Montegonzi: History, Art and Malvasia

Montegonzi lies on a hill on the border between Chianti and Valdarno, between the Moncioni and Camenata streams. The elevated location provides the geographical setting for the village; the two streams mark its immediate surroundings.

Historical traces around the castle

The origins of the Castello di Montegonzi date back to 1063. Of the castle's three historic gates, one is still visible in Piazza della Porticciola. This preserves a tangible point on the piazza where the former complex can be seen, maintaining the historical character of the village.

The church of Montegonzi also leads back to the area's older history. It is dedicated to Saint Peter; it is probably identical to the church of San Pietro a Formica mentioned in the 13th-century tithe registers. The church adds an ecclesiastical reference to the history of the castle, reaching back to the 13th century.

Art in Montegonzi and Cavriglia

The cultural side of Montegonzi includes the sculptor Carlo Minatti. In connection with him, a permanent exhibition space called “OffiCINO” was established in Montegonzi. A board featuring the map of the art trail “Fuori dall’Officino” was also displayed there. The art trail comprises sculptures by Carlo Minatti installed throughout the hamlet of Cavriglia. The exhibition space and the map are part of Montegonzi's artistic profile, while the sculptures extend geographically beyond the village.

Hills, valley views and the CAI trail

CAI trail 337 begins in Montegonzi and offers views of the hills and the valley floor of Valdarno. Those who include it in their day's plans will find the starting point in the village and views stretching between the hilltop setting and the valley floor. For day planning, CAI trail 337 from Montegonzi can be considered a landscape highlight in its own right.

Malvasia and olive oil from the region

The local culinary history also has a clear name: Malvasia di Montegonzi was mentioned in 1685 by the poet Francesco Redi in his work “Bacco in Toscana”. It is considered a rare, old wine; its name derives from its area of origin. In more recent times, a company reintroduced Malvasia di Montegonzi in order to revive an old winemaking tradition of the area. The wine tradition thus extends from the literary mention in 1685 to its more recent reintroduction.

The company Castello di Montegonzi also contributes to the culinary profile. It produces organic IGP Tuscan olive oil from the Monti del Chianti; the olives are harvested by hand and pressed on the same day. The oil is thus regionally associated with the Monti del Chianti, while hand harvesting and pressing on the same day define the processing step.

Further places for planning your trip

Montaio, Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni, Meleto

For the higher-level travel overview: Cavriglia.