Discover Chianti

Belvedere di Campoli

Past the parish church, on the left, via di Campoli goes up the slopes of Montefolchi passing the avenue that reaches Villa Belvedere. The garden has an open view over the hills of the Pesa valley, hence the villa’s name. It has a 16th century plan: a central body containing a doorway and beautiful windows with pietra serena frames, and two lateral wings. Next to the entrance is a spring whose waters were blessed by Saint John Gualbert. An engraved stone records that its decorative “rocaille” niche was added in 1623 by the villa’s owner, Paolo Paoli.

San Gaudenzio

Back on via di Campoli, the first unpaved road on the left goes up to Tignanello, one of the highest spots in the area. A turning on the right leads to San Gaudenzio, a hamlet near the spring of the Terzona stream. The church, built before 989, has a simple facade with a pediment and portico in a Classical style, probably added during a Baroque restoration, along with the graceful belfry. Inside is a Madonna and Child with Saint Gaudenzio and Saint Anthony Abbot, dated 1648, by the Florentine painter Jacopo Confortini.

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