Once a hotbed of politics and commerce along the historic Via Francigena pilgrimage route, today's Poggibonsi is a sleepy outpost on the western border of Tuscany’s Chianti wine country. This under-the-radar town is surrounded by rolling vineyards and olive groves. It is best known for its Fortezza Medicea di Poggio Imperiale, an unfinished Medici fortress converted into a public park, performance space, and museum. Wine tasting tops the list of things to do in Poggibonsi, but you can also visit its smattering of storied churches, convents, and castles.
This area is known for its Chianti Classico DOCG wine and Chianti Classico DOP extra-virgin olive oil, so visit in fall to catch the harvest season and sample these two prestigious Tuscan blockbusters at their source. At the end of April, Poggibonsi celebrates its patron saint during the Festa di San Lucchese, with religious services and a procession, an open-air market, and fireworks along the stream that runs near the Church of San Giuseppe.
Poggibonsi is one of the most accessible towns in Chianti to reach by public transport, with regular train and bus services from Florence. Set off the highway between Florence and Siena, it’s easy to visit by car or taxi. Once in town, you can see the old town, Medici Fortress, Convent of San Lucchese, and Fonte delle Fate on foot. You’ll need to drive or take a taxi to Rocca di Staggia castle, about a 15-minute drive from town.
One of Chianti’s most unique attractions is within the Poggio Imperiale fortress: the Archeodromo. This open-air museum recreates a village from the 10th century with costumed actors playing villagers against the backdrop of replica dwellings, workshops, storerooms, a communal oven, and a blacksmith. Recreated with input from archaeologists and researchers from the University of Siena, the Archeodromo is an interactive look at the early medieval period. It’s free to the public each Sunday afternoon. Call ahead to arrange for English narration.
