The climb to Mount San Michele in Chianti

This itinerary allows you to admire all the beauty of Mount San Michele, the highest mountain in Chianti, at 2890 miles or 881 meters in height. The loop route is only 21.7 miles (35 kilometers) long but requires good preparation precisely because of the considerable elevation gain, even if the gradients never exceed 10 percent. A route suitable for those who like a good challenge and a good climb!

The route starts in Greve in Chianti, the heart of the Chianti region, 

passing through vineyards and forest, uphill the entire way. Along the way, encounter the Cross on Mount Domini, which survived the destruction of the Church of San Salvatore during World War II and now stands tall over the Chianti and Valdarno valleys. Not far away is the summit of Mount San Michele.
If you are bit tired or simply want to fully enjoy the beauty of this mountain, you may decide to stay overnight at Villa San Michele, a facility that even has an Osteria.

The return trip is all downhill and allows you to stop in at the villages of Volpaia, Pieve Aldina and Castelvecchi, where the dirt road gives way to asphalt then to the pretty dirt road of Casalbosco. Once you reach Panzano, continue on the dirt road that runs along the SR222—also known as the Chiantigiana or Chianti Wine road—until you reach Greve in Chianti once more.