recommended route
Walk from Radda to Gaiole in Chianti
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The Chianti Classico black rooster at a viewpoint in Radda in ChiantiPhoto: Catherine Allan, Macs Adventure
Walk through the quiet Tuscan woods between Radda and Gaiole in Chianti passing the many vineyards and villas of Chianti.
Leave Radda and descend into the valley through shady forests. Ascend to the Church of San Bastiano and traverse the hillside passing villas, and vineyards before reaching the tiny village of Vertine. Follow the last 2 kms of the route on quiet roads between olive groves and vineyards to finish at Church San Sigismondo in the centre of Gaiole in Chianti.
Please note that the route does include undulating terrain between the towns.
Author’s recommendation
Take time to explore the shady forests, admire the vistas from the track, and walk around the hilltop village of Vetrine. Vetrine has been the site of a settlement since 1013 when the Ricasoli family resided in the castle before being thrown out in 1478 by order of Siena. There are some wonderful views down into the valleys from this village.
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
The terrain varies from tarred roads, rough tracks, and wide gravel tracks.
There are a few sections of the walk on small country roads and along pavements of busier roads. Where there is no pavement or grass verge, please take extra care. The general rule is to walk on the same side of the road as oncoming traffic, in order to avoid having your back directly to oncoming traffic. Be prepared to walk in single file and to stay as close to the side of the road as possible.
There may be sections where you will be walking through fields containing livestock. Be vigilant and respectful of all animals.
July and August are the hottest months. At that time of year, the temperatures can rise into the 30 degrees Celsius during the day. Always make sure to stay hydrated and carry plenty of water. There aren’t many water fill points along the way. It is also advisable to wear skin protecting clothing and use sun cream/screen. We recommend starting the walk very early in the morning, then spending a couple of hours in Vetrine, continuing to walk when the heat of the day has passed. Have an extended lunch or just rest under the shade of an olive tree. Please be aware however that the restaurants do not generally start serving lunch until 12.30pm. We recommend inquiring about the day’s forecasted weather before setting out on the walk. A useful website for climate information specific to towns and countries is www.weather2travel.com or www.yr.no
Please take care on the gravelly/stony tracks and paths, especially after dry conditions, when the dusty terrain can be slippery underfoot.
Tips and hints
Food & Drink
There isn’t anywhere to eat enroute so make sure you take plenty of water and buy some provisions for the day from Radda in Chianti before setting off. There is a Co-op supermarket in Radda in Chianti where you can buy provisions for the walk (the location is detailed at 0.2 km in the turn by turn directions). Once arriving in Gaiole in Chianti there is a choice of restaurants, cafes, and enotecas. There is also a small supermarket on the main pedestrianised street of Gaiole where you can buy provisions for your walks.
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
0.00 km – Start at the viewpoint on Viale Settembre with the large black Chianti rooster (~3 m tall) overlooking the valley and vineyards below. With your back to the rooster and the view, TURN RIGHT and walk along Viale Settembre with the view on your right and the road on your left.
0.07 km – BEAR RIGHT onto Viale Febbario to pass the old cinema shortly on your right, and the Carabineri (police station) ahead on your left.
0.20 km – TURN RIGHT at a pedestrian crossing onto Via del Convento to descend between houses. [Before turning down the hill the Co-op supermarket is ~100m further on, you may wish to buy snacks or lunch for the walk before returning to this point and continuing the walk.]
0.40 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON, ignore the road on the left, and continue to descend gradually on the road.
0.55 km – Pass the church and the Casa Chianti Classico museum on your left and BEAR LEFT down the road with the fenced playing field on your right-hand side.
0.70 km – BEAR LEFT just after the recycling plant buildings on your right-hand side to descend to another split in the road. BEAR RIGHT onto the gravel track (do not go left into the private property through the green gate).
0.80 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON at the track junction with the stone building on your right. In ~100 m pass a further farm house on your right and continue descending into the valley.
1.00 km – Where the track splits at an old wooden signpost for San Giusto TURN LEFT and descend on the gravel track through the trees.
1.10 km – As the track flattens BEAR RIGHT along the track keeping the stream on your left-hand side.
1.70 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON and ignore the rough track ascending on the right.
2.10 km – Ascend slightly to join a road opposite a winery sign. TURN LEFT onto the road, there’s no pavement so beware of cars. Follow the road for ~700 m.
2.40 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON the road and ignore the road off to the left. The road soon curves to the right.
2.60 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON (ignore the right turn to Siena) and follow the road as it curves left over a stream and pass the road sign for Commune di Gaiole in Chianti.
2.80 km – TURN RIGHT sharply and ascend on a minor road following the signpost for San Giusto (0.3 km). In ~100 m continue STRAIGHT ON the wide gravel track, ignoring the track off to the left.
3.10 km – TURN LEFT to follow the track passing the church of San Giusto on your right-hand side as the track ascends gently.
3.20 km – TURN RIGHT and follow the track behind the last building of San Giusto on the right-hand side. In ~50 m BEAR LEFT onto a rough ascending track. You will pass on the left of a tree with painted red and white markers – you will see these along the route today.
3.30 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON and continue ascending on the stony track beneath telephone poles (ignore the track off to the left).
3.50 km – BEAR LEFT to continue on the main track and follow the red and white markers, ignoring the faint track and clearing on the right.
3.90 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON at the trees with red and white markers (ignore the ascending track on right). There is a low stone wall on the right-hand side of the track now.
4.00 km – Pass a large stone villa on the left-hand side and continue STRAIGHT ON down the tree-lined track. Continue along the track for ~400 m ignoring any off-shoot tracks.
