Itinerary 1Coming from Siena, about 2 km before reaching Gaiole, a road to the right leads to the castle of Meleto, probably built at the end of the XII century for a branch of the Ricasoli family. It was briefly conquered by the Sienese in 1478, whilst another siege in 1529 remained unsuccessful.
The shape is almost square with the most ancient tower at the centre. On the south and east corners there are two cylindrical towers, perhaps dating back to the XV century. The rest of the building was converted into a villa in the middle of the XVIII century, as demonstrated by the elegant courtyard in imitated renaissance style, the painted ceilings and the trompe d’oeils. There is a delightful small theatre, unique in the Chianti, where the Ricasolis staged concerts and operettas. There are guided tours of the castle.
Resuming the climb uphill towards the mountains of the Chianti, at a height of about 480 m you will see the cluster of the rural hamlets Rietine, San Martino and Castagnoli, a powerful fortified structure, unsuccessfully besieged by the Sienese in 1478. The stronghold itself is a heavy, manysided polygon with rounded corners and a picturesque central courtyard.
Continuing towards the summit of Monteluco T.V. (altitude approx. 800 m), before reaching the big television masts, take the dirt road to your left leading towards Starda, a small, picturesque mountain hamlet.
Rejoining the main road towards the summit, proceed towards Nusenna, another hilltop hamlet, or follow the road to the right towards San Gusmé, taking the first dirt road on your left towards San Vincenti. This little village boasts an ancient Romanesque parish church from the year 700, which was a bone of contention between the bishops of Arezzo and Siena, finally resolved by the Longobard king Liutprando.
Continuing towards San Gusmé you will find on your left first the road to Linari, followed by the road to Fietri, another pair of enchanting mountain hamlets.
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Official Site of the Tourist Information Offices of
Castellina in Chianti,
Gaiole in Chianti and
Radda in Chianti.
Last change: 24. 04. 2008
