Villa Il Poggiale Chianti

The Villa Il Poggiale is surrounded by an estate of tall cypress trees, standing guard over vineyards and olive groves, reminiscent of landscapes seen in Tuscan Renaissance paintings.

Nearby are many lovely Tuscan towns like Siena, San Gimignano, and of course Florence. Guests can enjoy a relaxing stay or take easy day trips to take in the art, flavors and fragrances of one of the most famous regions in the world known for its fine wines and olive oil, Chianti.

Coming back “home” to Il Poggiale each evening, it’s time to relax with a dip in the pool or a drink in the rose garden before being treated to a candlelight dinner of local specialties in our restaurant. At Il Poggiale, you’ll rest assured that the memories will be everlasting.

In 1972, Gaspero Righini describes Villa Il Poggiale in his book “Il Chianti Classico” as follows: “The Poggiale, one of the most ancient and beautiful villas in San Casciano, stands on the level top of the Argiano hill, with its old and solid dark walls, along the Via Empolese.

The garden side has an elegant cloister, enriched by Tuscan-style columns, and all the doors and the windows are decorated with pure Renaissance-style stones”.

THE VILLA
The very early news about the villa dates back to the 1408, when the Corsini family bought the Poggiale from Jacopo d’Agostini Martini. The villa was then owned by the Florence priory commendam and later by the Ricasoli – Rucellai family.

Its exterior dates back to the XVI century, with its nice Renaissance loggia and elegant door and window framings finished in Serena stone. The central courtyard, along with its well, is probably the most ancient part of the villa; several embellishments and extensions were carried out in later times.

The interior decorations date back to the early XVII century, with nice frescoed rooms and painted doors. The premises for coach access and the coach house are frescoed with Renaissance grotesqueries.

THE FAMILY
We all used to live happily together at Poggiale, first with fiancées and lots of friends, then with our wives and children. Our father used to write his international law books in the big quiet room and our mother used to work in the garden, with dogs and children running around her.

When our parents died, we thought that it would have been nice to preserve the atmosphere of the Poggiale, full of guests coming from all around the world. We hope we managed to make our guests feel the same pleasure we always felt when we used to live here. So, in 2001 we started work in the Poggiale, to make it as it is nowadays: an elegant hotel with a homelike atmosphere

SUSTAINABILITY
Earth, air, water, the life giving elements of our planet are in extreme danger. It was difficult, just only 30 years ago, to imagine that nature would be so vulnerable and so at risk. Now it is clear to all that each of us should feel the desire and the duty to contribute to the planet salvation.

EXCLUSIVE USE
Villa Il Poggiale, a Historical Mansion in the heart of Chianti, offers you a lovely shelter, a place to rent for your own exclusivity, where you can find safety and be surrounded by the warmness and affection of your dear ones. Enjoy the whole Villa in exclusivity with your family and close friends.

Enjoy the Villa for peace, for pleasure, for work. Place your computer in the library or under the loggia or even by the pool, everywhere you’ll be well connected! Walks in the woods, visits to the best cellars of Chianti, home dinners with our family recipes, exploring the many medieval hamlets will be a wonderful plus.

Take a a peaceful hollyday with your whole family, or organize your working time with tour team in this very special setting, in peace and safety.

ROOMS & SUITES
All the wide hotel rooms are different from one another, their walls are painted with light colors made of soil and natural pigments, typical in Tuscany.

Awnings and poster beds fabrics come from small Tuscan artisan weaving factories while eastern silks are used in the main floor rooms. The elegant rooms in the relais hotel main floor overlook the Chianti hills and have antique furniture and fabrics coming from Tuscan artisan weaving factories.

SUITE
Suites are composed by two spaces. Besides the poster bed in the main bedroom, there’s a wide living room with armchairs and a sofa. Its bathroom floors are made of handcrafted tiles in several pastel colors. Some bathrooms have frescoed walls and ceilings and a bath tub typical of days gone by.

JUNIOR SUITE
Junior Suites are wide and elegant and their size vary from 25 to 35 sq.m. They have poster bed, a comfortable living room and antique furniture. Fabrics and silks in these rooms come from Tuscan artisan weaving factories.

