RADDA 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.