On this tour aboard our Lancia Lambda 1928 we will discover an eternal place characterized by a profound spirituality, the Vallombrosan abbey of Badia a Passignano. The itinerary begins in the historic center of Florence and then makes a stop at Piazzale Michelangelo, a panoramic point from which to admire Florence from above. The journey continues towards the land of classic Chianti, it is here that some of the most renowned wines of the Tuscan territory are produced. This area was nominated as an excellent production area for Chianti wine for the first time in 1716 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III, constituting the first DOG of wine production. Chianti welcomes us with its green hills dotted with kilometers of vineyards and olive groves, chestnut and oak woods, small medieval villages, ancient parish churches, fortresses and farmhouses.
The term Badia means Abbey and here indicates the presence of the Vallombrosan Benedictine community since the 11th century when the founder Giovanni Gualberto lived and died. Accompanied by a member of the Vallombrosan community who still resides here, we will discover the premises of the abbey which since the 15th century has seen some of the most important artists of the Renaissance at work such as Domenico Ghirlandaio, Michelangelo’s teacher; Alessandro Allori and Domenico Cresti known as “Il Passignano” precisely because this land was where he was born. We will visit the ancient refectory where Ghirlandaio painted a splendid Last Supper together with his brother Davide, the first of a series that will then see him working in the Florentine territory.
The abbey is characterized by many rooms ranging from the church to the cloisters to the loggia on the first floor entirely decorated with a series of frescoed lunettes with the Life of Saint Benedict. Once the visit to the Abbey is over, it will be time for an aperitif before lunch in a historic restaurant in Passignano characterized by a rich cellar where you will find a wide selection of the best local wines. At the end of lunch a private driver will be available to accompany you to Florence.