FAMILY ROOM
The smaller Family Room has one double bedroom, one bathroom and a large frescoed living room with double sofa which can be made up into a double bed should it be required. It opens through a French window into the back garden separated from the main road by a laurel hedge.

LA TINAIA RESTAURANT
The restaurant “La Tinaia” (which means a place where once they used to carry fresh-picked grapes) is open both for lunch and dinner. Our cook prepares tasty and refined lunch every evening, characterized by traditional specialties of Tuscan cooking and family recipes.

It’s possible to have outdoors lunch or dinner in the pleasant spring, summer and fall days. The sunny colors of awnings and tablecloths balance roses bushes and flowers in the garden, overlooking the Chianti panorama. Aromatic herbs diffuse their scents all around.

Our restaurant recipes are based on seasonal products: besides being tastier and more flavored, lunches and dinners will be even healthier.

You will taste very unique dishes, thanks to fresh artichokes and peas perfumed with mint picked from the aromatic garden, delicate zucchinis during spring, many types of tomato and sumptuous eggplants during summer, colored pumpkins and multi-colored cauliflowers during fall, as well as many many salads.

In our restaurant, there will always be organic soups, sauces for pasta, stuffing for tortellini and vegetables to provide ingredients for fresh and crunchy salads or for flavored side dishes.

We scrupulously select meat and dairy products providers among organic food farmers, allowing us to provide guests with something special, which always characterize a stay at Villa Il Poggiale. Moreover, we have chosen a selection of Tuscan wines both well-known and coming from small and less-known farmers: all of them are excellent quality wines.

THE SUNSET APERITIF
At Villa il Poggiale, at sunset, you can breathe a magical atmosphere. The typical rural landscape of Chianti, characterized by rolling hills covered with vineyards, olive groves and cypresses, will be illuminated by the golden light of sunset, giving you unique emotions.

TUSCAN COOKING LESSONS
We organize practical cooking lessons, based on our guests whishes and curiosity. Traditional Tuscan cooking: it’s the protagonist of our lessons: from historic dishes to family recipes, from simple and tasty farm food to the most refined menus of the villas.

A special wine and oil tasting of products coming from the near estates in the Val di Pesa and the Chianti area completes this experience.

THE BREAKFAST
A nice day in the countryside always starts with a good breakfast: a rich buffet is waiting for you in the Breakfast room from 8:00 to 10:00.

This is a “Tuscan Breakfast”, with local cooking products and ingredients: sweet and savory pastries, fresh ricotta, jams, honey and cold cuts coming from the Chianti farms; family recipes and our cook’s fantasy make apple pies, peach flans, pain brioche, dark chocolate cakes, cheese quiches and many other specialties.

EVENTS
A birthday party, a bridge or buraco competition in the living room, a book launch or a small exhibit, a vintage car meeting: it gains a special taste in the Renaissance context of the relais hotel Villa Il Poggiale.

The setting of the Chianti is also ideal for organizing business events thanks to the meeting room that can accommodate up to 50 people, but above all to organize the most important day of your life, the Relais Villa Il Poggiale is the perfect place for weddings and banquets.

A unique location, located in the heart of the Chianti hills is ideal for hosting exclusive events, Villa il Poggiale is suitable for hosting bridge or burraco tournaments in the salon, exhibitions and art galleries, car and motorcycle meetings. era, book or product presentations.

Plunge your guests in a warm atmosphere surrounded by nature, thanks to the services designed for special events we will be able to accommodate any guest or event in the best way including even graduation parties and galas in general.

WEDDINGS IN TUSCANY
To crown a promise or renew your love, Villa Il Poggiale will offer you a view and unforgettable memories among the rolling hills of the Chianti Classico.

From the timeless charm of the slopes of the Florentine hills, 20 minutes from the cradle of the Renaissance, to sunsets that color the sky with warm shades streaked with passion red, Poggiale is pleased to welcome you in the splendid historic residence that, for the occasion, can be reserved exclusively for your event.

Let yourself be seduced by the unique panorama that offers the Villa il Poggiale, a glimpse of classic Chianti, with its countryside and its green hills, to admire and even more to photograph, becoming the perfect background for any wedding photo book.

