Radda in Chianti
From the top of the hill, the town Radda in Chianti dominates the centre of the region of Historic Chianti. The origins of Radda in Chianti are in 2000 b.C., as we can discover from the archeological ruins on Croce Mountain: an ancient Etruscan village. From the settlement of this people we can see only some traces in old cottages around the town.
Radda represents the medium point among the provinces of Siena, Florence and Arezzo and because of its important position, was the centre of several battles, especially between the cities of Florence and Siena. In the middle of the XIII century the Florentine government reorganized the administration and the defence of its territories and created the Chianti League, and Radda was chosen as the seat of one of the regions and became its capital. In the Palazzo Pretorio was the Podestà, the leader of the Leauge, and Francesco Ferrucci was one of the most important.
Radda is enclosed in city walls, a part of which is well preserved. In the centre there is the ancient Podestà Palace and the San Niccolò Church. The Podestà Palace has been recently renovated and its old prisons too. Just outside of the city walls you can find and ancient building made during the age of Granducato: The Ghiacciaia (ice house), built with cone shape and in the basement, used to collect snow and transform it into ice.
The most important churches of Radda in Chianti, apart from the main one San Niccolò, are the ancient convent Santa Maria in Prato, Santa Maria Novella parish and Commenda of Saint Eufrosino in Volpaia. In the central street of the town you can find several shops, wine-shops and restaurants. The landscape around Radda is done by vineyards and olive fields, which become really wonderful in the months of September and October, when the Chianti hills gets amazing colors.
