Travel :: Driving the Chianti Road

Our last day in Tuscany was one to remember.  We woke up early, and after a quick breakfast at Villa Campomaggio were on our way to drive the infamous Chianti Road, a beautiful stretch of Tuscan countryside south of Florence that is littered with wineries producing Chianti wine.  While I have never been much of a Chianti drinker {I have always associated it with cheap table wine in straw-wrapped bottles} I was absolutely shocked by the amazing variety of Chiantis, some of which were wonderfully elegant.

Travel :: Villa Campomaggio

During our recent Italy trip we took a six-day road trip through Tuscany.  We started south in the Val d'Orcia region and slowly made our way north through Siena to the Chianti countryside.  When in Chianti we stayed at the beautiful Villa Campomaggio, an elegant 15th century villa that had recently been converted into a hotel.  The villa's perfectly groomed grounds {the only time I have ever seen grass as green has been on a golf course} were jaw-droppingly gorgeous - secret gardens, a pool overlooking rollings hills of grapevines, chairs for reading surrounded by lavender, cypress trees, dark, mysterious forests, all with a picture-perfect view of the Chianti countryside and the tiny town of Radda in the distance.  

Travel :: Tuscan Hill Towns Part II

Oh Tuscany, how you have won my heart.  One of my favorite aspects of the six days we spent there last month was visiting the quaint little hill towns {see previous post about Pienza, Montepulciano, and Montalcino here}.  Over the six days we had the opportunity to visit two more adorable villages.