One of the best ways to enjoy your visit to Tuscany is to rent a self-catering farmhouse or villa in the Tuscan countryside. My recommended list of villas for rent in Chianti is given at the foot of this post. First a brief note on terminology. It’s now common practice for the larger Tuscany accommodation […]
Posts Tagged ‘Tuscany’
Villas for rent in Chianti – Chiantigiani vacation villa rentals
Badia a Coltibuono and its italianate garden
Badia a Coltibuono was one of the most important monastic foundations in Chianti. From the 11 C, Badia a Coltibuono was a Vallombrosan monastery that received large donations from the Firidolfi–Ricasoli family of Castello Brolio. The Vallombrosans were an order dedicated, among other things, to copying and preserving ancients texts, and Badia a Coltibuono became […]
Greve in Chianti – useful tips for visitors to Greve in Chianti
You’re currently reading the Greve in Chianti Tuscany blog but I thought I might summarise some of the more important information distributed throughout the Greve in Chianti website at www.greve-in-chianti.com. Greve in Chianti is the largest town in the Chianti Classico wine zone, an area that corresponds to the oval-shaped territory lying between Florence and […]
Looking for a good self-catering villa in Chianti, Tuscany
Now that the year end celebrations are long over, many of you who are planning a trip to Tuscany will no doubt be looking for a good self-catering villa in Chianti, Tuscany. Actually, you are probably looking for a vacation apartment in a farmhouse rather than a true villa (see my post on the difference […]
Tuscan villa vacation rental for 13 persons
Podere Felceto, located near Panzano in Chianti, halfway between Florence and Sienna, is a Tuscan villa vacation rental for 13 persons. This Tuscan villa was once a monastery and is now a spacious holiday home with a shady terrace and a beautiful salt water swimming pool. Podere Felceto possesses 57 acres of land with extensive […]
Tuscan rosé wine – Rosato di Toscana
One of the best kept secrets of the past 5-7 years has been the development of Tuscan rosé wine – Rosato di Toscana – in the Chianti Classico wine area of Tuscany, Italy. A few years back, it became evident that there was over-production of wine in the Chianti Classico zone as new vineyards, planted […]
Vacation accommodation for two people in Chianti
Today I want to introduce you to a beautiful vacation accommodation for two people in Chianti in the form of an exquisite half-house apartment located just outside the wall of the fortified village of Montefioralle. This picturesque village is situated 2.5 km from Greve in Chianti, halfway between Florence and Sienna. Casa Forese consists of […]
A Chianti Wine Tasting Tour
Among the most popular activities for visitors to Tuscany is taking a Chianti wine tasting tour. We will be reviewing a number of Chianti wine tour driver-guides, and the first of them is Angela Saltafuori, of TuscanyTourTime snc. Angela is a qualified sommelier as well as a licensed NCC driver who specialises in wine tours […]
Vacation villa in Tuscany: Villa Albertina near Montespertoli
Today we feature Villa Albertina, a luxury vacation villa situated in the Tuscan countryside near Montespertoli, Certaldo, Tavarnelle Val di Pesa and San Casciano Val di Pesa, 37 km from Florence on the border of the Chianti Classico wine zone of Tuscany. We offer 5 air conditioned bedrooms, all with a private bathroom, and can […]
What to see in Lamole in Chianti
High up above the Greve valley, we find the tiny village of Lamole in Chianti. The drive to Lamole from the via Chiantigiana (turnoff to the east between Greve and Panzano) is one of the most spectacular detours for those exploring the Chiantigiana and its environs. You drive through vineyards, past picturesque farmhouses and villas, […]
Cooking lessons in Tuscany
Food is definitely part of the “Tuscan experience” for most visitors to Tuscany. And what better way to take a part of that experience away with you than to enjoy some cooking lessons in Tuscany? Attending a cooking class or taking private cooking lessons means not only learning new aspects of Tuscan cookery but enjoying […]
Wine tasting in Chianti
For very many visitors to this part of Tuscany, wine tasting in Chianti will be one of the pleasures of their stay. The Chianti Classico wine zone forms a more or less oval area between Florence and Sienna packed with vineyards and wineries, many of which offer tastings of their own wines. These are marked […]
Getting around Tuscany
For the first time visitor to our region, sooner or later the question of how to get around Tuscany arises. Tuscany is about the size of New Jersey and has a good public transport network of trains and buses that allows visitors to get around the main centres and many of the minor ones with […]
What to see in Castellina in Chianti
As you follow the scenic via Chiantigiana from Greve in Chianti southwards, the road winds upwards from the Val di Greve towards Panzano from which it more or less follows the ridges until you arrive at the little town of Castellina in Chianti. The area around Castellina is very popular with visitors staying at agriturismi […]
