Road of Castles in Chianti

Castle Road in Chianti

There is a unique road in a unique region in a unique land in the world. That road is the Castle Road in Chianti. Unrolled between Gaiole in Chianti and Pianella, this panoramic road counts 25 Km (17 miles) of breathtaking views and historic spots where a full day could be spent in harmony with nature and oneself.



There are not enough words to describe the sensations one feels as soon as the eye meets a castle mounted on a rock in the middle of cultivated hills that seem to move with the sun light and accompany your eye towards this culminating point. The soundtrack is the fresh summer breeze and the chirping of birds, as cars rarely pass by here, or if they do, they often go so slow to taste the view that you hardly recognize their presence.

Meleto Castle is one of them. Not the classic huge castle, this towered structure preserves all the romantic history that characterizes this land. Beautifully adorned with frescoed ceilings (added in later centuries), and surrounded by acres of vineyards and olive groves, it still belongs to the same family after so many generations. Here it is possible to get married in a castle, as the owners do rent it out for this purpose.



The other remarkable structure is the Brolio Castle. Owned by the Ricasoli family of Florence since before the year 1000 and after the conquest of Florence up to today, this castle is the typical huge merloned structure with maighty wings and towers. The inside is a museum you can visit Monday through Friday by appointment only. The telephone number is +39 0577 7301. It preserves beautiful furnishings, paintings, and gardens kept intact since the death of the Barron Ricasoli at the beginning of the last century. The Castle is a world-famous producer of great wine, the Brolio Chianti.
Produced since the year 1121, this wine has bettered with time. When you travel on the Chianti Castle Road you can gaze at the never ending hills covered with precious Brolio vineyards.
To contact call +39 0577 7301



Another castle you must visit is the Castle of San Polo in Rosso, a lovely hamlet that used to be part of the Ricasoli Brolio territory, but was later conquered by the Sienese state.



Not far from here is the Bossi Castle, where another great Chianti wine is produced.

The Castle Road in Chianti starts close to Pianella, near Siena. You cannot miss it in any travel guide.