History | Montespertoli | Terre degli Uffizi

The river Elsa flows northwards from the Montagnola Senese to the Arno, its course marking a territory, the Valdelsa, that sits in the heart of Tuscany and forges a link between the territories of the region's most important cities.

Softly rolling hills dotted with olive trees and vineyards alternating with woods and fields are home to such towns as Castelfiorentino with its two cycles of frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli and which is also crossed by the Via Francigena, an ancient road recently rediscovered by pilgrims, walkers and cyclists alike. The towns of Capraia and Montaione, close to the Sacred Mount of San Vivaldo, never fail to charm the visitor with their unique personality.

In addition to its magnificent countryside, however, this part of Tuscany is equally famous for the quality of its artisans and craftsmen. Montelupo Fiorentino has been a centre of the ceramic trade for centuries,  while Empoli is still renowned today for its green glass.

The area is also renowned for its wine and food: the olive oil and wines of the Chianti region, the red onions of Certaldo, the bread of Montaione and the pecorino cheese of Lucardo capture the very essence of the aromas and flavours that have made Tuscany famous.

Montespertoli is home to many of these aspects with its artisans and craftsmen, its producers of Chianti, its Museo della Vite e del Vino and its Museo di Arte Sacra representing a concentration of the Valdelsa and its treasures.