An Idyllic Tuscan Village, Chianni
- CMH2626
- Jun 12, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 9, 2024
Maybe I’m bias because I own a home here, but Chianni is a true Tuscan gem and this writer’s favorite Pisan Hills town. A town where locals and expats come together to embrace the meaning of Italian living, culture, food and wine. Anchored by it’s town bar and cafe, Bar Centrale, everyone congregates here, practically all day long, to converse over a spritz or glass of wine.
Chianni is located at the top of one of the Pisan Hills overlooking the valley and the rolling hills dotted with vineyards. Practically every street has a beautiful view, even the parking lots. The town is growing significantly due to the large number of expats that have been buying property there. But in its own right, the locals have made it so that everyone feels welcome and are a part of their community, their family.Â
And what’s not to love! Let’s start with all the family owned restaurants serving the local cuisine made with love and passion. The tiny shops and markets, that are owned by local residents, with curated items that you can only find here. There are also a few pasta shops where you can find fresh, hand made pasta both packaged and ready to cook. A wine and olive oil shop where you can pop in for a tasting and accompany it with local area cuts of meats and cheese.
And while all that is amazing in it of itself, it’s walking around this town where it’s true beauty comes out. The piazza where you can find the main church is both quiet and lively at the same time. In the summer, you can find children playing soccer, various events taking place and if you turn the corner you will stumble upon the town lookout. The view from here is not only breathtaking, but you will also find markers that help you identify the neighboring towns to view in the distance. Walking down from here, you will also find a shop called Chianni EBike where you can rent an e-bike for a guided or self guided tour of the area or if you fancy an exhilarating bike ride through the beautiful hills.
Touching back on some of the events that take place in Chianni, a festival that is unmissable is the Cinghiale (wild boar) Festival that takes place in November. Cinghiale is native to the Pisan Hills. It is what the local salami is made of and also used in many pasta recipes. The festival takes place over a few days and you can find live music, parades, outdoor markets and many more unique and fun activities.Â
While Chianni is definitely worth a visit during your stay in the Pisan Hills, there are also many vacation rentals as well as Le Vecchie Cantine, a family owned inn. It’s proximity to Pisa and Florence make it reachable from the airports, and a great base to explore the surrounding vineyards of Terricciola, neighboring villages like Peccioli and Lajatico and bigger towns like San Gimignano, Volterra and Siena to name a few.
