Overview
In a landscape of rare beauty
Il Podere is a beautiful farmhouse located halfway between Florence and Siena, in the heart of the Chianti Hills. This is one of the most popular regions in central Tuscany, and the scenery around this house is of incredible beauty. Vineyards, olive groves and fields form a paradise-like landscape, which was moulded over centuries by the farmers' patient toil. The surrounding countryside resembles one immense garden. The elevated position offers a unique view. It may sound exaggerated but we find you can feel the surface of the earth here.
The south side of the villa overlooks a wide valley: your eyes will wander into the distance, over the many hilltops of the Chianti landscape to the antique towers of the renowned hill town S. Gimignano. The house is part of a sixty-nine acre estate specializing in the production of extra virgin olive oil.
The original structure is an 11th century watch tower. It used to serve as a defensive tower for the nearby castle S. Maria Novella. Side wings were added later transforming the house into a farmstead.
Although Il Podere has been completely restored, the old structure has been respected and original materials have been reused wherever possible. Originally the villa was furnished for private use, giving the interior ambience authenticity and conveying the charm of a private home. Typical regional features include the terracotta floors, the ceiling beams, the large fireplace with small window and the decorative pizza oven in the kitchen.
Flower beds decorate the entrance area at the north end. At the panoramic south end the garden merges into the wide, open countryside. This is where the outdoor areas are located. The garden is furnished with quality teak furniture. A pergola near to the kitchen invites to relax and to enjoy outdoor meals. The pool is a few steps down the lawn. The pool area, fenced for your children’s safety, features deck chairs in the sun and a sofa under “the grape gazebo”.
The small village of Fiano is just a mile away, with nearby a restaurant, and can be reached on foot (over the fields) or in just a few minutes by car. In Fiano there is also a a grocery store with fresh bread counter and butcher shop, a bar, a pharmacy, a post office and a cash machine. A supermarket can be found in Tavarnelle at 7 km or in Certaldo at 9 km. Certaldo also has a railway station with good connections to Florence and Siena. The autostrada linking Siena with Florence is just 15 minutes away.
The English-speaking son of the owner, Niccolò, lives also on the premises, in the adjacent, second farmhouse. He will greet you when you arrive. He is on hand to help you for any question you might have, he will give you information about the region, you can request to taste wine and olive oil, and he has created a vegetable garden also for the guests.
Guests Reviews
Our Guests Reviews
Hey Nic, Just a quick note to say thank you so much for our wonderful stay.
We all had a truly relaxing, peaceful week and loved your fantastic farmhouse, region and country. We really do hope to return one day and see you again. We read about the truffle hunting in the guest book and would love to try that! What time of year is best for that… Many thanks also to Sylvia. Hope your trip went well.
Best of luck and grazie!
Ian, Jo, Isla and Zachy, September 2024
We loved our stay! What an amazing Estate. Everyvday was a treat to enjoy Tuscany and return to our private and beautiful oasis. Sylvia was wonderful and so helpful!. Many Thanks
Vivian and Bob, September 2024
We have all enjoyed our stay and Italy, Thank you for having us. We will be back. Fallen in love with Italy.
Jenny and Scott C.+ family, September 2024
13-06-2016: Carney Family USA
Mamma Mia! Il Podere is a dream and Monica spoiled us with her many delicious cakes... C.F.
Many thanks, Bettina. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here - great location. Luisa, Nick and their team have all become special friends. Ciao!
Ted & Cheryl, September 2021
What a fabulous 12 weeks! The villa, the views, the food, the wine. Thank you Nick, Susanna and team for the wonderful hospitality,you were fantastic Nick, such a host. We will be back. Salute ciao ciao a dopo. A special thanks from all our guests as well.
Peter and Kym, March 2024
Thank you for a wonderful stay at Il Podere. We had the best time having the beautiful view and exploring the area around the house. Nic was very helpful with answering questions and providing everithing we needed at all times. Thank you to Nic, Susanna and Laura for preparing the most amazing meals for us. And Francesca to keep the house tidy and wonderful to live in.
And a very special thank you to Nic for arranging both winetasting and a fantastic truffle hunt with Robin and Jacopo and his truffle dogs. We definitely reccommend these experiences for everyone staying at la Novellina in the future. Both adults and kids had the best time. We also all apreciated Nic keeping the pool open for us an entire extra week out of season. This definitely brighten our stay here. We were a family of 10 and all 3 generations enjoied their stay!
