Rufina: wine takes centre stage

All around Florence! In the Sieve Valley, a few kilometres from Florence, lies Rufina, a village nestled in a gentle, rolling landscape that stretches towards the Apennines and has been renowned for wine-growing for centuries.

Wine takes the stage

Around the town, the large estates with their renowned wineries bear witness to the deep connection between the Florentine nobility and the management of the surrounding countryside. Wine-growing here dates back to ancient times; the wines from these lands were already highly renowned even before the Grand Ducal era. Today, ‘Rùfina’ is a sub-zone within the Chianti production area, situated along the valley of the River Sieve and bordered by these hills. 
Strolling through the countryside, one comes across Romanesque parish churches, Renaissance villas, castles, ancient farmhouses and small hamlets, bearing witness to the deep connection between history, nature and human labour. Villa Poggio Reale, situated on a hill overlooking the town, with its Museum of the Vine and Wine, is a fine example of Tuscan rural architecture.

Rufina’s most important village festival, the Bacco Artigiano, also centres on wine production. It takes place at the end of September and is symbolised by the ‘Carro matto’, a cart literally covered in straw-covered wine flasks: it is taken to Florence to present the city with Rufina’s wine.
 

Hiking and walking routes to Rufina

The waterways that follow the Rufina stream, a tributary of the Sieve; the footpaths towards Pomino and the Consuma; and a section of the Renaissance Ring Road: this area is a real gem for those who love to explore at the leisurely pace of walking or cycling.. See the map of the hiking trails.

How to reach Rufina

The town is easily reached by train from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station.

Download the All Around Florence Brochure

To learn more about the history and attractions of the area surrounding Florence, download the brochure available on the official tourism website of the Municipality of Florence and the Metropolitan City of Florence. Click here to download the brochure.