The restaurant “La Tinaia” is available to arrange personalized menus for the spouses and their guests, offering exquisite and refined dishes cooked with ingredients at 0 km and with dedication from our chef and wine tastings of the surrounding hills.

A short distance from Florence, Villa il Poggiale will welcome you, making you feel stars of a fairy tale, in fact thanks to the care and passion for the details of our staff and a setting of suggestive and exclusive, you will feel the hosts of this magnificent Villa.

Guests and newlyweds will have to do nothing but enjoy, relaxed, the most important day of their lives in one of the most beautiful places in the world to get married: a historic home immersed in classic Chianti.

MEETINGS
The Meeting room at Villa il Poggiale can receive groups up to 50 persons. Meetings and seminars, medical or corporate conventions, workshops, small conventions and conferences, VAR meetings and so on will find an ideal place where to join work and pleasure.

THE SWIMMING POOL 
The swimming pool is surrounded by flowers, with vast green meadows in the distance. Totally out in the open, it’s perfectly situated to allow you to enjoy the sun all day long until the very last ray of sunlight transforms into a magnificent sunset that washes the castle and church bell towers in a stunning golden hue. The pool is open from May 15 to October 15.

THE GARDENS
A shady reprieve is provided by the Renaissance loggia or portico, from where you can see vistas of the Chianti hills while swept up in the aromas of antique roses, lavender and lemons. The hotel’s ancient central courtyard features roses, hydrangeas and jasmine covering the walls and the old well, which once served as the source of fresh water centuries ago.

THE SPA
The Wellness Area of the relais hotel is well-thought in order to give moments of relax, completing the pleasure of spending some days among the Chianti hills. We offer simple and effective treatments, created exclusively for Villa Il Poggiale, using grapes, citrus fruits, olives, honey and essential oils, reminding of Tuscan lands scents.

Our therapist is Patrizia, coming from Brazil, who is specialized in aesthetics, naturopathy and kiromassage, but above all is a special, sensitive and incredibly empathic person.

Massages and treatments of our wellness area join strength and sweetness, making you spend sweet relax moments to recover in strength from daily stress. Due to the wellness limited room, we suggest you to book in advance if you wish the whole area in exclusivity.

EXPERIENCES IN CHIANTI
Follow the paths among the olive groves and vineyards, have a stop in the shade of a tall cypress to admire a surprising landscape, stroll in the halls of the villa, between the Renaissance loggia and the frescoed rooms, taste the seasonal and typical delights of the area combining them with excellent wines that make Tuscany unique all over the world, or even visit cities of art rich in museums and monuments of incomparable beauty.

From the Etruscans to the glory of Renaissance, from the Middle Ages to the modern excellence in wine and food, everything here speaks to us of the refined civilization that gave shape to this corner of Italy.

Il Poggiale is like a small piece of this great mosaic, so we feel like ambassadors of Tuscan excellence. This is why we love sharing all of this with our guests through authentic experiences, guided tours and cultural events designed especially for them.

And we want to do it in a sustainable way, as always going to discover places, stories and genuine flavors, far from the tourist flows and supporting local realities made up of small farms and skilled artisans.

Ask Marco, our official guide, to show you the possibilities that can reflect your desire to discover and experience Tuscany. Here you will find some suggestions that you can adapt and customize according to your tastes and interests.

Experiences are conducted privately (designed for groups of 2 to 6 people) respecting current health regulations to ensure a safe and peaceful experience. The price may vary depending on the number of participants and the logistical methods.

THE CHIANTI REGION ON TWO WHHELS
Castles and ancient villas, Etruscan tombs and contemporary art parks, welcoming farms that offer oil, wine, excellent local products and love to tell the stories of their ancestors. The setting will always be the unforgettable Chianti landscapes between Florence and Siena.

Thanks to the latest generation e-bikes made available to our guests, our guide will accompany you on an authentic and unforgettable experience on two wheels, in the name of taste, knowledge and authenticity and in total respect for nature.

A slow-pace-journey to discover the little things and live precious moments, get to know the spirit of a place and regenerate body and mind in a sustainable way, to live an unforgettable experience. Several routes available.

