Greve sits in the heart of Chianti wine country, and you know it the moment you arrive, vineyards climb every hillside. The town itself is smaller than you'd expect (it's a working market town, not a medieval hilltop drama), but it's built around a triangular piazza where Medici merchants traded wine centuries ago. It's less touristy than the wine villages higher up, which means you can still eat in places locals frequent.
Why Stay in Greve in Chianti
- The wine geography is serious. You're at the centre of Chianti Classico, surrounded by world-class producers. Wineries are minutes away by car, and many welcome visitors without advance booking. something you won't get in California Napa.
- The piazza is genuinely functional. It's not a museum exhibit). Farmers' markets happen here, locals have coffee here, and you can sit on the steps and actually see village life. Markets are usually Saturday mornings. go and pick up lunch supplies.
- It's less overrun than other wine-country towns. You don't have the tour-bus traffic of Montepulciano or crowds of San Gimignano. In peak summer (July–August) it picks up, but October is golden. warm, grapes are being harvested, and tourists thin out.
- Cycling through the vineyards is legitimate here. There are marked routes, and farms often have bike rentals or arrangements. Caveat: roads are sometimes narrow and fast cars come around corners — stay aware and perhaps book a guided wine-bike tour instead of going solo.
Things to Do in Greve in Chianti
Start with the Piazza Matteotti. The big triangular square is ringed with restaurants, wine bars (enotecas), and the Museo del Chianti if you want wine history. More useful: sit down, order a glass of local Chianti Classico, and watch how the day moves through the square.
Visit wineries. Castello di Querceto and Villa Vignamaggio are close to town (5 km). Fattoria Castellani is even closer. Many don't require advance booking but calling ahead never hurts. A typical winery visit takes 1–2 hours, includes cellar tour and tastings, and costs €10–20 per person. Go mid-morning before lunch.
Cycle the Chianti roads if you're up for it. Local shops rent bikes or you can book a guided tour (Chianti Bike Tours operates from town). The countryside is genuinely beautiful, rolling hills, cypress avenues, tiny hamlets. The catch: it's hillier than it looks from a car, and descents are fast. Summer heat makes morning rides essential.
Walk to San Leolino (2 km from town), a small Romanesque church with frescoes in a pocket of countryside. It's quiet, off the main tourist radar, and you'll feel like you've found something.
Drive to the Chianti Sculpture Park (Chianti Sculpture Park, 15 km). It's modern sculptures dotted across vineyards — polarising but genuinely interesting. Some people love it, others find it out of place. It's worth a look if you're sick of sitting in wine bars.
Day trip south to Florence (30 km, 45 minutes). The Uffizi, Duomo, and Ponte Vecchio are the obvious targets, but going mid-week or early morning beats Saturday crowds.
