Chianti, Tuscany

This is Greve in Chianti, Tuscany.  It is where the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" was filmed.  A gorgeous quaint little town in the Tuscan hills.  We spent 7 days in Tuscany, and unbelievably it is only a 40 minute drive from the main city of Florence.
We took the scenic route as opposed to the main highway which took much longer as the roads were very windy and you could only drive about 50 km/hr.  There was an endless parade of motorbikes wizzing by you taking the bends at a ferocious pace.  It was well worth the drive the views were absolutely amazing and just how I had pictured Tuscany in my mind with the green hills stretching for miles dotted with red and dusty pink villas.  I was disappointed not to see the fields full of sunflowers, it was not the correct time of year but a good reason to have to go back!



Greve had the most wonderful fresh produce.  My husband was in heaven with the butchers gourmet meats and the small goods, he even got carried away and bought salami worth 34 euro until the butcher laughed at him and realised his mistake and took some off the pile, thankfully!
There was an amazing bakery that made fresh bread and the most amazing pies yummo!

The shops are so cute selling little bits and pieces to the tourists.  Be warned between 2 and 5 it is like a ghost town, all the shops shut down for their afternoon siesta.  I love that way of life daily nana naps, bliss.










The pottery was also fabulous, I bought some of the fiery red pieces with aqua blue highlights, they are so unique made by a local potter that lives in the Greve area.





Greve is a fantastic place to base yourself while you explore the entire Tuscany area.  A car is a must but be prepared to move over to the side of the road when about 30 mad cyclists all come speeding down the hill with cars in front tooting their horn and flashing their lights yelling at you to pull over and let the cyclists pass.  These hills are seriously steep there are so many cyclists old and young, some in groups, some alone, seemingly in the middle of nowhere heading for the next town.  God only knows how long it would take them to get there if you ask me they are crazy!!!!  I would much rather be having a long lunch eating pasta washed down with a good glass of red gazing back at the amazing views, but that's just me!