Breeds of Val di Chiana
A broad Tuscan valley that gave its name to the Chianina, the tallest cattle breed in the world.
Breeds of this place
Best time: May to October.
The Val di Chiana is a wide, flat valley in eastern Tuscany, once marsh and drained over centuries into rich farmland. Its cattle, the Chianina, are white, long-legged and enormous: bulls can stand close to two metres at the shoulder. Roman writers praised the white cattle of central Italy, and Chianina oxen pulled ploughs and carts here until well into the twentieth century.
The Chianina
Chianina cattle are porcelain-white with black skin, black switches and short horns. Calves are born fawn and turn white within months. Bred first for draught, they became beef cattle when tractors replaced oxen. Beef from Chianina and two other central Italian white breeds, the Marchigiana and the Romagnola, carries a protected geographical indication, and the breed is linked with the thick Florentine steak.
Hill towns above the valley
Cortona and Montepulciano look down over the valley from their hills. Farms on the valley floor raise cattle, grain and sunflowers. Local fairs and shows in summer bring Chianina cattle to be judged, and many restaurants in the area serve beef from local herds.
A trail idea for Val di Chiana
- Cortona The hill town above the valley, with views across the farmland.
- Montepulciano Another hill town on the valley's western edge.
- Valley farms White Chianina cattle in the fields and barns of the valley floor.
Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Valdichiana" on Wikipedia. Fair dates, markets and visiting rules change; check locally before travelling, and keep a respectful distance from working animals. If something is wrong, tell us.
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