Historic · Gaiole in Chianti

Castello di Meleto

The towers of Castello di Meleto, south of Gaiole in Chianti
Photo sailko · CC BY-SA 3.0

An 11th-century castle on the old Siena–Florence border, scene of Guelph–Ghibelline wars, now open for tours, cellars and tastings.

Our verdict

An eleventh-century castle that took the Guelph-Ghibelline wars on the chin and now runs weddings, tastings and a small theatre room instead — worth the detour for the setting alone, since visitor numbers stay lower than the big-name estates nearby. The tasting room is genuinely hard to find on first approach; more than one visitor has walked into the hotel by mistake. Ask at the gate rather than trusting the signage.

Checked against: www.tripadvisor.com

Where
Gaiole in Chianti
Altitude
402 m

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