View of the Osservatorio Polifunzionale del Chianti (Chianti Observatory)
Where Science Meets the Beauty of Chianti
The 8th Chianti Topics International Focus Workshop on Habitability will take place at the Osservatorio Polifunzionale del Chianti (OPC), a truly unique location in the heart of the world-renowned Chianti region of Tuscany, not far from San Donato in Poggio village.
Surrounded by rolling vineyards, ancient olive groves, and picturesque medieval villages, Chianti is a place where natural beauty and cultural heritage come together. Famous for its exquisite wines, rich history, and warm hospitality, this region provides an inspiring and tranquil setting for scientific exploration and collaboration.
The observatory itself is a state-of-the-art facility perched in the hills, offering breathtaking panoramic views and a serene environment conducive to focused discussions and creative thinking. This blend of cutting-edge science and the timeless charm of Chianti creates the perfect backdrop for engaging conversations and new discoveries.
Attending the workshop in Chianti is more than just a professional opportunity—it’s a chance to immerse yourself in one of Italy’s most iconic regions. From enjoying the local cuisine to experiencing the allure of Tuscan sunsets, every moment here is designed to inspire.
Join us and discover how the magic of Chianti can spark not only your imagination but also exciting collaborations in the exploration of habitable worlds.
Parco Botanico del Chianti (Chianti Botanic Park) Along the main street in San Donato in Poggio
San Donato in Poggio is a small medieval village at the top of a hill about halfway between Florence and Siena. This is Chianti landscape and the roads taking you to San Donato and then on to Greve or to Castellina in Chianti are some of the most beautiful in Chianti, with the rows and rows of vineyards as far as the eye can see mixed in with olive tree orchards, small woods, hamlets, farmhouses and wineries.
The small town of San Donato would be the perfect location in Chianti in which to enjoy a calm and peaceful time benefitting from its medieval heritage. The heart of the town is still surrounded by the defensive walls built in the 12th century and along the western edge a watch tower still stands. The northwestern entrance is called “Porta Fiorentina” (since it leads toward Florence), opening on the main street, Via del Giglio, that has intersected the town since the 12th century. The main square is dominated by Palazzo Malaspina and right next to it is the Gothic church Santa Maria della Neve with its side facing the square. In the center, the octagonal well. On the other side, the Palazzo Pretorio has not conserved its medieval look being less imposing than the facing Palazzo Malaspina.
You can get information at http://chiantitopics.it/location
HOW TO REACH THE OPC
The OPC is located on top the Montecorboli hill, 1.5 km after the town of San Donato in Poggio along the way to Castellina in Chianti.
The address is Osservatorio Polifunzionale del Chianti, S.P. 101 to Castellina in Chianti 9,250 km. GPS Coordinates: 43.523099, 11.244836.
By car
From the Firenze city center you have to go South to Certosa-Galluzzo and then to the Firenze-Siena motorway.
From the Siena city center you have to take the Tangenziale Ovest north-bound and then the Firenze-Siena motorway.
From the A1 highway you have to exit at Firenze Impruneta and then to take the Firenze-Siena motorway.
The fifth exit of the motorway from Florence and the seventh from Siena is “San Donato” from where you can arrive to the OPC after about 5 km in the direction of Castellina in Chianti.
By train
If you are traveling from Rome, Bologna, Milan or Pisa, get off at Firenze S.Maria Novella railway station. Then, Tavarnelle Val di Pesa and San Donato in Poggio may be reached by bus. From those villages a courtesy shuttle bus will be available to get to the Observatory.
By plane
“Useful” airports to get to Firenze are: Firenze A. Vespucci, Pisa G. Galilei, Bologna G. Marconi, Roma Fiumicino and Milano Malpensa.
- From Firenze airport you may catch a taxi (20 min.) or a shuttle bus (“Vola in bus”) to the Firenze S. Maria Novella railway station.
- From Pisa airport, bus connections (“Terravision” or “Autostradale”) will bring you to the Firenze S. Maria Novella railway station in about one hour.
- From Bologna airport you can get a shuttle bus to the Bologna Centrale railway station from where you’ll get to Firenze S. Maria Novella in about half an hour.
- From Roma Fiumicino airport the fast train connection “Leonardo Express” brings you to “Roma Termini” railway station in 40 minutes. There, the “FrecciaRossa” fast train brings you to Firenze S. Maria Novella in about 90 minutes.
- From Milano-Malpensa airport you can take a shuttle train bringing you to the “Porta Garibaldi” railway station in Milano. Unfortunately no connections to Firenze are available at this station; you must reach the “Milano Centrale” station by undergrund (a few minutes) from where you can take a “FrecciaRossa” fast train to Firenze (about 90 minutes)
Shuttle bus
A courtesy shuttle bus will be available to participants daily for transfers from hotels to the Observatory in the morning and back at the end of the day. The shuttle will leave from Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, will pass nearby San Donato in Poggio and will arrive at the Observatory after four stops: Tavarnelle center – Pieve di San Donato in Poggio – Coop parking in San Donato in Poggio – Observatory. The return is expected to Tavarnelle following the same route. You can find HERE the timetable.