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Villa I Barronci:
Chianti Country Resort. Ammenities: Pool, sauna, jacuzzi, spa. Buffet breakfast and restaurant. Fattoria Le Mandrie |
Accommodation in ChiantiHotels, B&Bs, farmhouses, cottages in Chianti, near Florence, Siena, Volterra and Sam Gimignano... with pool, spa, jacuzzi and typical restaurants |
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Art, Renaissance, Leonardo, Michelangelo, the Grand Tour, historic cities, spa’s, ideallic seas, picturesque countrysides, farmhouses, food, wine, and festivals. Talking about Tuscany analogies are endless, as are the reasons for a trip. This is why Tuscany ranks first among the most visited destinations in Italy. Tourist attractions are plentiful, the quality of service and hospitality is above the national average, and the transportation is easy and convenient, allowing you to leaving your car at home. |
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Visit the city which tourists flock to from all around the world but dont forget to visit the small towns where there is a genuine and charming atmosphere. Go on nature walks or take a stroll by the sea, enjoy the local traditional recipes in the small restaurants. Before returing home make sure you take advantage of the world class local produce such as cheeses, wines, and anti pasto. Don't forget to check out the high craftsmanship on offer also. Each province has its own uniqueness... Let yourself be inspired! |
Chianti Country Resort. Pool, sauna, jacuzzi spa. Near Florence.
Web site: www.villaibarronci.com Where: San Casciano Val Di Pesa, Chianti, close to Florence. Prices: continue reading...
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Where to stay in Tuscany What to see in Chianti and Tuscany |
Bed & Breakfast in Chianti and Vacation Holidays. Near Florence.
Website: www.lemandrie.it Where: Baccaiano, Montespertoli, Chianti, near Florence. Prices: continue reading....
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Where to stay in Tuscany What to see in Chianti and Tuscany |
Accommodation in Tuscany: Hotels, B&Bs, farmhouses, cottages in Chianti, near Florence, Siena, Volterra and Sam Gimignano... with pool, spa, jacuzzi and typical restaurants. |
Where to stay in Tuscany
The accommodation in Chianti is usually excellent and in all price ranges. There are several options, types and features: historic homes, country homes, farmhouses, as well as traditional hotels. From the cheapest to the top of the range luxury solutions there is somthing for everyone. If you enjoy the outdoors camping could be good for you, especially along the coast, bed and breakfasts in the cities and in the small townsare nice and cosy. The best option is to choose your accommodation outside the major centers where, for the same price, the service is better and the staff more available. The inconvenience of having to use public transport or a car to reach the accomodation is more than compensated for by a more relaxed atmosphere. The areas of highest density accommodations are Chianti and Maremma, where you can find signs of cottages and relais every few hundred meters. Farmhouses in Chianti. Farmhouses in Tuscany are usually family run businesses with single beds, small or large furnished apartments, usually with restaurants serving local dishes prepared with produce from local farms. Many also offer b&b and half board solutions. The style of most accomodation is cottages with swimming pool facilities. Some, the more modern ones, are also offering services such as spas, massages, jacuzzi, sauna and spa treatments. Others, more rural, also have riding lessons and trekking tours on the side. The farmhouses in Tuscany, in terms of price, quality and hospitality, are definitely the most popular form of accommodation throughout the region. Historic Houses in Tuscany. The Tuscan countryside is dotted with castles, villas, and ancient monasteries, which have been restored with conservative techniques and transformed into charming (or top luxury) hotels. Give yourself at least one night in one of these historic accomodations: although prices are generally higher, you can find somthing really nice without spending a fortune. Cottages in Chianti. These are a type of accommodation that can have a small farm production, usually wine or oil, and services like, bicycles to rent, horse riding and other rural activities: most have a true country house atmosphere, while some are more modern and offer amenities