Bolgheri, the mediaeval village immortalised by poet Giosuè Carducci

Bolgheri stands on a slight rise at the top of the famous avenue of cypresses that starts at San Guido; the village is surrounded by woods abounding in typical Mediterranean vegetation and by a well-farmed plain. It is linked to Castagneto, of which it administratively forms part, via the "Via Bolgherese," a magnificent avenue that has now won fame as the "Wine Trail" on account of the top qualities grown there. Access to the mediaeval village is via the monumental arch of the castle.
Inside, small shops where the area’s traditional fare may still be found and the simple local specialities tasted open off the narrow streets and little squares that summon up the atmosphere of days gone by. Bolgheri was home, from 1838 to 1848, to Giosuè Carducci, whose poems helped spread the name of Bolgheri and its surroundings worldwide.

Castagneto Carducci, Where the Poet Lived

Sprawling across a hilltop, from which it dominates the surrounding countryside and the sea, this enchanting mediaeval town fans out around the Della Gherardesca castle, which was built around the year 1000.
The town has cobbled alleys, natural terraces looking out to sea and over the countryside, harmonious squares, ancient craft workshops and traditional trattorie. It retains major historical relics, including the Palazzo Pretorio, headquarters of the town council, and the churches of San Lorenzo and the Most Holy Crucifix (named after the 15th-century wooden crucifix that belongs to the church).
The town, which originally went by the name of Castagneto Marittimo, changed its name early in the 20th century in honour of the great poet, Giosuè Carducci, who spent part of his life there. The house where Carducci lived is home to a museum housing a wealth of memorabilia.