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What road is more mythical in Tuscany than la Chiantigiana? It starts
at the edge of Florence, in that astonishing spot where one side of the street
is lined with apartment buildings and the other with vineyard-blanketed hills.
If you've been there you surely remember the sight: from above it appears to
be a cluster of ancient beige walls and red-tile roofs held in the gentle clasp
of two green patchwork gloves. As you make your way along this narrow two-lane
road you soon forget the city, partly because you need to concentrate on all
those curves! But it's also because of the vistas that strike you when you do
glance up: alternating layers of silvery green olive groves, baby-green vineyards,
golden wheat fields and black-green forests, presided over by the occasional
gray stone castle or cream-colored farmhouse. Fattoria Giobbole, one of
the latter, has been part of this landscape since the year 1500.
For longer than anyone can remember, this 160-acre estate (which began life
as a monastery) has been reaping the bounties of the surrounding landscape. Every
year olives and sangiovese grapes which are harvested are sold to a local wine
cooperative. In fact the vineyards seen from every window of the farm offer up
a Chianti Classico D.O.C.G., along with the requisite vin santo, several
varieties of table wine and even a sparkling spumante.
Alessio’s grandfather bought the farm in 1955 and the first remodelling
to the buildings dates to the 1960’s as there was no electric energy or
running water. From this time the farm changed from being primarily a livestock
farm to an estate producing wine and olive oil. Alessio decided ten years ago
to open his home to guests. He has since converted his family’s farmhouse,
barn, and outbuildings into comfortable apartments and rooms. He has preserved
the original brick floors, wood-beamed ceilings and spacious fireplaces and tastefully
decorated the houses with traditional Tuscan furniture and fabrics. A delightful
communal room off the cloister has a satellite TV, chairs and tables and a billiard
room. Four mountain bikes are available for use on the property free of charge.
Fienile , directly behind the main house, measures about 900 square
feet. On the ground floor are an entry, a living room with TV, fireplace and
double sofa bed, and an eat-in kitchen. Upstairs are two bedrooms under the high
sloping eaves, one with a double bed and the other with two twin beds. Both bedrooms
have double-glazed floor-to-ceiling windows and ceiling fans. They share a bathroom
with stall shower. Sleeps 4 + 2.
Fienile Aia , is an independent house set about 150 yards from the
rest of the complex. It measures 700 square feet and has a large living/dining
room with local TV, double sleep sofa, fireplace and kitchenette on the ground
floor, plus a big double bedroom with ceiling fan and bathroom with shower upstairs.
Very panoramic views from the floor-to-ceiling window. Sleeps 2 + 2.
La Chiostrina apartment is on the first floor of the main 16 th century
villa and measures about 800 square feet . It consists on an entry way, kitchen
with large fireplace, 2 double bedrooms (one also with a single sleep sofa),
bathroom with shower, and terrace on the inside cloister. Sleeps 4 + 1.
La Cappellina is an independent house with a private garden measuring
about 650 square feet, consisting of a large living room with a double sleep
sofa and a double bedroom with an elevated loft space with another single pull
out couch, one bathroom with shower. Sleeps 2 + 3.
There are also three double rooms, each with private bathroom and TV (with
local channels), as well as a Family Suite (one room with double bed, one connecting
room with two single beds, and one bathroom with shower and small communal area
with couch) in the main villa which can be rented with a 3 day minimum. The rooms
also share a communal sitting room with couches. Breakfast is served inside during
colder months, but as soon as the air warms up caffè is taken out to the
panoramic terrace, and soon after that it's time to spend a couple of late-afternoon
hours around the beautifully landscaped swimming pool. Such are the seasons of
Tuscany and they unfold as regularly as the age-old planting, tending and harvesting
of the neighboring grapes and olives.
Exact address of the property: Via Chiantigiana 34 Greve in Chianti
-FI- 50022
Number of apartments: 4 + 5 rooms
Price range: 80.-150. Euro/night (rooms); 380.-900. Euro/week (apartments)
Sunday check-in OK? No
Open 365 days/year? April 3-October 16
Are credit cards accepted for extra expenses? Yes
What is the nearest town? Greve in Chianti
How many km? 6 km
How long does it take to walk to the nearest town? One hour
How many km to the nearest supermarket? 6 km
How many km to the nearest train station? 17 km
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