Greve in Chianti added the words “in Chianti” in 1972 after becoming part of the subzone of Chianti Classico. It is an Italian city in the province of Florence in Tuscany with a population of 13,954 [3]. It is located on the via Chiantigiana, the road which connects Florence with Siena, passing through the striking Chianti countryside.
From Medieval times the history of Greve is linked to its main square, which has always served as a marketplace. The village was a simple dependent of the castle of Montefioralle but thanks to its position, the spot where the roads to the Valdarno, the Val di Greve and the road which led from Florence across the Chianti hills to Siena meet, it was able to become the main marketplace of the area. The square is in the shape of an elongated triangle and is surrounded for the most part by porticoes. In the center of the square is a statue of Giovanni da Verrazzano. One of the corners of the square is occupied by the parochial church dedicated to the Holy Cross (Santa Croce – 19th century.
From a historical-administrative point of view, before becoming part of the Province of Florence, Greve was part of the vicarage of San Giovanni Valdarno, even though it was on the border of the vicarage of Certaldo (of which the Province of Chianti belonged, currently all part of the Province of Siena).
Among the sites to visit in Greve in Chianti are the Castles of Uzzano, Canonica, Mugnana and Verrazzano, as well as the village of Montefioralle and S. Lucia a Barbiano with its castle which was a fortress during the city struggles between Florence and Siena. An excellent panorama can be seen from nearby Convertoie .