What to see at Castello di Montefioralle
Tuscany and particularly Chianti are dotted with small fortified hamlets which are often huddled around the ruins of a castle keep. These picturesque villages reflect a thousand years of conflict over land that came to an end only with the hegemony of cities such as Florence over their smaller adversaries, in this case, Sienna. The […]
Owner-direct vacation rentals in Chianti
Our website offers owner-direct vacation rentals in Chianti. This means that to reserve your accommodations, you make contact directly with the accommodation owner via the web page or web site describing the vacation rental. Based on experience, we consider this to be the best way for visitors to Chianti to find the property most closely […]
What to see in Chianti, things to do in Tuscany
So you’re planning a vacation in Chianti, Italy? Great idea! Now your question is, “What to see in Chianti?” Here we provide a few hints on things to see and things to do in this beautiful and interesting part of Tuscany. Vineyards and wine – Chianti is synonymous (literally!) with wine and visiting a winery […]
What to see in Panzano in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
Exactly half-way between Florence and Sienna, the scenic via Chiantigiana highway leaves the valley of the River Greve and winds up to the ridge between the Val di Greve and the Val di Pesa, to the charming little town of Panzano in Chianti. Panzano’s central location makes it an ideal base for your vacation in […]
What is an agriturismo in Tuscany?
While planning their trips, a great many first-time visitors to Tuscany probably ask themselves “What is an agriturismo in Tuscany?” Officially an agriturismo (plural agriturismi) is a vineyard, olive oil producer or other farm that offers holiday accommodation to tourists. Sometimes rural accommodations that are not on working farms are nevertheless referred to, incorrectly, as […]
What to see in Impruneta Tuscany Italy
Close to Florence and just outside the Chianti Classico wine zone, the town of Impruneta deserves a visit by anyone interested in the plastic arts. Impruneta is the home of Tuscan terracotta and, increasingly, of hand-painted ceramics. Impruneta is also the location of one of the most famous basilicas in Tuscany, the Sanctuary of Santa […]
Things to do in Chianti
This entire website is devoted to where to stay in Chianti and things to do in Chianti. We have summarised some of the main things to do here and will be expanding on those subject areas in more detail. Don’t forget, if you’re staying in the Chianti countryside you’ll rarely be more than a one […]
Mediaeval Dinner in Certaldo – “A cena da Messer Boccaccio”
Among the excellent mediaeval festivals held in Tuscany throughout the year, ‘A cena da Messer Boccaccio‘ (“Dinner with Boccaccio”) ranks high. This dinner takes place in the ancient part of Certaldo, known as Certaldo Alto, in June (Saturday 9 June and 16 June, in 2012). The menu includes some mediaeval dishes such as ‘Morsini di […]
Chianti Tourist Information and Chianti Tourism Guide
We’ve been publishing Chianti tourist information on www.greve-in-chianti.com since 1997 and via the blog you’re reading right now, we’re constantly adding to what is effectively part of the most comprehensive Chianti Tourism Guide on the internet, with over two hundred subsidiary websites. So bookmark this Chianti tourist information site because new and interesting tourist information […]
Castelnuovo Berardenga
Castelnuovo Berardenga is a charming town dating from 1366 and located at the southern tip of the Chianti Classico wine zone, about 20 km from Sienna. It provides an interesting side detour from the Via Chiantigiana, the motoring route from Florence to Sienna. The famous Battle of Montaperti during which the Siennese inflicted a humiliating […]
Greve Museum of Sacred Art
There are a number of small museums of religious art scattered throughout Chianti. While not calling for a detour, these museums are well worth a visit when you are in the area. Usually, they house minor art works collected together from deconsecrated churches in the area plus more important works that cannot be displayed unprotected […]
Fractional Ownership of a Tuscan Apartment
Borgo di Vagli is a mediaeval hamlet beautifully restored by Architect Fulvio di Rosa. The houses have been divided into apartments which can be purchased under a fractional ownership scheme which means genuine ownership and fully flexible vacation periods. Each apartment is furnished in Tuscan rural style with modern facilities and comforts. Borgo di Vagli […]
Brolio Castle
Castello di Brolio is both the name of the castle that was the home to Baron Ricasoli, “father” of Chianti Classico wine, and also the name of the wine now produced there. The site of the Brolio Castle as a fortified nucleus dates from the middle ages but the present structure is not old. It […]