Discover Chianti

Torre del Chito

The dirt road on the left after Prumiano leads to the Torre del Chito, an imposing stone structure, originally a Medieval stately house. The glazed terracotta bipartite shield on the facade bears the coat-of-arms of the Corsini and the Barberini families, added when the tower belonged to a couple formed by members of the two families.
The story of Giovan Battista Chito is well known around Tignano. He was a solitary farmer who lived in the tower during the 18th century. An unbeliever and hostile towards those who trespassed his fields, Chito was both feared and shunned by the locals. One day he came across an umbrella-maker from Poggibonsi who was hunting on his land and threatened to kill him, but the man aimed his arquebus at Chito and shot him. His body was buried in the woods near the tower, as he himself had willed: “né lontano né vicino, che non senta le campane di Barberino, né vicino né lontano, che non senta le campane di Tignano”, neither close nor far lest l be disturbed by the bells of Barberino, neither close nor far, lest l be disturbed by the bells of Tignano. Chito’s ghost continues to make silent nocturnal appearances, accompanied by terrifying blazes of fire, to any farmers and travelers who venture out after dark. They say that during the construction of the Siena-Florence highway, his looming apparition was seen by a bulldozer driver who had lingered there after nightfall.

Cortine

The neo-Latin place name Cortine was used to indicate a small “corte”, a group of buildings in the country enclosed by defensive walls. A document dating 1038 mentions the Castle of Cortine. The Church of San Lorenzo appears in documents from the 13th century. In 1333 there was also a pilgrim’s hospital here. Traces of the old fortifications can be found here and there in the village buildings, and in the massive foundations of the villa, a majestic stone structure with an elegant Italian garden created in the Hapsburg-Lorraine period and first mentioned in 1830. Over the course of the centuries, the single naved Romanesque church was transformed into a barn, although the fine ashlar masonry bears witness to its former use. The Church of San Lorenzo as it stands today was re-built in the middle of the 18th century while the bell-tower was added a few decades later. The magnificent panel by the Maestro di Marradi, now exhibited at the Museo d’Arte Sacra in San Pietro in Bossolo was originally in this church. Today it is possible to stay in the Canonica di Cortine, choosing from the range of accommodation offered within the complex: five elegant apartments named Solatio, Alba, Meriggio, Tramonto and Vespro; the Torre Vecchia which has been turned into an elegant Bed & Breakfast; the grand and luxurious Villa Castrum, which stands completely independent from the rest of the property. The Canonica di Cortine has a swimming pool and private parking and it offers bicycle rental, cookery courses, lunch and dinner events. There are tennis courts and a riding ground close to the property. A hairdresser, beautician and massage therapist are all available on request. The Canonica also offers a booking service for plane and train tickets, restaurants, entrance to museums and exhibitions. Address: Loc. Cortine, 20 Barberino Val d’Elsa Phone: +39 055 8072219 email: luciafusi@chianticortine.it Website: www.chianticortine.it

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