such as pool, spas and much more. Low budget accomodations. There are many cheap hotels in Tuscany. You would expect that the cities of art, sea resorts during the summer, and village areas most visited by tourists from all over the world would be the most expensive which is generally true but they also offer cheap accommodation. The cheapest solutions are hostels (backpackers) although they are not as common or as organized as they usually are in other countries. Hostels in Tuscany are only based in the major cities, usually in outlying suburbs, sometimes the quality of service is not the best but its deffinately acceptable. Low budget travelers can also choose camping in order to save money: often, especially along the coast, reservations are not required, services are good quality and organization is almost always environmentally friendly. |
Villa I Barronci:
Chianti Country Resort. Ammenities: Pool, sauna, jacuzzi, spa. Buffet breakfast and restaurant. Fattoria Le Mandrie Where to stay in Tuscany What to see in Chianti and Tuscany |
Touristic wine route in the heart of Chianti, for those who love travel by bike. A trip to discover the tuscan red wine and typical cuisine of Tuscany, the beautiful medieval towns and natural landscapes. |
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What to see in Chianti and Tuscany: wine tour, castles and vineyards Wine tour in Chianti: Impruneta, Greve in Chianti, Panzano in Chianti,
The trip gets started in Impruneta, a little town very close to Florence, where you can visit the "Basilica di Santa Maria dell’Impruneta" (Sanctuary of Santa Maria), consecrated in 1060 and enlarged in the 14th century. Partly destroyed in the Second World War, it's been rebuilt in perfect Renaissance style. Setting out from Impruneta we take the “Chianti Classico” Route, that meanders through gently rolling hills and gives us incomparable views of the landscape. We are in the heart of Chianti Classico, country of the Chianti Wine and rich in history and traditions. After a few km we arrive in Greve in Chianti, a charming medieval town: in the old heart of the city there is the market place with many items of interest. Saturdays is a not to miss, “the Mercatale di Greve”, one of the most famous markets of the region. In the same area (approximately 18 km) is the beautiful “Castello di Verrazzano” (Castle of Verrazzano), located in a dominant position on top of the hill above the vineyards that stretch for 42 hectares. In the historic cellars it's possible - only with reservation - to taste the precious, traditional wines produced in the area. After the tasting, we will journey on towards Panzano in Chianti, located at 500 meters altitude, famous for its special geographical conditions that make the local wines so delicious. Our journey continues to Radda in Chianti, town of Etruscan origins. In the medieval age (in which the town got its architectural and urban plan), Radda in Chianti was part of the Chianti League (League of Chianti) which, for a while, was in charge. Hence derived emblem of the Rooster Black, which is symbol of the best Chianti wine. The village is surrounded by woods and vineyards. To visit the Old Town is definitely time well spent: in the center of town is the Palazzo del Podestą (Palace of the Podestą), built around the year 1400, whose facade is adorned with badges, and the Church of St. Nicholas. Noteworthy is the Franciscan Monastery of St. Maria in Prato, located near the town. Also not to be missed is the Montevertine Farm, where one can breathe the history of this world famous wine. Through a road with a magnificent landscape, enriched with sunflower fields we arrive in Gaiole in Chianti, also part of the League of Chianti and known since antiquity for its markets. Beautiful fifteenth century fortifications: the Castle of Meleto and the Castles of Brolio, which offers a unique view of the “Chianti Classico”. Just a few kilometers away we find Castelnuovo Bardenga, medieval town surrounded by the green Tuscan countryside, with a castle and a museum of the landscape. | Villa I Barronci:
Chianti Country Resort. Ammenities: Pool, sauna, jacuzzi, spa. Buffet breakfast and restaurant. Fattoria Le Mandrie Where to stay in Tuscany What to see in Chianti and Tuscany |
