Castle of Verrazzano
The Castle of Verrazzano
Between Florence and Siena, in the territory of Greve in Chianti, stands the Castle of Verrazzano. Initially an Etruscan and then a Roman settlement, it has maintained its borders almost unchanged for about 1000 years; stable outpost in a land marked by centuries of family and political struggles.
At the center of the estate, with woods and vineyards, one stands tower of the late Romanesque period. Wondrous Renaissance gardens they enjoy a unique panoramic view on the Val di Greve.
History
In the 7th century the Castle became the property of the Verrazzano family and here the navigator was born in 1485 Giovanni da Verrazzano, discoverer of today's bay New York and most of the east coast of the current United States. The famous is located in New York "The Verrazano" bridge suspended between Brooklyn and Staten Island named after him in the 1964.
The important Florentine family of the Marchesi Ridolfi succeeded to the Verrazzano after the death of the last descendant, occurred in the 1819. In the 20 1900 years thanks to Luigi Ridolfi the Florence Stadium was built; in the 1926 Fiorentina was founded, the football team of the city of Florence. President of the Athletics Association, Ridolfi granted the Italian team to train in Verrazzano for the 1936 Olympic Games.
In the 1958 Cavalier Luigi Cappellini he found the estate now on the path of decadence, starting a patient restoration work. Respecting the historical and architectural peculiarities of the place, he reported toformer glory the purity of the Castello del Mille forms. He also has rebuilt the agricultural fabric as an old model, replanting i vineyards and bringing the manor house back to its former glory.
The Cellar
Le ancient cellars of the Castle date back to the sixteenth century; aging takes place in barrels in Slavonian oak placed along the corridors, away from thermal changes. They are used oak barrels of 3 years for 30 hl. of capacity for the elevation of the Chianti and of the Chianti Classico Reserve. New barriques (Allier and Vosges) for the elevation of the Chianti Classico Grand Selection Sassello and for the Supertuscan Bottle Detail.
Visiting the winery, surrounded by the aromas of the precious oak barrels, we go into the heart of the castle, where the best selections from the 1924 are kept.
La estate of 230 hectares, has remained unchanged within its borders for over 1000 years, possesses 52 hectares of vineyards. The altitude is between 260 and 420 meters above sea level, in a stony ground rich in limestone.
Staying in Chianti
It's possible stay in the "Foresteria Casanova" recently restored and completely immersed in the vineyards of the Castle. Are available 2 apartments independent e 7 double rooms with possibility of extra bed in some of them.
The rooms are all furnished in typical Tuscan rural style, all equipped with their own bathroom with shower, TV and Wi-Fi access.
Farm hosteria
At Castello di Verrazzano it is possible to eat at the farm restaurant that offers all dishes produced with the company's ingredients or anyway Tuscan PDO o IGP and possibly biological. The simple and tasty menu changes naturally as the seasons change.