ART & HISTORY
Before Florence, an important Etruscan city prospered for centuries on the “lunate” hill that overlooks it: Vipsul. Which then became Faesulae and then Fiesole again.

In a relaxed walk away from the tourist flows we will discover the artistic treasures of this millenary place: from the Etruscan testimonies to the great Roman theater, from the Romanesque cathedral to the Franciscan convent, passing through a still sparkly and authentic town center, full of small craft shops and good restaurants that serve zero-kilometer seasonal delights, in harmony with the local organic district.

But what makes a visit to Fiesole unique is overall the constant presence of an amazing view over the city of Florence and the hills surrounding it.

HEAVEN’S DOORS
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes for this walk that will lift not only your soul but also your body. A guided tour at the Bardini Museum will immediately immerse us in a daydream: a (unknown) treasure chest full of Florentine Renaissance masterpieces collected by its creator, the “Prince of antique dealers”.

We will then cross the quiet district of San Niccolò, one of the most “Florentine” areas of Florence, to walk towards the Rose Garden, one of the most characteristic parks in the city.

Once on the top we can then admire the pure architecture of the Church “San Salvatore al Monte” and conclude our journey with one of the most beautiful and fascinating basilicas in Florence: San Miniato al Monte, where, if we are lucky, we will witness the Gregorian chants in the evening.

LEGENDARY HILLS 
A journey to discover some of the most beautiful places in Tuscany. Certaldo, home of the medieval poet Boccaccio and a delightful, perfectly preserved medieval village, hides an extraordinary cultural itinerary, as well as excellent local restaurants.

And then the ancient city of alabaster: Volterra. It stands like a star above a sea of hills, with its artistic treasures ranging from the Etruscans to contemporary art installations, through the Roman period, a fairytale Middle Ages and Renaissance masterpieces.

As usual, we will add some unknown gems to these two pearls: a visit to one of the oldest parish churches in the region, immersed in the silence of the tuscan countryside, and a walk on the “cursed” hill of Semifonte, where you will discover the bloody stories of wars and devastation immersed in the legendary Middle Ages.

LEGENDARY VIA FRANCIGENA
San Gimignano, Monteriggioni and Siena, are linked to each other by an ancient path made for pilgrims: the Via Francigena. I’ll tell you about medieval wars, bishops, emperors, tons of money and black death.

Art, excellent wines and genuine food will be our companions. You’ll have a guided visit in each of these tuscan pearls and a lunch in a typical trattoria in the countryside.

MORNINGS IN FLORENCE
The Bargello Museum and the Basilica of Santa Croce. The poetic fury of Michelangelo, the oddities of Donatello, the proud Republic of Florence and the humility of St. Francis of Assisi. But also the excessive power of the Church of Rome and the end of “Florentina Libertas” by the more despotic generations of the Medici family.

Passing through the genius of Dante Alighieri, Giotto, Filippo Brunelleschi, Galileo Galilei, and more great artists, poets, musicians and writers. Like those of John Ruskin, who wrote his fascinating guide “Mornings in Florence” at the end of the nineteenth century, ours will be a walk to admire the most significant (and lesser known) works of the Florentine fifteenth century gold season.

We will conclude the experience with a visit to the Leather School of Santa Croce, one of the most prestigious institutions that carry on the ancient tradition of Florentine leather processing.

POSTCARD TUSCANY
Grain fields lying on gently rolling hills and old farmohouses in the shadow of dark cypress trees… If you are imaging at this Tuscany, you are thinking of Val d’Orcia. We’ll start early in the morning towards Pienza for a guided visit, then we’ll have a tasting of its traditional Pecorino (sheep milk cheese) in a beautiful farm.

Our day continues through the stunning landscape of these hills, direction Montalcino where we’ll have our lunch in a typical trattoria and a wine tasting of His Majesty the Brunello di Montalcino.

SECRET FLORENCE
There is a Florence well known to the majority of people, and a secret one, hidden just round the corner, or inside some churches and palaces missed everyday by the masses, but full of stories and amazing artworks.

I’ll take you there with a non-official guided visit, sharing with you a genuine way to enjoy this incredible city. After lunch in a typical florentine trattoria I’ll take you to the hills overlooking the city for a memorable journey.

