Villa Montaione

The estate lies in the hills half way between Florence and Pisa, not far from the town of San Miniato, known for its white truffle and exciting the truffel market held each year in November and December. 

With everything from medieval villages to golf courses nearby, Villa Montaione is a wonderful choice whether you want to explore, play or simply relax. Stroll through the medieval villages of Certaldo and San Gimignano, discover local vineyards and olive oil producers, or drive to the town of San Miniato for a casual meal. 

For a day trip, choose from the cities of Volterra, Lucca, Pisa, Florence and Siena, or make your way to one of the Mediterranean beaches. 

The seashore: You will be just an hour drive away from the Tirrenea Beach close to Pisa and Livorno, whose white sands and turquoise waters have made it one of the top ranked strands in all of Tuscany. A bit more north along the coast of Versilia you find the sandy beaches at turn of the century Viareggio and fashionable Forte dei Marmi with their trendy bars, designer shopping and some of the best seafood restaurants in Italy. 

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.

Volterra: Visit Volterra with its well-preserved medieval ramparts.

Lucca: One of the most enchanting towns in Tuscany. Whether you stroll along the wide avenues cresting the top of the ancient city walls or wander through the narrow streets punctuated by its ninety nine churches, visit one of the richly endowed museums or browse among the old-fashioned little boutiques, sip a cappuccino at one of the many traditional coffee houses and sample some of the best ice cream in Tuscany, this is a sheer delight.

The celebrated villas around Lucca: Some of these historic villas are open to the public and a few have internationally renowned gardens, offering an inimitable glimpse of gracious living which has endured until the present day.

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.

Local craftmanship: The 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 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.