Greve in Chianti

Greve, the little Chianti capital, lies on the SS222 Chiantigiana route south of Florence.

The biggest wine fair in Chianti occurs every September in this medieval townlet (pop. 10,800). Located on the banks of the river Greve, it is celebrated for its charming, arcaded, funnel-shaped Piazza del Matteotti, studded with a statue of Giovanni from Verrazzano, who was the first European to sail into New York Bay (and gave his name to the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge). It has a Museo del Vino you can visit along with a wine tour.

And that’s about all – its castle was burned in 1387, and its Franciscan convent converted to a prison in the last century. However, in the parish church of Santa Croce there’s a triptych by Lorenzo di Bicci and a painting by the ‘Master of Greve’. But Greve is awash with wine, so it is worth seeking out the specialized wine shops.

West of Greve