Mura di Radda in Chianti

Radda in Chianti grew within a medieval defensive circuit that still shapes the town. Porta Valdarnese and Porta Fiorentina mark the eastern and western approaches, while an eighteenth-century promenade follows the ridge above the rooftops.

Why it matters

Radda is documented from at least the ninth century, and an inventory for Emperor Otto III contains the earliest firm mention of its castle. Florence made Radda the base of the League of Chianti in 1384. The old gates and the town’s winding lanes retain traces of that fortified centre.

What to notice

Porta Valdarnese faces east towards the Arno valley and Porta Fiorentina west towards Florence. Traces of the medieval walls remain around the gates and in later buildings. A larger eighteenth-century circuit surrounds the old borgo; tree-lined avenues along it look over the vineyards and woodland. The walk links Piazza del Castello, a surviving stretch of medieval walkway and the Ghiacciaia Granducale.

Context and history

Radda’s fortifications reflect its position in the long contest between Florence and Siena. The castle predates the League of Chianti, whose administrative centre was established here in the late fourteenth century. The town suffered damage during conflicts between the two powers, and the medieval walls now survive in gates and fragments. In the eighteenth century, a wider circuit and shaded avenues reshaped the town’s edge.