GREVE IN CHIANTI


Greve is the only commune in the province of Florence that lies completely in the Chianti area, therefore it is considered the "capital" of this region, whose products of Chianti Classical wine and olive oil are reknowned the world over. Greve is bordered in the north by Bagno a Ripoli, in the east by Rignano, Incisa and Figline Val d'Arno, in the west by Barberino Val d'Elsa, Tavarnelle, San Casciano and Impruneta, and in the south by the province of Siena. Greve lay on the southern borders of the "Agro di Florentia", when this Roman colony was constructed, but some expert Etruscan archeologists believe that its origins are even older. The Roman colony borderlines passed through San Donato in Poggio and towards Sillano, along the Roman road that still exists even today (Via Cassia); they also passed through Greve, Cintoia and Antella. Many places around Greve have Roman origins: Sillano is one, where Silla settled a colony of his veterans and where a beautiful Romanesque church may still be admired; Lucolena is another, reminiscent of an ancient temple dedicated to the vestal virgins. Names like "Cintoja" and "I Termini" recall the territorial subdivisions of the "Florentia Agro". Greve was one of the first free communes to be founded during the XI century (when there was a growth in such forms of social life). The Iron Crown of Italy can be seen on the top of its ancient coat of arms. In this period, the town hall was located in the Castle of Montefioralle, an ancient castle owned by the Buontalenti family; it later moved to Greve itself, when the town began to expand with the construction of new streets. Greve developed into the largest centre in the Florentine and Sienese Chianti. During the flourishing period of the Tuscan free communes, Greve was in a strategic position for Florence against its natural enemy, Siena. The Florentine Signoria kept several companies of soldiers at the ready in the castles around Greve, as it was situated at the centre of the group of towns of the Val di Pesa, the Val d'Elsa, the Upper Chianti area and the Upper Valdarno. The centre of Greve is characterized by its original asymmetrical square surrounded by porches with large terraces. The Propositura Church closes off beautifully one end of the square, while the Town Hall lies opposite, with its facade partly finished in ashlar and partly in polished stone.