villages and Vineyards: Autumn in Chianti is simply magical.
Whether it’s the colors of the countryside and forests, the scents in the wineries, or the fact that in the low season you can enjoy everything in a different way, without crowds, long waits, or endless lines, it’s an experience like no other.
So, after a great breakfast at Borgo Grondaie Siena, we’re ready to head out on a very special itinerary to discover the northern part of Chianti.
We recommend dedicating 1 day because the stops on our itinerary are of great interest, and it’s worth taking your time to fully enjoy all the experiences.
Before you leave: grab your camera or phone to capture photos. It’s also a good idea to book tastings and visits in advance to optimize your time. At Borgo Grondaie, we can assist you and help book visits to the wineries. No stress… just enjoy the day to the fullest!
From Borgo Grondaie Siena, take the dual carriageway towards Florence, following the green signs.
The first stop is historical, one of the most fascinating places in Chianti that is worth visiting: BADIA A PASSIGNANO. From the San Donato exit, this Abbey is just over 5 km away.
It is an abbey of the Vallombrosan Benedictine order, founded by Saint John Gualberto in 1049 but later modified and expanded in the following centuries. After the suppression of the Vallombrosan congregation in the early 1800s, the Abbey was closed and later reopened and closed again, until it passed from the Italian government to various private owners who altered its appearance according to their personal taste.
However, in 1986, the Vallombrosan monks regained possession of Badia a Passignano, and its vineyards were entrusted to the management of the Antinori family, who still oversee the cultivation of the vines that surround the village today.
Church of St. Michael
Opening hours: 10:00 AM / 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM / 5:00 PM (6:00 PM during daylight saving time)
It is possible to visit the Church, the Chapter Room, the Cloister, the Refectory, the monumental kitchen, and the Garden. Guided tours must be booked in advance by calling (+39) 055.807117 or sending a WhatsApp message to (+39) 328.6437206.
Weekdays (standard time): 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (+4:30 PM during daylight saving time)
On Sundays and public holidays, the church is open only in the afternoon (in summer, the last visit is at 5:00 PM).
Weekly closure: Tuesday
Below the Monastery, in the historic cellars, the Badia a Passignano Gran Selezione, a Chianti Classico produced exclusively with grapes from the vineyards surrounding the Abbey and owned by the Antinori Family, is aged.
Tastings, cellar tours, and vineyard tours are available at the Osteria di Passignano, the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Chianti.
If you enjoy walking and want to take in the surrounding countryside, Badia a Passignano offers a wide variety of trails within the Natural Park, which has been listed as a protected area by the Region since 2009.
We continue our tour in the heart of Chianti, following the signs to Greve in Chianti.
A stop in MONTEFIORALLE, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, is a must. A small gem that offers very picturesque corners with a Tuscan flavor.
For a lunch break with a view of the vineyards, the La Castellana restaurant is excellent. Traditional, high-quality cuisine and dishes based on truffles (if in season).
You’ll arrive in GREVE IN CHIANTI in just a few minutes, with time for a stroll in the main square and a look at the numerous shop windows under the arcades. If you’re a fan of Tuscan cured meats, a stop at Antica Macelleria Falorni is a must.
The square is very beautiful, and the statue of Giovanni da Verrazzano, placed in the center, really intrigued me. I knew he was an explorer, but I didn’t know he had origins in Chianti…
If you’re curious to know more about this important figure in our history, I would suggest leaving Greve and navigating (a very fitting term) towards the final stop of our tour:
VERRAZZANO CASTLE
If it weren’t for this picture I had already seen online, the tourist kiosk with the giant Cork Stopper at the beginning of the road would have made me change direction.
No, it’s not what it seems. It’s a top-tier winery, well-organized tours, and interesting, high-quality experiences. I first booked the classic wine tasting of 3 wines with a tour of the gardens and cellars, which I highly recommend for the price: €24 per person for 1.5 hours, and it’s worth every penny.
The excellent wine named after Giovanni da Verrazzano made me forget the reason for the visit… Who was he? What did he discover?
Giovanni da Verrazzano, originally from the Castle in Greve, was born in 1485. Between 1507 and 1508, he settled in Dieppe, and at the service of King Francis I, he began a series of voyages to explore new routes to China. Verrazzano was the first to explore the eastern coasts of what is now the United States, and on April 17, 1524, he arrived in what is now New York Bay.
What does his arrival in the New World remind us of? The Verrazzano Bridge in New York, inaugurated in 1963, bears his name, and three stones from the tower of the castle are embedded in the bridge. Additionally, three stones from New York were sent to the Castle and are now visible on its facade to commemorate this connection between Chianti and America.
The return to Borgo Grondaie will be along one of the most beautiful and scenic roads in Chianti, the SP222 Chiantigiana. Take your time, with a few stops to admire the sunset between the gold and red of the vineyards.
If you enjoyed our tour through Chianti, between villages and vineyards, come visit us at Borgo Grondaie in Siena and check out our website.
