The Castle of Meleto: A Small Jewel in Chianti

Among the hills of Chianti you will find plenty of castles and suggestive strongholds that served once as military defense and are today sumptuous residences for tourists or the heart of many wine farms that add more value to these locations. The castle of Meleto is one of these and it is found, majestic and in all of its medieval splendor, on a hill in the town of Gaiole in Chianti, one of the most idyllic places of Europe, according to a recent study publishing in the American business and financial magazine “Forbes.” A drive lined with junipers and cypresses accompanies all visitors towards the Castle of Meleto, surrounded by the typical scenery of Chianti, with fields and vineyards. The castle belonged originally to the Benedictine monks of Badia in Coltibuono, but in 1269 it is already mentioned in the “Book of the Estimates” by the Florentine “guelfi” as a property of the Ricasoli family. It was this noble Chianti family that expanded and embellished the structure through time and has maintained it until today, after a disastrous fire in 1478. Today the castle has, on one side, the fortifications of the 1400s with a cylindrical tower and, on the other, the noble villa with a peculiar theatre of the 1700s. Don’t miss the walk on the walls and the bastions that surround it, from which you will be able to view one of the most enchanting panorama of the Chianti and the countryside of Siena. The beauty and attraction of the Castle of Meleto are completed by the product of the wine farm that is located here, with olive oil and wine of high quality, and for wine tasting events that are organized throughout the year to entertain the visits of all tourists.

(Portions of this article first appeared in "Toscana & Chianti News")
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