Tuscany Farmhouses

Greve in Chianti

In one of the first maps of Chianti, Greve is not mentioned, there is only the Church of S.Croce in the centre of an area shape as trapezium.
Probably here took place a market of inhabitants of the near villages.
At the end of the Middle Age, the depopulation of the near cities caused an increase of its inhabitants.
Since 1400 here there is a Franciscan convent which was built on an ancient hospital close the remains of a castle destroyed in 1387 by Alberico da Barbiano, who was a feud of the Umberti family.
In 1819 the convent became a prison. You can still visit the church in which there are a polychrome rose-window of the Robbiana school and a painting of Cieco di Gambassi called “The Deposition”. In 1833 the church of S.Croce was built with neoclassical forms. The interior houses “The Madonna” painted by an Angelico’s pupil and a triptych of Lorenzo di Bicci.
Very interesting is the square with a statue of Giovanni da Verrazzano; It has an irregular shape surrounded by a lodge.
Nowadays Greve can be considered the capital of the Classic Chianti.
Every year in September there is the fair of cattle and the classic Chianti wine. In May takes place the flowers and plants’ fair,  the Monday after Easter the old things one.
Every Saturday there is in the square the market.