10Dec 0 The Chianti village of San Donato in Poggio, Tuscany Posted By: Elena Spolaor All about Chianti Italy, Chianti, Italy, Towns & Villages of Chianti, Towns of the Province of Florence San Donato in PoggioThe Chianti village of San Donato in Poggio, Tuscany San Donato in Poggio is a mediaeval village of great charm located near the Via Cassia, the highway that runs along the western boundary of the Chianti Classico wine zone from Florence to Sienna. In modern times, the Via Cassia has been superceded by the Florence-Sienna motorway but in fact a drive along the Via Cassia is second in interest only to the Via Chiantigiana which runs right down the middle of Chianti. The main street of San Donato in Poggio, Chianti In any case, those making a motor excursion through this part of Chianti should be sure to stop for an hour or so in San Donato. Quite a stretch of the 12 C defensive wall remains intact along with two mediaeval gateways, the Porta Fiorentina and Porta Senese. There’s also a fine watch tower, Il Torrino, springing up from the wall. The main street, Via del Giglio, runs from Porta Fiorentina to the main piazza, location of Palazzo Malaspina and the church of Santa Maria della Neve, that rare structure in Tuscany, a Gothic church, dating from the 15 C. In the middle of the piazza, there is octagonal well that was the main source of water for San Donato through most of its history. The Palazzo Pretorio, largely reconstructed following World War II bomb damage, faces Palazzo Malaspina. The most important church in San Donato is the Pieve di San Donato located near the Porta Senese. This parish church is Romanesque in style, like almost all Chianti parish churches (pievi), and is documented as early as the year 989. It houses a Della Robbia baptismal font dating from 1513. There are two restaurants and a number of food supply shops in San Donato. Worth a stop. More about San Donato in Poggio and its remarkable history. Here are some similar topics: Impruneta and terracotta manufacture in Tuscany is located just outside the Chianti Classico wine zone and in fact is much more famous for terracotta manufacture than for wine, despite holding on of the most entertaining grape festivals in Tuscany on the last Sunday of September. Two gigantic terracotta vessels manufactured in is [...] Read More » All about Greve in Chianti All about Greve in ChiantiSights of Greve in Chianti, the market town of the Chianti Classico wine zone Greve in Chianti is a small and quite charming town located, unusually for a Tuscan village, on the floor of the valley of the Greve stream. It has always been a market place but only in the [...] Read More » Chiocchio The village of on the road between Florence and Greve in Chianti is useful as a base for exploring the parts of Chianti near Florence and for those who want to stay in the country while being able to visit Florence easily. has an ARCI Circolo for coffee and sandwiches and there [...] Read More » Tavarnuzze in Chianti TavarnuzzeTavarnuzze, a Chianti town on the outskirts of Florence Tavarnuzze is a smallish town within the county of Impruneta. The Greve river flows through it. The Florence American Cemetery and Memorial site is located near Tavarnuzze and can be reached by SITA bus from Florence. The site covers 70 acres and is open to the public daily [...] Read More » The hamlet of Lucolena in Chianti Vacation accommodation near Lucolena in Chianti La Ghiandaia vacation accommodations with swimming pool, near Lucolena in ChiantiLa Ghiandaia vacation accommodations offers five beautiful vacation apartments for 2 to 8 persons. Each apartment has a separate entrance, a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and private area for outside dining. The agriturismo enjoy wonderful views of the Chianti […] Read More »