M. Family, October 2023
What a pleasure to wake up with an amazing view with San Gimignano in the distance. We enormousely enjoied our stay. The children made the most of the swimming pool and we enjoied exploring the surroundings. An amazing place, an oasis for rest which we will fondly remember and watmly recommend.
Simon D. Family (UK and Belgium), September 2023
If what you’re looking for is a beautiful retreat in the Tuscan hills look no further. The views from the house, terrace and pool are all panoramic and spectacular - you can see the towers of San Gimignano in the distance and hot air balloons in the valley if you’re up early enough!
You will need a car to get around but you can walk into the local village for daily supplies (the village store is surprisingly well stocked) and there are plenty of towns and sights within an easy drive. That said, you could quite happily spend the whole week by the pool soaking in the sun and the view. The owner has spent years tending to the grounds around the house and it shows. The roses are beautiful and the jasmine covering the house smells divine.
The house itself is charming - around 1,000 years old in parts and done up to be comfortable but in keeping with its history. The rooms are all spacious and there is plenty of space to eat and sit inside if needed - the sitting room is probably the most beautiful room in the house, if you can tear yourself away from the views outside! We had more than enough space for 6 adults and 2 children.
The owner lives next door and was quick to respond to any queries and happy to offer tips on what to do locally but wasn’t at all intrusive.
Hannah, May 2023
The house is a dream come true, this week was years in the planning. the stay here has been more than we had dreamt, the wonderful staff, the breakfast pizzas, freshly brewed coffee, the welcome dinner, the three course farewell dinner party celebrating 60 years... thank you
John, Sue, Brett, Deb, Michael, Denise, David, September 2019
What an unforgettable experience. We celebrated my 50th birthday and we could not have asked for more. The views from the grounds of the rolling hills of Tuscany are unparalleled. We could easily make day trips to Sienna, San Gimignano, Volterra, Chianti for wine tasting etc... One could not ask for a better or more enjoyable experience. We will always remember!
L . Torres, September 2018
20-05-2017: Harris - Australia
Thank you for a wonderful week in your villa the setting is amazing.... the house spacious yet cozy with space to relax and enjoy the local Chianti looking over the valley.. the hospitality provided by Susanna, Antonella, Nic and Laura was amazing we enjoyed many beautiful meals including sme of the best pork we have tasted....
13-05-2017: Mc Connel - Australia
Dear Nic
We were delighted to spend a beautiful week at your villain the company of our good friends. We have enjoied the comfort of the villa in such a beautiful setting. The hospitality and welcome provided by you and your staff has been excellent....
Charming antique villa in a very good condition with breathtaking views in the hills of Tuscany
Left on Aug 19, 2016 for a stay in Aug 2016
Absolutely perfect charming villa for a big family or two families with incredible view in the hills of Tuscany where we enjoyed our 2weeks-stay during August with five children and two friends. Well located for daytrips to Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, Volterra and San Gimignano ( you can see its towers from the Villa at the other side of the valley!) The best thing was Monica, who cared about us: exellent breakfast every morning with self-made cakes and bruscettas. Then she cleaned the house, it was like in a hotel. On day she showed us how to make fresh pasta and Tiramisu, delicious! We had a really wonderful time!
D. König, Germany
28-05-2016: Russels Australia
Thank you for our Italian trip it was sensational! The flights worked out well, Cinque Terra & the Porto Rocca hotel was beautiful and the Villa Il Podere, both location and setup was perfect. However the person that was pure gold was MONICA!! She prepared our breakfast each morning except Sunday, plus 2hours of house keeping and she cooked 2 dinners ,1 free &1 paid for at € 25.00 per person which were brilliant. Her personality is outstanding, we all loved.
Susanna the "concierge " was efficient & fine.
15-04-2016: Capathia and Aishaa
Greetings from Tuscany. We have spent this day in our fabulous Villa Il Podere enjoying the surroundings and each other's company. This morning as every morning Monica prepared a marvelous breakfast and then gifted us with an Italian bread soup which we ate for lunch and all you heard around the table was, 'mmm mmmm oooo this is so good'. This experience with these ladies is a wonderful one, we have had Susanna Civeli and her kindness from day one treat us with excellent customer service. I am a lucky girl and so very grateful. In back of our villa we look out at mountains, valleys and olive trees, where they make their own brand of Olive Oil!
08-10-2015: Il Podere was absolutely fantastic and surpassed all expectations!
