Il Palazzino

Barberino Val d'Elsa is a hilltop village in the very heart of the Chianti area, half way between Florence and Siena. The Elsa valley is one of the most popular regions in Tuscany. The historic village center of Barberino is surrounded by sturdy medieval walls; one enters the little town via two large portals, one to the North, coming from Florence and one to the South, leading to Siena. Barberino has two bars, a bank, a small shop, an excellent butcher, a restaurant, a wine bar, a hairdresser, a chemistry, a small supermarket, a post office and a tennis court. There is a larger supermarket in the neighboring village of Tavarnelle, just 2 km north. Here you will find a wider range of shops as well as a market once a week.

Distances: Florence, Siena and San Gimignano can be reached in approx. half an hour. Volterra, Arezzo, Pisa and Lucca are all to be reached in approx. one hour by car.

The Chianti area: Famous for its wines – the Chianti Classico – this area of Tuscany has more than just world-class oenological pleasures to offer. The curious visitor will come accross many delightful villages, each of them with a history of its own. Let us simply mention lesser known gems such as the romanesque church of Sant’Appiano, the Basilica of Impruneta, the fortified castle of Monteriggioni and the roofless romanesque abbey of San Galgano which are all close. And don’t miss the Saturday market in the small town of Greve.

Siena: The Sienese have no doubt, their town is the most beautiful in all of Tuscany, if not all of Italy. Siena has remained a Gothic city. Renaissance, one of the major influences in Florence, hardly affected the urban development of Siena. The city unfolds around the main shell-shaped square called “Il Campo.” Twice a year the famous horse race known as the “Palio” takes place here. The narrow streets are lined with old shops and small cafes, while churches and museums are real treasures of the fourteenth century.

Florence: The city lies on the Arno River and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture. A centre of medieval European trade and finance, the city is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance; in fact, it has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages. It was long under the de facto rule of the Medici family. From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. The historic centre of Florence continues to attract millions of tourists each year and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982.

San Gimignano is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. It is mainly famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, which may be seen from several kilometers outside the town. The town also is known for the white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, grown in the area.

Restaurants: Eating out is a way of getting to know the area. Simple local trattorias rub their shoulders with more sophisticated restaurants specialised in refined cuisine. Fresh local produce allways plays the leading role. You will find a list of our favourites in the villas.

Local craftmanship: The closeby town of Impruneta is famous for its large terracotta pots which originally were used for the lemon trees and to store olive oil. You might also want to look up the nearby town Montelupo which produced pottery for Florence in the Renaissance. The same patterns are still hand-painted today. The town Colle Val d'Elsa on the way to Siena is famous for its mouth-blown crystal glass production. In Florence itself you will find a multitude of craftsmen working with silver, leather, wood, glass, pottery, paper and metal. You only have to walk around the small streets on the southern bank of the Arno river to discover them.

Walking and riding: The hills around Barberino offer wonderful treks. Good guidebooks and maps have been published in English as well as Italian which are on sale at most newsagents in Chianti.