4.40 km – BEAR RIGHT to stay on the main track and ascend as the track curves right (ignore the faint track straight ahead). Shortly after pass through a wooden gate and walk passed the Le Corta villa buildings on the left-hand side.
4.60 km – Follow the track and it curves left and continue STRAIGHT ON as the track descends towards a road.
4.90 km – Meet the road after passing between the stne pillars and metal gates of Le Corta. Continue STRAIGHT ON across the road to a track and immediately BEAR RIGHT to follow the most defined track through trees. For ~500 m continue STRAIGHT ON following the track and ignoring any off-shoot tracks.
5.40 km – BEAR RIGHT downhill on the track and pass a house on the left-hand side. Continue STRAIGHT ON towards the road.
5.60 km – At the base of the track TURN LEFT onto the road with vineyards on either side. There is no pavement so beware of vehicles. Stay on the road for ~200 m.
5.80 km – TURN LEFT off the road onto a track and follow the signpost for La Mandria (0.9 km). Continue STRAIGHT ON ignoring off-shoot tracks and entrance drives to houses.
6.20 km – At the signpost for Adine BEAR LEFT onto the track descending on the left-hand side of the building.
6.70 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON passed La Mandria villa on the left-hand side and continue ascending. Continue STRAIGHT ON to San Bastiano in ~300 m.
7.00 km – TURN LEFT after passing San Bastiano on the right-hand side and follow the red and white markers on the boulder ahead.
7.30 km – Pass Lisidor villa on the left-hand side and continue STRAIGHT ON following the red and white markers. Soon there are rolling vineyards on the left-hand side of the track.
7.90 km – At the edge of the vineyard continue STRAIGHT ON following the track into the trees.
8.20 km – Continue on the main track with exposed bedrock to BEAR RIGHT slightly. Then BEAR RIGHT again in ~100 m, ignore the faint track on the left.
8.30 km – TURN RIGHT onto a more defined, wider and more even track lined with trees on the left-hand side. Continue to follow the red and white markers.
8.90 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON passing between the villas and follow the track. In ~200 m keep to the main track as it curves left and descends to the road in the valley below. The track meets the road in ~900 m.
9.80 km – TURN LEFT onto the road and follow it for ~300 m. Please beware of traffic as there is no pavement.
10.10 km – TURN RIGHT off the road just after crossing a bridge and follow the signpost for Concie (1.2 km) onto the ascending track.
10.30 km – BEAR RIGHT and follow the signpost for Casuccia and the ceramic studio. The tracks descends in ~25 m.
10.50 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON and ignore the split to the right to Casuccia. The track soon begins to ascend.
10.70 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON and ignore the track off to the left. In ~100 m at the edge of the Vigna Casi vineyards BEAR RIGHT and continue on the track with the vineyard fence on the left-hand side.
10.90 km – At the track junction continue STRAIGHT ON and follow the red and white marker on the wooden post. Continue for ~400 m with the high fence on the left-hand side as the track descends.
11.30 km – BEAR LEFT on the track just before the house at Le Conce. Then BEAR LEFT to go through the wooden gate then TURN RIGHT onto another track and descend towards the stream crossing. In ~50 m BEAR LEFT up the rough track (with grassy line down the centre) to the red and white painted post on the right. Ascend on the track as it keeps to the right-hand side of the field.
11.60 km – TURN LEFT onto a level track which soon begins to ascend and follow the red and white markers on the rocks.
11.80 km – BEAR LEFT at Villa Chianti Vertine and continue ascending to join the road and the edge of the hilltop village of Vertine.
12.00 km – At the end of the high stone wall on the left-hand side, at the gates to Castello Vertine BEAR LEFT up the paved/cobbled road. Continue STRAIGHT ON and pass under two arches. On passing through the second arch exit the village walls of Vertine.
12.20 km – Leave Vertine and BEAR RIGHT, across from the monument in the trees on your left-hand side, into the car park. The road soon curves left, continue to follow the red and white markers down the road.
12.90 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON the road as the track goes off to the right at the signpost for Campino del Paido. Continue to follow the red and white markers.
13.40 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON at the road signpost for Gaiole in Chianti.
13.70 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON passed the first road on the left (Via Alcide de Gasperi) and TURN LEFT at the end of the road onto Via Spaltenna.
13.90 km – Continue STRAIGHT ON across Via Galilei on the right in front of the bell tower, and pass the church building on the left-hand side.
14.00 km – At the end of Via Spaltenna TURN RIGHT to finish the walk in front of the church on the main street in Gaiole in Chianti (Via Antonio Casabianca). The street on the other side of the river/drainage channel is pedestrianised – along it you will find plenty of restaurants, a small Coop supermarket and a pharmacy.
Coordinates
Equipment
This depends on the time of year; if traveling in the spring or autumn it can be cool in the morning, but it soon heats up in the late morning and afternoon so make sure to bring some layers. During the summer months, the area can be prone to afternoon thunderstorms, so waterproofs or a rain poncho are also essential in case of heavy showers. In the heat of the day, sun cream is essential, and a sunhat is highly recommended. Otherwise, normal hiking gear in a 25-litre rucksack will suit.
Either sturdy walking shoes, or light hiking boots are recommended. Most of today's walk is along gravel roads, which can be tough on the feet.
Walking poles will be a big advantage on the ascents and descents, and to provide balance on gravelly terrain.
A fully charged phone is essential; if in doubt that the battery will last throughout the hike, it might be beneficial to bring a power bank.
It's always best to be prepared and bring some supplies just in case. It is recommended to drink 0.75 litres of water per hour of walking, so refill filtration bottle/s along the way or bring plenty with you.
Other essential items are blister treatments and a first aid kit, insect repellent, biodegradable toilet tissue, and a whistle and torch.
Statistics
- 3 Waypoints
- 3 Waypoints
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