Five Experiences to Live in the Tuscan Countryside
But the heart of Tuscany lies in its little villages nestled against the hills (we’ve written about them here). Here the perfect place to stay is the agriturismo, the kind of farm-stay that tells you more about the land around it than anywhere else.
Podere Castellare — for gin lovers
Heading up toward the Passo della Consuma, in Pelago, we come upon this beautiful agriturismo, which from its hilltop looks out over the olive groves and vineyards of a lesser-known but no less lovely corner of Chianti. At an altitude of nearly 500 meters above sea level, it’s the ideal place to break from the daily grind and recharge in the company of nature. It’s also a great base for hiking and mountain biking enthusiasts. Podere Castellare is the place to visit if you love gin: this is where Peter in Florence, one of the finest gins in Italy, is produced. Its experiences are great fun, from the Peter menu to the weekend tonic — a whole weekend spent sipping your favorite cocktail. And don’t worry: once you arrive, you won’t need the car again. The property has a pool, a spa, ample green spaces, and a beautiful terrace overlooking the hills.
Wine tasting on horseback with Suveraia Wines
A whole new way to experience wine and discover the Maremma’s best-kept secrets. The bright idea comes from Ilaria Camerini, oenologist and owner of the small winery Suveraia Wines.
As the saying goes: nella botte piccola c’è il buon vino — good wine comes in small barrels.
By producing wine in small quantities, this family-run estate can keep a daily eye on production, lavishing a passionate care on quality. Here, and only here, can you taste the Nocchianello Spiga di Grano, a wine made from the native grape of the same name.
So far, so ordinary. But on weekends, with advance booking, you can pair your love of good drinking with the urge to discover something new in nature: the most secret corner of the Maremma, the stretch between the towns of Suvereto, Monterotondo Marittimo, and Massa Marittima. You’ll do it on horseback (with a guide, of course), just as tradition dictates in those parts. You can choose from different ride lengths, all of which end back at the Suveraia Wines estate, where you’ll be welcomed with a tasting of their wines and some tasty appetizers.
Podere La Cerreta & the Terme di Sassetta
Podere La Cerreta and the Terme di Sassetta thermal baths form a single organism, set amid the quiet and greenery of the Poggio Neri forest park.
A magical place of pervasive well-being, where life unfolds in full harmony with the rhythms and spaces of nature, following the principles of biodynamics.
Starting from the main road, a dirt track leads slowly up to the farm-stay and the thermal center attached to it. Step by step, through woods of Turkey oaks, cork oaks, pastures, vineyards, and ancient olive groves, the daily frenzy gives way to the calm of a life lived close to nature.
Far from noise and stress, with no TV or Wi-Fi in the rooms, surrounded by an authentic and unspoiled landscape, a stay at this thermal farm-stay is the ideal chance to recharge and reconnect with the deepest essence of the small things.
Borgo Petriolo — discovering the grain supply chain
A brand-new spot on the outskirts of Florence! Born from the union of four leaders in grain production and processing — Monna Giovannella, Spighe Toscane, Forno La Torre, Food Locker Italy — Borgo Petriolo is the ideal place to spend days devoted to good taste and good fun.
What does “short supply chain” mean?
We hear more and more about supply-chain products, zero-kilometer products, which over time have led us down the healthier path of choosing local, artisanal goods and getting to know the people who grow and make them. Here every distance has been eliminated thanks to a single, circular supply chain: all the production processes have been gathered into one operation.
Borgo Petriolo lets you experience firsthand the industry and dedication behind the making of its products. On the farm grow both ancient grains, with their tall, proud ears, and beautiful olive trees that yield an exceptional extra-virgin oil, a blend of five native varieties. Here you can learn the techniques of sowing and organic cultivation. From the field you move on to processing, which comes to life in the Stone Mill, where the grain is worked and ground. Then on to the Bakery, where the doughs are worked by hand to produce all sorts of savory and sweet goods. Finally, you can study the natural leavening of the various grains.
Yoga and art at the Alberelli farm-stay: a hidden oasis in the Livorno hills
The unusual setting of the Alberelli farm-stay — immersed in the unspoiled Mediterranean scrub typical of the Livorno hills — gives this resort of a few apartments a unique view over the Tuscan archipelago. The farm-stay occupies a former seventeenth-century monastery known as “Il Casolare” and is the perfect place to recharge your energy and rebalance your spirit. Beyond the quiet and the nearness of the sea, Alberelli hosts yoga groups and retreats to be practiced in close contact with nature.