STORIES OF CHIANTI
On this day we will visit very different places, to discover this wonderful region, often – unfortunately – visited casually. We will hear stories of saints and pilgrims, artists and aristocrats at a monastery nestled between oak woods and vineyards.

We will discover how good wine is on the small farm, which also produces excellent oil and has welcomed people with a smile for generations. We will explore small villages that have remained authentic and genuine, where we will be able to taste local products and discover arts and crafts traditions.

We will stop on the sunny hilltops to admire the unique landscapes that Chianti can offer and we will be delighted to watch the hand flow over the clay in the dim light of the Impruneta kilns. Slowness and sustainability will be our compasses on this journey that will make us find much more than what we call “Chianti”.

PLACES TO ENJOY
The clients of Villa il Poggiale will be privileged guests in the historical wineries and restaurants of Marchesi Antinori in Chianti and Florence. In the ancient village of Badia a Passignano Antinori family ownes also the restaurant “Osteria di Passignano”, where you find creative reinterpretations of Tuscan cuisine by Chef Mattia who got recently a Michelin star.

The new Antinori winery is at Bargino, which is just 5 km from Villa Il Poggiale. This magnificent structure with high vaulted brick evokes a cathedral and gives a sense of continuity between generations.

The building houses not only the winery but also a museum and the restaurant Rinuccio. Staying in Relais Villa il Poggiale and savor the best of Antinori production will be a very pleasant experience.

VILLA IL POGGIALE & CORSINI FAMILY
Villa Le Corti, built in the early seventeenth century to the Princes Corsini who are still the owners, is a few minutes drive from Villa Il Poggiale. The beauty of the place, the beautiful winery and the activities that are organized by the Princes are the reasons why we created a close collaboration with Villa Le Corti.

During their stay at the Relais, guests can visit the ancient wineries and the mill, the can do a tasting of extra virgin olive oil and wine, taste farm products or eat at the new restaurant next to the winery. Very popular are the cooking classes, held personally by Clotilde Corsini in the large kitchen of the seventeenth-century villa.

THE SONNINO CASTLE 
The Sonnino Castle, with its tower of the thirteenth century, a symbol of the territory of Montespertoli, looks over the valley of the Chianti Fiorentino. Barons Alessandro e Caterina de Renzis Sonninolive here for many years and produce oil and wine of great character and quality, combining ancient tradition and love for their land with a deep knowledge and a spirit of research.

Sonnino castle in Montespertoli is just 10 minutes from Villa Il Poggiale, along the scenic and ancient via Volterrana. Baroness Caterina De Renzis and her staff will be happy to greet you and show you that ancient dwelling, and its wineries. At the “direct sale” you can taste the wine, extra virgin olive oil and appriciate the farmhouse cousine.

TENDA ROSSA
In Cerbaia, 3 minutes by car from the Relais, is situated “La Tenda Rossa”, haute cuisine, one Michelin star in an unexpected place. “La tenda Rossa” offers a refined original cousine with a very friendly staff and welcoming.

CORZANO & PATERNO
The farm Corzano and Paterno combines two properties that were of the Niccolini and Machiavelli families. The farm is famous for its pecorino cheese: ricotta, marzolino ”Buccia di Rospo” vaguely French, Blu that reminds a little aged Stilton. Olive oil and wine tastings as well.

VILLA DI CIGLIANO
Opposite the Relais Villa Il Poggiale is the Villa del Cigliano, dating back to fifth century where the owner Eleanora Antinori lived until 2000. The Villa and the garden keep unchanged the characteristics of the ancient Tuscany. Tours and tasting of farm products and cellar tours are directly by family members.

SUGGESTED EXPERIENCES
We will help you choose to choose between famous restaurants or restaurants in the immediate vicinity, or the best farms and cellars of the most famous producers, where you can taste and buy wine oil and other excellent local products.

GOLF
The Ugolino Golf Club, one of the most beautiful in Italy, is less than 25 minutes from Relais Villa Il Poggiale. Special rates for the guests of the villa.

RIDING, BIKING & TREKKING
You can enjoy beautiful riding in Chianti, at the heart of the nature of the beautiful Tuscan hills.

