Pievasciata – Art, Church and Wine in Chianti

Pievasciata offers you three different ways to experience Tuscany: contemporary art in the open air, a parish church with an architectural history spanning from the 8th to the 18th century, and wine and culinary experiences at Vallepicciola.

Art among the woods and roads of Pievasciata

The Parco Sculture del Chianti near Pievasciata is an open-air museum of contemporary art in a seven-hectare wooded area. The permanent exhibition combines art and nature: installations and sculptures are not confined to an enclosed exhibition space but are integrated into the woodland landscape. Pievasciata B.A.C. offers another special feature. Twelve works of art and large-scale sculptures are located in Pievasciata and along the surrounding roads as part of this project. This means you encounter contemporary works both in the sculpture park and in the village and roadside areas. For orientation in the Parco Sculture del Chianti, the circular trail provides a clear reference point: it is approximately 1.5 kilometres long and includes gradients of up to 20 percent in places. The circular trail can be used with suitable pushchairs and wheelchairs.

The Pieve di San Giovanni Battista

Alongside the contemporary art, Pievasciata is home to a much older history. The Pieve di San Giovanni Battista is one of the oldest parish churches in Chianti; the first records of it date from 1086. Its fabric includes early medieval masonry from the 8th to the 11th century, a bell tower from the 13th century and significant interior alterations dating from 1748. Its military history can also be read in the building itself. After 1229, the pieve was converted into a fortified complex. Among the surviving features are a second tower, a defensive tower and a curtain wall that still encloses a courtyard today. If, in Pievasciata, you want to trace not only art but also the development of a historic ecclesiastical building, the pieve offers several clearly distinguishable layers of history.

Wine and regional tastings at Vallepicciola

At Vallepicciola on the Strada Provinciale 9 di Pievasciata, three documented experiences differ in their format. The Wine Safari Experience takes you by jeep through the vineyards and to the winery. It then includes a tasting of five characteristic wines with local cured meats and cheese. The Truffle Hunting Experience combines a guided truffle hunt with a tasting of three wines and local dishes. The Grand Cru Experience, by contrast, focuses on a walk through the vineyards, a winery visit, four Cru wines and a chef’s platter. For your selection, therefore, it is not only the subject of wine that matters, but also the format of the experience: a jeep tour, a guided truffle hunt or a walk with a Cru tasting.

Other places for orientation

For further options, you can also look at San Gusmè (San Gusmè), Casetta (Casetta), Villa A Sesta (Villa A Sesta), Guistrigona (Guistrigona), Monteaperti (Monteaperti), Pianella (Pianella), Quercegrossa (Quercegrossa) and San Felice (San Felice).

For the broader travel overview: Castelnuovo Berardenga.