Rufina

In the rolling hills northeast of Florence, Rufina rests on the Chianti wine road. In fact, Chianti Rufina is well known and prized. The town is north of Pontassieve, a quiet place perched in the natural landscape of Tuscany, with cypress trees and stone farmhouses to add character to the scene.

Rufina was founded as a feudal estate, acting as a rural aristocratic residence under the Republic of Firenze. The Castello of Rufina still stands, a heavy square stone structure with a semicircular tower and an attached Romanesque chapel. It was once the centerpiece of the estate.

Outside town is the splendid Villa Busini, a Renaissance palace with fabulous formal gardens that are decorated with sculptures. It sits in a dominant position amongst olive groves, vineyards and woods, with lovely views. It is open every afternoon in the summer months. The castle estate of Falgano is worth seeing as well.

The area is punctuated with a network of hiking trails, making it a good place for outdoors enthusiasts. But the main highlight is the wine, as seen in the Vine and Wine Museum in town (Museo delle Vite e del Vino) and its position on the Strada del Vino (Wine Road), making it ideal for those who want to visit wineries and taste the fruit of the vine in Tuscany.