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Volterra, in the heart of Tuscany: typical Tuscan handicraft If you want to visit a more unusual part of the Tuscany, then maybe you'll be interested to discover Volterra and the surrounding territories, between medieval architectures and huge chasms, in an area sometimes harsh but infinitely fascinating: the area of the metalliferous hills of the Sienese hills. This is one of the most beautiful areas of Tuscany, a few km from San Gimignano, Siena and Chianti Classico. When you approach Volterra, the village presents itself on the top of a hill of yellow clay rocks. The city is completely closed in thirteenth century walls, and is still a place full of art, and charm that can delight and inspire directors like Luchino Visconti who set his "Vaghe Stelle dell'Orsa" in 1965. Enter the village through the Selci door - one of the etruscan doors included in the walls surrounding the village - there is a street on the left that leads to the Parco Archeologico Enrico Fiumi (Archaeological Park Enrico Fiumi) (open hours: 8.30am - 8pm during summer, 8.30am - 5pm in winter): it is a magnificent public space filled with history and parkland just behind the walls. From the park it's possible to enter into the medieval heart of Volterra. On your left there is the ristorante del Duca (restaurant of the Duke) (Via del Castello 2, closed on Tuesdays), one of the most famous restaurants of the area where you can taste the traditional cuisine. Continuing you will enter into the majestic Piazza dei Priori, where every year in mid-August, takes place the historical re-enactments with flag bearers and musicians. I recommend you get to the church of San Giusto, with the typical straight and sober front, surrounded by a beautiful green lawn and rows of cypresses. It is also worth while to move further along the cliffs, the huge chasms carved by water has engulfed, over the centuries, the Etruscan necropolis and church. To get there, keep on going after San Giusto till you reach a dirt clearing (the directions are required). Park here and take the path that runs along the escarpment and allows you to get to what remains of the Etruscan walls, one of the wonders of Volterra. Near Volterra you can also visit the “Saline di Volterra”, where salt was extracted by exploiting the many pools of brine. Leaving Volterra take the southwest on SR68, direct to the heart of the Metalliferous Hills. Just before entering in Saline, the Quad Green Tour offers the opportunity to explore the area in a differnt and funny way. What to visit in Volterra. Among the many things to visit in Volterra it is certainly worth while checking out the Etruscan Museum Guarnacci Mario, famous for the extensive collection of Etruscan urns (over 600 pieces): among them the “Urn of the Spouses” from the first century BC and the Shadow of the Night, so named by the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio. Not far from the central square there is the Art Gallery (Pinacoteca) and the Museum in sixteenth-century palace Solaini, attributed to Antonio da Sangallo the Elder. Among the most interesting works: Cristo in Gloria (1492) by Ghirlandaio; Madonna con Bambino e Santi (1491) by Luca Signorelli; Deposizione dalla Croce (1521) by Rosso Fiorentino. The elegant “Piazza dei Priori” is dominated by the “Palazzo dei Priori” of 1208: this is the oldest municipal building of Tuscany and is architecturally similar to the “Palazzo Vecchio” in Florence. Across the square stands the Torre del Porcellino, of the thirteenth century. In Piazza San Giovanni, there is the Cathedral: its construction began in the thirteenth century and continued over the following two centuries. The front, adorned with a large rose window and a monumental portal, was attributed to Nicola Pisano. Inside you can find many valuable works: at the sides of the main altar there are two candlestick angels carved in 1471 by Mino da Fiesole. The tabernacle, by the same artist, is decorated with allegories of the theological virtues. The pulpit at the center of the nave, dates from 1584, but in its construction some relieves of the eleventh and twelfth century were used. In the second chapel of the right transept there is the polychrome wooden group of the 1128 with the Deposizione. On the bottom left of the niche we find the “Cavalcata dei Re Magi” by Benozzo Gozzol. Opposite the cathedral, is the fourteenth-century baptistry that has an octagonal dome attributed to Brunelleschi. Inside there is the “baptismal font” by Sansovino. In the north part there are the remains (excavatedin the early fifties), of a Roman Theatre, dating back to the first century BC - first century A.D Historical notes on Volterra. Volterra, surrounded by 7 km of walls dating back to the fourth century BC was one of the most important Etruscan town, whose power was derived from the mining of alum, iron, copper and silver, and minerals and exportation throughout the Mediterranean. Later Volterra became a Roman municipium and an important bishop's residence. In 1193 Volterra became free but lost its independence again in 1472, because of the occupation of Florence. Volterra gained its splendor in the late eighteenth century, because of its efforts to support production activities promoted by the Grand Duchy of Lorraine. | Villa I Barronci:
Chianti Country Resort. Ammenities: Pool, sauna, jacuzzi, spa. Buffet breakfast and restaurant. Fattoria Le Mandrie Where to stay in Tuscany What to see in Chianti and Tuscany |
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What to see in San Gimignano (near Siena) and where to sleep One of the most characteristic and charming medieval towns in Tuscany: San Gimignano, a UNESCO heritage, is a country which has remained almost intact since the end of the fourteenth century til today, as can be seen from the paintings of that period (such as the “table of Taddeo Bartolo” at the Museum of San Gimignano). For the beauty of the architecture, the charm of the village atmosphere, for the extraordinary landscapes of the surrounding countryside and the wines produced here. San Gimignano is one of the most visited places in Tuscany, not only by foreigners or other Italian’s but also from the Tuscan people, who love to come here for holidays. San Gimignano has two virtues in particular when the country shows its charm: when the sun sets,where you can truely appreciate a beautiful landscape, and in the mornings, as the medieval buildings of the period (especially the religious buildings) have been designed to maximise morning sun light intake. I recommend parking in Piazzale Dei Martiri di Montemaggio (here the link to the map of San Gimignano), near Porta San Giovanni. After that walk across to enter the village: after 200 meters you will be in the center, at the confluence of three squares, “Piazza delle Erbe”, “Piazza del Duomo” and “Piazza della Cisterna” surrounded by famous medieval tower houses. For a really wonderful landscape I suggest a trip to the fortress of Montestaffoli, in via Quercecchio. With regard to wine tasting, my suggestion is not to enter the first place you find, shop around abit first: an absolute not to miss is the Museum of Vernaccia: a real taste experience, and also a great knowledge of typical(local?) wines. There approach is educational, but also charming, complete with a cozy wine bar. Other notable places are “La Pizzicheria di Mauro e Marina” (closed Tuesdays), the “Enoteca Gustavo” (closed Tuesdays) and several awarded “Gelateria di Piazza”, whose tastes vary depending on the season. With regard to purchases in San Gimignano you will find the beautiful and the horrible. I mean: there is so much local crafts, true and authentic, but also many junk shops. But if you are careful you wont find it difficult to distinguish the good from bad. If you are in San Gimignano on Thursday morning, I advise you to jump to the market (in the center of San Gimignano). For dinner i gladly recommend the “Osteria Del Carcere” (closed Wednesday and Thursday at lunch), that you can reach from Piazza della Cisterna: it offers affordable, excellent and hearty dishes of the typcal cuisine of Siena. Attractions in San Gimignano: tower houses, the Civic Museum and Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art. The “tower houses” are one of the distinguishing features of this village. Out of the seventy that used to exist from the Middle Ages, only 13 remian: because of these dwellings San Gimignano has retained its architectural charm of an enchanting past. The “tower houses” were not only an element of prestige (there was a competition in having ever higher tower houses) but also had far more practical reasons. The first is undoubtedly the defensive. The tower houses, connected by bridges, was a very safe way to switch from one tower to another of an ally without facing the road, often frequented by dangerous people or which could have unsettled accounts, such as family or power feuds. Another reason for their spread, it seems it was connected to the textile industry. In these environments, in fact, saffron based colouring were used. To firmly attach the color you had to keep the fabrics protected from dust and sun: having no space suitable for hanging