The variant of the permanent route continues towards Panzano, taking the gravel road to Volpaia, another legendary stop on L’Eroica, especially known for its pots of ribollita and the sight of hundreds of bikes resting after the long climb. At the top, a refreshing break awaits cyclists at Poggio delle Stanche. In the Greve in Chianti area, the imposing Verrazzano Castle stands tall, its walls recounting the story of the navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano, discoverer of much of the East Coast of the United States, including New York Bay. In a time when major communication routes led to the Via Volterrana and Via Francigena, this town was a crossroads for trade routes, giving rise to Greve’s market, now known as Piazza del Mercato, located in the heart of a densely populated area. This region was already rich with rural churches and castles, dotted with feudal villages.
Points of interest: Verrazzano Castle, Montefioralle Castle.
