Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There are a number of guided tours on offer, each of which incorporate a short visit to
the historic wine cellar and gardens, and tastings of the estate's wines (including its flag-
ship Chianti Classico). Check the website for details.
Castellina in Chianti
POP 2873
Established by the Etruscans and fortified by the Florentines in the 15th century as a de-
fensive outpost against the Sienese, Castellina in Chianti is now a major centre of the
wine industry, as the huge cylindrical silos brimming with Chianti Classico attest. To taste
some of the local product, head to
Antica Fattoria la Castellina
(Via Ferruccio 26)
, the town's
best-known wine shop.
From the southern car park, follow Via Ferruccio or the panoramic path next to the
town's eastern defensive walls to access the atmospheric
Via delle Volte
, an arched mediev-
al passageway that was originally used for ancient sacred rites and later enclosed with a
roof and incorporated into the Florentine defensive structure.
Etruscan archaeological finds from the local area are on display at the
Museo Archeologi-
co del Chianti Senese
(
www.museoarcheologicochianti.it
;
Piazza del Comune 18; adult/reduced €5/3;
10am-6pm daily Apr-May & Sep-Oct, 11am-7pm Jun-Aug, 10am-5pm Sat & Sun Nov-Mar)
, located in
the town's medieval
rocca
(fortress). Room 4 showcases artefacts found in the 7th-
century-BC Etruscan tombs of
Montecalvario
(Ipogeo Etrusco di Monte Calvario;
24hr)
, which is located on the northern edge of town off the SR222.
Information
Tourist office
( 0577 74 13 92; ufficioturistico@comune.castelina.si.it; Via Ferruccio 40; 10am-
noon & 3-6pm Tue, Thu, Sat & Sun mid-Mar-May, 10am-1pm & 3-7pm Jun-Oct, 3-6pm Sat & Sun Nov,
10am-noon Fri & 10am-noon & 3-6pm Sat & Sun Dec-mid-Jan)
The privately run office can help
with maps, tours, accommodation and information.
Getting There & Around
BUS
Siena Mobilità
(
www.sienamobilita.it
)
buses travel between Castellina and Siena (€3.40, 35
minutes, 10 daily).
