Archive for 'Chianti'

When one thinks of castles in Tuscany, the great urban palaces of the Medici tend to spring to mind. However, in reality, there are many more examples and a great deal of variety all across the region that are just waiting to be discovered.

Sarteano, for example, is a stunning Tuscan town that has long been a bit of a hidden gem and is very distinctive; a lush and green place with a medieval core and topped by its famous giant castle. The castle is the main highlight and dates to the twelfth or thirteenth century. It is surrounded by a double circle of walls enclosing an imposing square keep with round towers at the sides and is a bold and striking building in a perfectly strategic location. Bought by the city of Sarteano in 1998, it was opened to the public in 2006, after a long series of restoration works. Inside, you can explore the service rooms necessary for a castle to function, head to the ramparts for stunning views across the surrounding landscape, wander the courtyards and uncover secret passageways and outside you'll find the pretty park that the complex is located on. Just find a holiday rental in Sarteano and you can begin exploring this fascinating building.

Castello di Brolio is a famous and beautiful Tuscan castle in the southern Chianti countryside, located on top of an isolated hill a few kilometers from Gaiole. It is famous for its stunning architecture, grounds and views but is also supposedly home to several ghosts and is where one of the most famous wines in the region was born.

A visit to the castle provides a whole day out as there is plenty of cultural and artistic gems and historic insights to be discovered but there is also still a functioning vineyard on the property where you can take tours and even sample a little of the lauded local tipple.

Once you have found a villa with a pool in Chianti and are exploring the region, you can rest assured knowing that you have one day trip planned already.

Castello di Ama is a famous winery located in the medieval Tuscan village of Ama in the Chianti region. The setting is picturesque, perched on a hilltop surrounded by vines and black cypress trees, with views across the surrounding landscape. The village, itself, is a charming collection of buildings largely dating to the 18^th century and is almost entirely owned by Lorenza Sebasti and Marco Pallanti, the couple who run the winery. Once you venture through the village and on to the winery, you will find a unique experience that combines art and wine in an engaging way. When you arrive, brightly-coloured paving, mirrored walls and other oddities will catch your eye which heralds what sets this winery apart from others; over the past 15 years, some of the worlds preeminent artists have been invited to contribute works to the estate. If good art and even better wine are your thing, then finding a vacation rental in Chianti and planning a visit to the estate during your time in Tuscany is a must.

Cycling is certainly one of the best ways to discover a new place and it's probably the ideal mode of transport for getting to know Tuscany better. It offers the chance to find hidden gems, get well off the beaten track and to take in the breath-taking landscapes which surround without getting into an accident. You can take your time, enjoy the fresh air and truly immerse yourself in the whole experience. One company, in particular, is all about giving a true experience of Tuscany and offers one day bike tours which explore this beautiful region. This is IBikeTuscany, a small Florence-based company which organizes bike tours in Tuscany, and was founded by Marco Vignoli, a former bicycle racer who wants to share his passion for cycling and Tuscany. If you want to be involved in sharing these passions with Marco, just find a holiday rental in Florence and get exploring the Tuscan countryside.

If you've found a luxury villa in Florence and are spending time in that great city, you might find the crowds of tourists and pace of trying to see everything a little tiresome after a while. Of course, you'll want to see as much as you can and it is worth the lines but it might be worth escaping the city for a little while so you can return revived and ready to tackle the wealth of things to see and do. Why not take a day trip out of the city and get some fresh air by exploring the nearby Chianti region on horseback? A fun and somewhat different way to get around and see things, this is a great way to get some light exercise and to explore both the Tuscan landscape and the wine-making heritage of the famous Chianti area.