We had a wonderfully, warm greeting with Susanne and Monica when we finally arrived on the Saturday afternoon. La Novellina was absolutely fantastic and surpassed all expectations. Of course the icing on the cake was Monica and all the family fell in love with her. Her cheerful morning greetings and wonderful surprises for breakfast each morning were a highlight. Monica also prepared 3 evening meals, one in the dining room, which were all wonderful.
We thought the villa and facilities were really great and the children loved the pool as the weather was perfect. We also bumped into and had a few conversations with Nick who was very helpful - I am sure he comes from a very nice family. Helen in fact also had a chat to Luisa on the Monica's phone just as we were leaving and expressed our thoughts about our time at Il Podere.
We have many fond memories to recount and are so glad we chose this villa! Many thanks for all your help Jane and very best wishes - will be in touch again when planning our next trip to Italy - our favourite European country!
Kym - AUSTRALIA
19-07-2015: We truly had an amazing time ...
Hi,
I want to apologize of having get a chance to get back to you earlier.
We truly had an amazing time and enjoyed our vacation very much. It was very needed and our busy lives got us back much too fast…
We were impressed by Monica, the house keeper. She was always smiling, and was extremely welcoming. She represented the hospitality of Italy extraordinarily. We felt so spoiled when she cooked two dinner’s for us and all our friends at two occasions. She arranged all the shopping for that, prepared the menu, set the table, arranged the seating, served and cleaned-amazing!
On top of things she was a wonderful person to connect with my 4 year old daughter. They two of them had a blast!
Overall, it was a very relaxing vacation with lots of help and attention to details. We can highly recommend this Villa and you and Monica’s care to anybody. We will come back in the future!
Andrea, Christian and Anna - USA
02-08-2014: Il Podere was perfection...
“Il Podere was perfection. Beautiful house, great location and Susanna, Monica and Nick were all stellar and took great care of us. I can't say enough good about the experience. Thank you for making it happen. The trip of a lifetime!”
NG, Santa Monica (California) USA
21-06-2014: We were made to feel welcome at all times...
Buongiorno Luisa,
May I say what a pleasure it was to visit your lovely villa once again. Everything was as I remembered and even better, when we arrived we had a wonderful welcome from Susanna, Monica and Nico, they made us feel so welcome. I did have some apprehension about a daily breakfast and cleaning, but that also was excellent, every day we looked forward to the breakfast and Monica’s daily treat. She is a terrific addition to the Villa, so helpful, pleasant and friendly. The Tuscan meal was also a special treat and was very, very good. We were made to feel welcome at all times. Susanna was very friendly and it was good to know if we needed anything she could help us. Nico is a terrific young man, so courteous and friendly and of course a very good English speaker.
My friends thought the Villa was wonderful and had a great time, we were all sad to leave and hope one day to stay again.
Roger USA
Amenities
Touring ideas
Certaldo 9 km
S. Gimignano 17 km
Colle Val d'Elsa 25 km
Florence 35 km
Siena 35 km
Livorno (coast) 75 km
HOLIDAY HOME AMENITIES
- Pool: 11 x 5m
- Pool area is gated
- Pool area features deck chairs in the sun and a sofa under “the grape gazebo”
- Air conditioning in all bedrooms
- Internet WIFI connection
- Telephone for local calls
- Fireplace
- Satellite TV
- DVD with a choice of movies for kids
- HIFI Stereo
- Dishwasher
- Washing machine and dryer
- 4 ring gas hob
- Oven
- Microwave
- Large frige with freezer and icemaker
- Mosquito screens in all bedrooms
- Barbecue grill
- Loggia for al fresco dining
- Garden
- Parking
Photos
Activities
The villa is in the perfect location, just 35 minutes outside Florence. It overlooks a spectacular valley of vineyards, and the sunsets are amazing. In the morning, fog envelopes the valley floor, and the ancient towered city of San Gimignano rises on the opposite end of the valley, which you can see from the villa. A few minutes away is the small town of Certaldo, which has a modern grocery store and other shops.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Local craftsmanship: hand-made terracotta pots from Impruneta, hand painted pottery from Montelupo, mouth-blown crystal glass from the neighbouring village Colle Val d'Elsa, not to mention the south bank of the Arno river in Florence where you will find a multitude of craftsmen working silver, leather, wood, glass, paper and metal.
Sports: riding stable 7 km, tennis court 10 km, beauty spa with sauna 15 km, golf course 35 km.
Map
Please note: the Google Maps are only approximative, the exact address will be given after finalized booking.