fabric, higher and higher houses were built. Porta San Giovanni. If you followed my suggestion this is the door that you entered. This door is note worthy. The door was opened in 1262, in the walls and faces the street that marks the beginning of the urban section of Via Francigena (the way that leads to Rome from canteburry): a journey of history, a highway that was in the past covered by thousands of pilgrims traveling to Rome). As you will see, it is flanked by “tower houses”, churches, stores and homes. ‘Piazza della Cisterna’. By triangular plant owes its name, evidently, by the medieval cistern of 1287 placed at its center. The square is framed by the tower-houses and buildings whose charm has remained almost unchanged over time. I refer specifically to “Casa Salvestrini”, to “Palazzo Tortoli” and “Palazzo dei Cortesi”. Among the things to see there's without any doubt is the Church of St. Augustine. Near Porta San Matteo, it is in Romanesque-Gothic style: inside is housed a masterpiece of Piero Pollaiuolo (Incoronazione della Vergine, on the main altar); another wonder is the cycle of frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli about the Life of Saint Augustine, who decorates the walls of the choir. Finally, near the entrance, is a marble altar by Benedetto da Majano decorates the chapel of San Bartolo. Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), Pinacoteca (Art Gallery) and Torre Grossa. Built and expanded between 1288 and 1323, the Town Hall is another masterpiece of late medieval architecture. The palace is surmounted by a tower (Torre Grossa, in fact), 54 meters high: you can visit it via the Museum. He is imposing and rough in appearance, function unequivocal military, amazes with the aura of strength. Symbol of civic and secular power, it dominates the town and surrounding countryside. Through a staircase which runs along the outside of the building you come to the Museum (where Dante stayed for a while): inside is “Maestą” by Lippo Memmi, “the Crocifisso” by Coppo di Marcovaldo, “the Annunciazione” by Filippino Lippi, as well as one of the last works by Pintoricchio. These works from Tuscany and central Italy, done in the late medieval and renaissance period are greatly valued. Piazza del Duomo. The beautiful collegiate church of Santa Maria Assunta, built in the twelfth century, is characterized by a staircase and a bare facade on the outside, and three aisles inside. In it are preserved a number of masterpieces, such as the “Martyrdom of St. Sebastian” by Benozzo Gozzoli, the wooden statues by Jacopo della Quercia, the frescoes by Lippo and Federico Memmi (Stories from the New Testament) and scenes from the Old Testament by Bartolo di Fredi. The Chapel of Santa Fina, finally, is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture by Giuliano and Benedetto da Maiano. In the side panel you will find frescoes by Domenico Ghirlandaio: they will tell the story of the saint. St. Gregory announces Santa Fina’s release in death, imparting the Holy Unction. The little mouse under the bench commemorates the martyrdom of Fina, sentenced to be devoured by rats and worms. Martyrdom and its cruelty is represented here by the painter in a symbolic manner, preferring rather than a detailed representation of the morbid death instead focusing on the holy and spiritual side of martydom with the mouse underneath the table representing the manner of death. Spezieria of Santa Fina, Archaeological Museum, Modern and Contemporary Art galleries. All of these cultural sites are preserved in the former Conservatory of Santa Chiara, a hospital-established immediately after the death of the Holy (1253). It is located in Via Folgore (opening hours 11am 5.30pm. Closed: January 31). Specifically, when visiting the complex, you can see: The Spezieria of Santa Fina, which has a collection of Renaissance ceramic containers brought from the homonym hospital, the Archeological Museum, which displays Etruscan, Roman and medieval (especially glass and ceramics) artifacts, the Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, curated by renowned art critic Enrico Crispolti which exhibits, among others, works by Guttuso. |
Villa I Barronci:
Chianti Country Resort. Ammenities: Pool, sauna, jacuzzi, spa. Buffet breakfast and restaurant. Fattoria Le Mandrie Where to stay in Tuscany What to see in Chianti and Tuscany |
Related: Chianti Country Resort: pool, sauna, jacuzzi spa near Florence
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