Archive for 'Chianti'

If you have been thinking about travelling to Italy then be sure to browse our incredible vacation rentals in Tuscany and, once you do, you can start planning all that you will see and do while you’re there! In addition to beautiful little towns, buzzing metropolises laden with centuries of history and culture, stunning landscapes, amazing beaches, incredible mountain ranges, pretty islands, outstanding food and wine, architectural gems and breath-taking places of worship, stylish people-watching opportunities aplenty, and much more besides, the Italian regions also boast lots of excellent shopping destinations. Not only is it a veritable mecca for fashion lovers, it is also a place where tradition lives on and quality is very much prided. As such, it is a wonderful place to browse little local shops selling souvenirs to bring home, unique boutiques stuffed with all sorts of Italian gifts, and small local makers’ wares to find incredible things to buy in Italy. If you are planning a trip to Tuscany, you like great souvenirs and shopping for authentic, handmade, and beautiful things, and you are wondering what to buy then these are the items to remember to leave room for in your suitcase as you explore Tuscany and take day trips throughout the regions in Italy!

If you have found a vacation rental in Chianti and are exploring this beautiful part of the world, you might also want to look up and see what is in the skies above the lovely landscapes of Tuscany. And where better to do that than the Osservatorio Polifunzionale del Chianti, or Chianti Multifunctional Observatory? Located in Barberino Val d'Elsa, just over 30 minutes from Florence, it is the best place to view the starry skies of Tuscany, the Milky Way, Jupiter, and more, all while enjoying some small bites and a glass of wine. If you feel like spending a romantic evening stargazing in Tuscany, this is the place to do it!

Inaugurated in 2013 in the presence of Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli, this multipurpose institute is divided into four different observatories: the Astrophysical, Environmental, Geosismic and Agrometereological. Created by an initiative undertaken by the Municipalities of Barberino Val d'Elsa and Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, which are part of the Municipal Union of Florentine Chianti - Metropolitan City of Florence, and managed by the University of Florence, the observatory also has lots of research and academic partners including the Museum of Natural History of the University of Florence, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the Institute of Biometereology IBIMET - CNR and Laboratory for Meteorology and Environmental Modeling LAMMA, the National Institute of Astrophysics, and the Departments of Physics and Astronomy, Agriculture and Earth Sciences of the University of Florence.

If you are looking for a winery that is synonymous with quality and timeless Chianti Classicos, then you need look no further than Castello di Monsanto. A must-see for wine-lovers that have found a vacation rental in Barberino Val D'Elsa, Castello di Monsanto is an elegant winery full of character that is set within the grounds of a castle and estate that dates back to the middle of the 18th century.

The story of wine at Castello di Monsanto is a little more recent and goes back to 1960 when Aldo Bianchi, a native of San Gimignano, came back to the area in which he was born and raised for a wedding at the castle. He became so enamoured by the view from the terrace of the castle – across the Val d’Elsa and right over to the famous towers of San Gimignano – that he fell madly in love with the place and had purchased it within a few months. Later, when Aldo passed on the castle to his son Fabrizio and his wife Giuliana, the couple planted new vineyards and restructured the surrounding hamlets. The first cru of Chianti Classico was then born in 1962. As of 1996, the estate and the production of wine has been passed down to the third generation of the family, Fabrizio and Giuliana’s daughter, Laura and since 2001, they have all worked in collaboration with the wine maker Andrea Ginovannini in order to continue on with the ever-innovative and experimental spirit of the brand.

It makes sense that so many wineries today are located on the grounds of castles and noble estates as these are often home to long-standing vineyards and wine production facilities that are centuries-old. Even if these estates have long since passed from the hands of a noble family, the tradition of wine being made in such places continues on into the modern era. One such estate is that of the Castello della Paneretta, which is located right smack in the globally famous Tuscan wine-producing region that is the Chianti Classico area, on the western slopes of the hills overlooking the Val d'Elsa, facing towards San Gimignano. If you have found a vacation rental in Chianti and you are looking for a traditional winery experience, then this is a really great choice!

Wine production at Castello della Paneretta is recorded as far back as 1596 when the first harvest is described in farm documents that can be found in the Riccardiana Library. This makes Castello della Paneretta one of the oldest companies in the Chianti Classico area and, certainly, one of the most long-standing producers of wine in Tuscany. The castle itself was built on the site of an ancient watch tower, the Cepparello fortress, which was located a little lower down the slope and was abandoned and destroyed after the Battle of Montaperti in 1260. Built in the 14th century, the Castello della Paneretta is a striking medieval stronghold that is characterised by massive walls, a Guelph battlement, and corner towers, all framing a keep at the centre.

One of the most important things that we want when we go on holidays is to really relax and unwind. If you have found a vacation rental in Tuscany and are planning to get away from it all then why not plan to set aside a morning or two for a good yoga session to loosen up, get rid of all of your tension, and start a day of fun and sightseeing right? Breathe, relax your jaw, roll your shoulders, and get ready to enjoy a wonderful holiday in beautiful Tuscany…

Whether you are based in a city or in the country, there are plenty of different options to choose from all around the region. Tuscany is actually quite an up-and-coming yoga destination and there are new schools opening all over. Plus, as a famously relaxed place, Tuscany has a perfect atmosphere for practicing yoga and what better backdrop or setting than the rolling pastures and pretty hilltop towns of Tuscan landscapes and the historic grandeur and architectural gems of Tuscan city views? It couldn’t really get much more idyllic than that!

Here are some of the best places to attend some yoga classes and take a moment’s pause while you are exploring Tuscany.