Choose your holiday home
Il Podere
5 air-conditioned bedrooms (4 doubles and 1 twin) and 5 bathrooms:
Ground floor:
- 1 entrance
- 1 dining room
- 1 eat-in kitchen downstairs with access to the garden and outdoor dining area
- 1 double bedroom (reached by 3 steps) with en suite bathroom (shower), and direct access to the garden
- 1 external bathroom under the loggia (shower)
Main floor:
- 1 living room with fireplace and access to a small loggia with steps to the garden
- 1 double bedroom (beds can be seperated) with en suite bathroom (shower and separate bathtub)
- 1 double bedroom (bed 203 x 193 cm) with en suite bathroom (shower)
- 1 twin bedroom (beds can be joined) with en suite bathroom (shower)
Top floor:
- 1 double bedroom (beds can be seperated) with en suite bathroom (shower); this room has the best views.
Outdoors:
- Garden
- Private pool
- Pergola for al fresco dining
- Parking with shadow roof
Please note: Although completely restored IL PODERE maintains its ancient structure: the kitchen, the dining room and a bedroom, although at the ground floor are not on the same level. Guests with walking difficulties have to know that although they can access the ground floor bedroom and the kitchen from the exterior (avoiding the internal steps), the rest of the floor has short flights of stairs throughout. The access to the last floor bedroom is 20 cm lower than usual, so watch your head going up to this bedroom! The beds in the twin bedroom, cannot be joined together as a double bed: they sit against opposite walls with a doorway in between.
Adjacent to the IL PODERE house there is another farmhouse where the English speaking owner lives (one person). He is available to help guests with any problems that may arise. The outdoor facilities of the IL PODERE house (garden, pergola and pool) are completely private for the guests.
25 Oct 2025 - 20 Dec 2025
6750 EUR €
27 Sep 2025 - 25 Oct 2025
7650 EUR €
20 Dec 2025 - 10 Jan 2026
8150 EUR €
Weekly rates in €
| Il Podere | 01 Mar 2025 - 12 Apr 2025 25 Oct 2025 - 20 Dec 2025 |
12 Apr 2025 - 03 May 2025 27 Sep 2025 - 25 Oct 2025 |
03 May 2025 - 27 Sep 2025 20 Dec 2025 - 10 Jan 2026 |
Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Il Podere
10+1
PAX 10
|
6750 EUR € | 7650 EUR € | 8150 EUR € | N/A | Request BookingIl Podere |
Check availability
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- Please also read How To Make A Reservation.
RENT INCLUDES
- Bed, bath and kitchen linens changed on Saturday
- Bath towels changed also on Wednesday
- Pool towels
- Air conditioning (on request)
- Internet WIFI connection
- Cleaning for rentals exceeding 1 week: 4 hours on Saturday
EXTRAS
- Service package (mandatory): EUR 300 per week (includes 2 hours of daily cleaning from Monday to Friday, garden maintenance, pool cleaning, electricity and water)
- Heating (on request): according to consumption
- Wood for fireplace (on request): according to consumption
- Telephone: only local calls possible, metered
- Additional bed for an 11th person or baby if maximum capacity PAX is exceeded (to be requested when booking): EUR 500 per week (no matter if it is a baby or an adult).
- Final cleaning: EUR 300
SECURITY DEPOSIT
EUR 1500 cash deposit are due on arrival.
SERVICE ON REQUEST (please enquire with us when booking)
- Pre-arrival grocery service: to be arranged with the owner
- Breakfast: to be arranged with the owner
- Welcome dinner: to be arranged with the owner
- Cook service for dinners: to be arranged with the owner
- Cooking lessons: to be arranged with the owner
- Personalized concierge service
- Wine tasting
- Oil tasting
- Cheese tasting
- Bike rental
- Rental car delivered at the villa
- Transfer service and airport/train station pickup
- Additional maid service: price on request
- Extra bedlinen and towels: to be arranged with the owner
NOTES
- Reservations from Saturday to Saturday
- Normally the villa is closed for weekly rentals from January 1st, 2025 to March 1st, 2025 and from October 18th, 2025 to February 28th, 2026. For bookings of 3 weeks or more, a postponement of the closure or an advance of the opening may be possible.
- Pool opening dates: May 1st - September 30th
- For more than 3 children, please enquire.
- PLEASE NOTE: For this property the check-in is possible between 4:30pm and 7pm.
- Late arrival (on request): EUR 70
- Early departure (on request): EUR 70