THE OLIVE HARVEST
The Tuscan olive oil is considered among the best in the world. Guests of Relais can take part in the olive harvest, they can join the “pressa” in the old mills and taste the freshly pressed oil with a slice of bread toasted on the grill.

COOKING CLASSES
Villa il Poggiale can arrange a special selection of Tuscan cuisine and the other Italian regions:Piedmontese cuisine with French influences, the imaginative cuisine of Naples and Sicily, where Arabs and Spaniards have left their mark. We will be glad to organize personalized cooking classes.

THE TRUFFLES OF SAN MINIATO
The Relais Villa il Poggiale is about 30 minutes from San Miniato. The surroundings of this beautiful medieval town is famous for the abundance of truffles. You can participate in the search following the dogs trained to collect the precious tubers. The last weekend of November in the squares and streets of the town, is taking place a Truffle Festival with stalls selling all kinds of truffles.

WINE, OLIVES & CHEESE IN CHIANTI 
We organize visits to some of the most famous wineries of Chianti. We can also recommend cheese tasting and extra virgin olive oil, directly in the places of production.

THE PALIO OF SIENA
The Palio of Siena needs no introduction. The parade of ”contrade” and the horse race in the Piazza del Campo are a wonderful show. Town atmosphere in the days of the Palio is unique: dinners and celebrations in the streets, the blessing of horses in the churches, the music, the costumes, they will give you an unforgettable experience.

Villa Il Poggiale is abot 40 minutes from Siena. We will arrange tickets for the Palio and for the dinners of the “contrada”.

THE BALLOON RIDES
The balloon rides offer many itineraries to unique views of the Chianti area. Upon arrival Champagne Breakfast.

FOR THE ART LOVERS
Florence city center is only twenty minutes from Relais Villa Il Poggiale. In less than an hour you can reach the most beautiful art cities of Tuscany: Siena, Arezzo, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, Certaldo, Volterra, Pienza, Montepulciano and many others.

IL CAFFE DEL POGGIALE
A space designed for cultural deepening combined with relax, where you can discover and learn about the wonders around Villa il Poggiale. An opportunity for growth and knowledge thanks to experiences tailored to our environments, to be lived with conviviality and interest in the gorgeous setting of the Villa.

All you have to do is sit comfortably under the airy loggia or in the large hall, where sweet and savory delicacies freshly baked from our kitchen will be served, accompanied by coffee and cold drinks. To restore body and soul, with taste.

THE GARDEN OF THE GODS
The olive tree of Athena, the vine of Bacchus, the Laurel of Daphne and Apollo and countless other stories. Each Mediterranean plant carries with it a secret tale that finds its roots in Greek myths, Etruscan beliefs and medieval fantasies. The gardens of Villa il Poggiale are the perfect stage to experience the show of Nature.

So we created a short walk for our guests in the company of our official guide, to learn about the essences of the Tuscan flora, not really from a botanical point of view, but through the myths, literature and ancient symbols that make nature our deepest culture.

It will be a path made of flowers, leaves, anecdotes and stories, to discover the hidden spirit of Tuscany in a relaxing cultural walk.  At the end of the experience we will be refreshed by a “vegetable” aperitif freshly prepared by our kitchen.

A YEAR WITH DANTE ALIGHIERI
In the year of the celebration for Dante Alighieri’s 700th anniversary, we want to become ambassadors of the culture that surrounds us, involving our customers in a stay where relaxation and good taste are combined with thirst for knowledge and moments of discovery.

With Marco, official tour guide of Villa il Poggiale, we will look for Dante’s places in Florence and beyond, through narrow medieval alleys, towers, monuments and many stories to share.

An experience immersed to get to know this immense genius and try to become friends with it, discovering also the most human sides of the divine Poet! The style and the relaxation offered by Villa il Poggiale, will be the perfect setting to dive immediately into a journey through time, without sacrificing the comfort and pumpering of an authentic holiday in Tuscany.

The rooms of Villa il Poggiale will be at your disposal to refresh yourself after a long day spent discovering, and the pleasure of discovery will perfectly match the pleasures of our table.

Rooms: 20

Price: from 99 EUR per night

Source: www.villailpoggiale.it