Gaiole is a small village in the Province of Siena with approximately 2,300 residents, where everyone knows each other. It is a beautiful and somewhat hidden community just beyond the tourist routes. For centuries, Gaiole has been on the border area of Siena and Florence, and has witnessed many battles. As a result, it was often the target of skirmishes until the fall of Siena in 1555.
What is the exact reason that Forbes places Gaiole in the number one position? According to Gay Gillen of travel consultancy Brownell, “Chianti has everything in terms of mountains, vineyards, wineries, and walking tours. There is also the opportunity for horse-riding, hiking or tennis, and the food is delicious.” Apart from the fact that the countryside is beautiful, and that a tranquil, rural lifestyle prevails, it also differs greatly from other villages. The standard of living is high in terms of personal safety and security, life is slower and it is located close to the cities of Siena and Firenze, and everyone is friends with each other. The village has managed to avoid being influenced by mass tourism.
Gaiole is situated a 300 m walk from the Borgo and, as such, is perfectly located right in the centre. In the town centre, you will find various restaurants, a fantastic pizzeria (in our opinion, the best where we have ever eaten), small bars, a chemist, an ATM, greengrocer's, some clothes shops etc. In the town centre there are also some small shops for food, along with a small supermarket (COOP) where all necessary daily items can be purchased.
Both in summer and in winter, it is interesting to visit Gaiole in Chianti, because it does not depend on mass tourism.
Surroundings
Gaiole in Chianti is centrally located between Firenze (1 hour) and Siena (30 mins). Within a radius of 20-50 km surrounding the holiday home, there are many interesting attractions worth a visit, too many to discuss on this website. That is why you will find a very comprehensive information folder in our holiday home, with a description of the interesting sites to visit, based specifically on our own experiences.