When I published my app on touring Chianti, my idea was
EAT. DRINK.SHOP.STAY. A list of places I would go if I was coming on vacation. Places I go to as a person living here.
Pick a town on the app and then see what I suggest doing while there. It is impossible to list EVERYONE and we are all different in what we find interesting, but I think I have a good idea on places to visit.
As part of Simply Divina, my culinary consulting, I offer and arrange cooking classes and culinary touring, market visits and more. While on a day in Chianti with a student, we stopped by one of my favorite little villages, Montefioralle, located on the hill above Greve in Chianti.
Montefioralle only takes a few minutes to tour as it is tiny, but we take our time and take a lot of photos. To me it is one of the beautiful,untouched villages in Tuscany.
Little known fact. Amerigo Vespucci was from here. Yes, that Amerigo, the man that with Giovanni da Verrazzano actually discovered America. They sailed into Hudson Bay. Yes, the Verrazzano bridge is named for Giovanni Verrazzano and his family. The castle can still be visited near Greve. They produce fabulous wine and offer great tours.
On my last visit to Montefioralle, I discovered a wonderful artist, with a studio in the Vespucci building. ( the front door of the Vespucci home has a V with a wasp, VESPA, on it.
One of the problems of buying large pieces of art, is getting it home. These paintings can be rolled up and carried home and then remounted. He also has some tiny pieces, which I bought.
There was quiet a choice of the small pieces, at 5 euro, they would be a lovely gift. Ask to see his gallery, there are larger paintings and sculptures upstairs.
Some of these are painted on Japanese paper, others on old straw paper made in Tuscany, that was used by butchers. They are all original paintings.
Stop by and tell him Divina Cucina sent you!
Coming to Chianti? Don’t forget the app!!!
Artist:
Alessandro Nutini
http://alessandro-nutini.com/
Palazzo Vespucci, Montefioralle- Greve in Chianti