CASTLES TOURS IN TUSCANY - FLORENCE TOURS - TUSCANY TOURS

 CASTLES AND ABBEY 

Tuscany is one of Italy's world famous regions. Tuscany, with its enchanted landscapes from the mountain to the sea, with its towns with museums, cathedrals, historical buildings, streets, towns like Florence, Siena, Pisa and more. Tuscany, full of ancient Etruscan and Roman ruins... But one can not pass through this land without being aware of Medieval Tuscany. Still visible are the small walled towns which are a testimony to the Middle Ages just as much as its great cities. Castles, fortresses, watch-towers, and town walls appear everywhere; some are well preserved, others are in ruins, but the main remnants are not on the tourist routes.
Once upon a time they were defensive bastions, but today they are residences of nobility or important wine companies. They help make up part of the splendid countyside and their beauty tempts us to get closer. Tuscany’s castles remind us of the past  nobility of this land, but are very much part of its present and future.   

WINE, CASTLES AND ABBEY 
The itinerary begins at the castle of Brolio. This castle was once fought over between Siena and Florence, and originally belonged to the Firidolfi family, and later to the Ricasoli family. Over the last century Bettino Ricasoli enriched the castle with marvellous architectural features. Leaving Brolio, we head towards Gaiole in Chianti, and we arrive at the castle of Meleto. This castle originally belonged to the Abbazia Vallombrosana di Coltibuono and it then passed to the hands of the Firidolfi family in the 13th century. Near Gaiole, we find the castle of Vertine. This castle has been in existence since 1000 and in the 13th century the Ricasoli family were besieged there. Our itinerary takes us across the Chianti vineyards and we soon arrive at Badia a Coltibuono, a 12th century abbey built in a Romanesque style on a steep hill. We then come to Vistarenni, a villa dating from the 1600s, and the Castle of Volpaia, which dates back to the 10th century. In the square we find the Commenda di S.Eufrosino, founded in 1443. After the castle of Volpaia, we arrive in Radda in Chianti, named capital of the League of Chianti in 1415. Its history has been strongly influenced by its position between the territories of Siena and Florence, and the war between these two towns. Today Radda is an important center of wine production. Our tour ends in Fonterutoli, a typical Chianti village.

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