| Leg | From → To | Distance | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat morning | Arezzo Villa → Greve in Chianti | ~70 km | ~1 hr 15 min |
| Sat evening | Hotel → Castello di Verrazzano | ~5 km | ~10 min |
| Sun midday | Greve in Chianti → Arezzo Villa | ~70 km | ~1 hr 15 min |
| Round Trip | ~145 km | ~2 hr 40 min driving | |
Route: SR 69 south from Figline Valdarno into the Chianti hills · scenic approach through vineyards
No alarm. Saturday morning at the villa: coffee, whatever's in the kitchen, and leave when you're ready. The goal is Greve by around 11–11:30 so there's time for the market before it winds down. The SR 69 route through Figline Valdarno is a beautiful drive — Chianti hills begin opening up once you cross north of the Arno.
Greve is a small town — you won't get lost. Park near the hotel (Viale Vittorio Veneto 82) and walk the short distance to Piazza Matteotti.
The Saturday morning market fills Piazza Matteotti regularly throughout the year — produce, local cheese, salumi, bread, and seasonal goods from the farms of the Chianti. The square itself is worth the trip regardless: a distinctive triangular piazza ringed by deep stone arcades, with shops and cantinas tucked under the loggias selling wine, olive oil, and ceramics. Arrive by 11:30 to catch the market while it's still lively.
Enoteca Falorni sits right on the piazza — one of the best wine shops in Chianti, with a tasting room and an exceptional selection of Chianti Classico from small producers. Worth stepping in even if you buy nothing. This is the real thing, not a tourist operation.
Two good options depending on appetite and mood:
The afternoon is deliberately open. Check into the hotel, sit in the piazza with a coffee, or make the short drive up to Montefioralle — a tiny fortified medieval hamlet perched on the hill above Greve, just 1 km from town. It's almost completely unvisited (a few dozen residents), with a small Romanesque church, intact stone walls, and vineyard views in every direction. Takes 30 minutes to walk around; worth every one of them.
The castle is approximately 5 km from the hotel — about 10 minutes. Leave by 18:20 to arrive comfortably ahead of the 18:30 start. The estate road winds through vineyards; it's well-marked from the SP 49/Greve direction.
A guided evening on a working Chianti Classico estate whose family name belongs to history: Giovanni da Verrazzano, the Florentine explorer who sailed for François I of France and first mapped New York Harbor in 1524, was born here. The estate has been producing wine continuously since the 16th century.
The evening begins with a guided tour through the Renaissance gardens and the aging cellars built into the hillside below the castle, followed by Spumante on the panoramic terrace. Dinner is a traditional Tuscan spread — charcuterie, pasta with wild boar, Florentine T-bone, seasonal sides, and dolce — served with a full flight of the estate's wines.
Dinner ends around 21:30. It's 10 minutes back to the hotel. The evening closes itself.
Breakfast is included at the hotel. No rush — this is the whole point of an overnight. The drive back to the Arezzo villa is 1 hr 15 min, so a midday departure puts you home in plenty of time for the afternoon.
Check out of Casa Al Sole (checkout by 11:00 — ask about a late 11:30 if needed) and head south on SR 69 through Figline Valdarno. You're back at the villa by ~12:45–1:00 PM with the whole Sunday afternoon still ahead.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hotel | Albergo Casa Al Sole · Viale Vittorio Veneto 82, 50022 Greve in Chianti · 2 rooms confirmed |
| Parking | Public lot near hotel (Viale Vittorio Veneto) · ~€2/hr · no ZTL in Greve · estate parking at Verrazzano is free |
| Dinner | Cena in Fattoria · Castello di Verrazzano · Sat Jun 6 · 18:30 · €75/pp · ✓ booked · book.verrazzano.com |
| Greve Market | Saturday mornings · Piazza Matteotti · regular weekly market · arrive by 11:30 |
| Enoteca Falorni | Piazza Matteotti · excellent Chianti Classico selection · tasting room · opens ~9:00 AM |
| Panzano | ~8 km south · 15 min · Dario Cecchini butcher & restaurants · good Sat lunch or Sun morning stop |
| Montefioralle | ~1 km above Greve · tiny medieval village · 30-min walk · vineyard views · nearly no tourists |
| Drive to Villa | ~70 km · ~1 hr 15 min · SR 69 via Figline Valdarno |