Castelnuovo Berardenga: History, Landscape and Trails in Chianti Classico

Castelnuovo Berardenga combines historical evidence, designed landscapes and trails through Chianti Classico.

History and Art in Castelnuovo Berardenga

A significant date in the town’s history is 1379 at the latest: it was then that the keys to Il Castello Nuovo were handed over to the population. Since 1999, the Museo del Paesaggio has been housed in a late-19th-century building that was formerly used as a public slaughterhouse. Interactive multimedia applications there convey the history of agricultural landscapes and mezzadria, meaning agricultural sharecropping.

The Chiesa dei Santi Giusto e Clemente was designed and built by the Sienese architect Agostino Fantastici between 1843 and 1846. Its Chigi Saracini Chapel, dedicated to the Madonna del Rosario, contains an altarpiece signed by Giovanni di Paolo in 1426: the Madonna and Child with Musical Angels. The 19th-century church building houses a signed altarpiece whose date of creation goes back to the early 15th century.

The Chiesa della Compagnia di Maria Santissima del Patrocinio e Oratorio di San Sebastiano features a neoclassical pedimented façade. Its lower section is faced with travertine slabs, while the upper section is plastered. Travertine and plaster create a clear contrast of materials on the façade.

Gardens, Forests and Contemporary Art

The Parco di villa Chigi Saracini was laid out from 1834 according to designs by Agostino Fantastici in the Romantic style, with an English landscape woodland. It includes an Italian garden with low boxwood hedges and flower beds. In the park, the English landscape woodland and the Italian garden with its low boxwood hedges and flower beds stand side by side. San Gusmè has preserved parts of its original medieval walls and two original stone gates.

Contemporary art is also represented: the Parco Sculture del Chianti is a permanent exhibition of contemporary installations and sculptures in an oak and holm oak forest. In the sculpture park, installations and sculptures meet oak and holm oak trees.

Hiking Trails with Different Levels of Difficulty

The Rete Escursionistica del Chianti Classico offers themed trails of varying length and difficulty in the Castelnuovo Berardenga area. They provide opportunities to explore historical, architectural, landscape and natural features. Fattorie della Berardenga is an 11.8-kilometre trail in the area around the main town; it has 445 metres of positive elevation gain and is rated difficulty level E. For day planning, both the 11.8 kilometres and the 445 metres of positive elevation gain are relevant.

Wine, Olive Oil and Regional Products

Castelnuovo Berardenga is located on the Strada del Vino e dell'Olio del Chianti Classico. Along this route, guided cellar tours and tastings of wine, olive oil and cured meats are available.

For further options in the area: Quercegrossa, Pievasciata, Casetta, Pianella, Guistrigona, San Gusmè, Monteaperti, San Felice and Villa A Sesta.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Siena.