Sights

Florence

40 km

Florence is the capital city of the Tuscany region, known and renowned throughout the world for the inestimable value of its works of art, most of which are scattered in museums, galleries and churches.

It can be said, without fear of denial, that the words Florence and Tuscany constitute an indissoluble combination synonymous with sublime beauties, among which the colored marbles of the churches and the high-sounding architecture stand out.

There are many places where art is the undisputed master, such as the Uffizi Gallery, an unmissable stop for those visiting the city of Florence. The Uffizi houses extraordinary collections of ancient sculptures and paintings spanning time, from the Middle Ages up to the modern age.

Apart from the Uffizi, to start admiring Florence it is often enough to walk through its streets, because many works of art are accessible and visible to all, such as Piazza della Signoria, an architectural jewel that is the heart of the city's social life and seat of civil power.

From Piazza della Signoria, one cannot help but pay homage to the great poet Dante Alighieri by visiting his house, located in one of the oldest parts of the historic center of Florence, transformed into a museum accessible to the public.

In addition to the name of the great poet, another is also inextricably linked to Florence and Tuscany, namely that of the Medici, an ancient and powerful Tuscan family that conquered its role as a dynasty, placing itself, starting from 15th century and up to the 18th century, among the most important families in Italy and Europe.

The distance between Podere Mezzastrada and Florence is 40 km, so by staying in one of the available apartments, you can reach the city in less than an hour.

Siena

48 km

Siena is certainly one of the favorite destinations for tourists from all over the world and by mentioning it one cannot help but think of the famous Palio.

The Palio di Siena is held once a year, but reducing it to a simple competition between rival districts means depriving it of its true value. The Palio di Siena is the life of all the Sienese people over time and in its various aspects and feelings.

A testimony of horse races that took place in Siena dates back to 1200 but some documents recall, as early as the 12th century, the race of the Palio di San Bonifacio.

The city of Siena is rich in traditions and it is also through events like this one, prepared with care and waiting with emotion, that the splendor of this splendid Tuscan city can be relieved.

Traditions, art and history form the backbone of this city merging with each other, as happens between the Palio di Siena and Piazza del Campo.

Piazza del Campo is the place designated for the Palio race and is therefore famous for this but there is more because, its unmistakable shell shape remained architecturally unchanged over time, making it recognizable at first sight.

After enjoying the Sienese atmosphere, the time has come to choose where to eat in Siena to relax and enjoy the flavors of the Tuscan land. So where to eat in Siena to taste traditional dishes and wines? You are spoiled for choice because the whole area is dotted with typical taverns and restaurants where you can enjoy Sienese cured meats and cheeses, first courses based on wild boar, ribollita and many main courses of meat. A particular note is dedicated to the Panforte di Siena sweet rich in dried fruit, candied fruit, honey and spices, whose original recipe dates back to the Middle Ages and which still today the whole world envies us.

Chianti

27 km

Classic Chianti as an expression of Tuscany's love for viticulture. What is meant by Chianti classico? The wine is obtained from the vines of specific areas, in this case those scattered between Florence and Siena, including the municipalities of Greve, Panzano, Gaiole, Radda, Castellina and Castelnuovo Berardenga.

Chianti, a fine and quality wine, already obtained the prestigious DOCG qualification in 1984, which it still retains today.

In some areas of Tuscany it is possible to see with your own eyes the splendid vineyards that give rise to the Chianti DOCG wine, among these Radda in Chianti , considered the capital of classic Chianti, whose settlements are traced back to 2000AC.

Another stronghold of this superb wine is Greve in Chianti, recognizable by its main square which, although it does not have its traditional shape, is the focal point of the city and meeting point. The portico that runs along it on three of the four sides, frames the artisan workshops and shops.

In Greve in Chianti, wine tastings are the order of the day and the welcoming and evocative environment amplifies the scent and taste of this extraordinary wine. In the journey to discover Chianti, you could not miss Castellina in Chianti, its village dates back to the Etruscan era and is considered one of the main cities of Chianti. Under the ancient walls there is an impressive underground tunnel that houses shops, artisan shops and restaurants.

The Castellina in Chianti tunnel extends in a ring embracing the whole village and is a peculiarity of this city, definitely worth visiting, also because it offers an extraordinary and unusual shelter from the summer heat.

San Gimignano

23 km

San Gimignano is a fortified medieval village, so ancient that its walls are even traced back to the year 1000.

This medieval village is perfectly represented by its historic center and Piazza della Cisterna, with its particular triangular shape, flanked by medieval houses.

The city of San Gimignano, Tuscany, is known for its historical and artistic heritage and for its architecture, with particular reference to that of its towers, so much so that, in 1990, it was fully declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

However, San Gimignano is not only the representation of its medieval village because the whole area is equally famous for its typical and excellent food and wine products, such as the Vernaccia San Gimignano.

An exceptional white wine known and appreciated all over the world, whose production is limited here and this, if possible, increases its prestige even more making every wine tasting in San Gimignano where Vernaccia is protagonist, unique and particular. A curiosity: in 1972 the Consortium of Vernaccia di San Gimignano was established which worked to obtain this wine. In addition to the DOC, the DOCG qualification, which took place in 1993.

In 2012, the year in which the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the Consortium falls, this has obtained another prestigious recognition, the Erga Omnes for the two wines Vernaccia di San Gimignano Docg and San Gimignano Doc.

Pisa

85 km

Pisa is the city famous in the world for its leaning tower which, in reality, is a bell tower in its own right 57 meters high located in the famous Piazza del Duomo.

The Tower of Pisa owes its slope to a subsidence of the land on which it was built, which occurred during the early stages of its construction. Although the Tower of Pisa is an extraordinary work of art characterized by the many turns of blind arches and 6 floors of loggias, what most attracts tourists from all over the world is its inclination.

A peculiarity linked to the Tower that not everyone knows: this extraordinary bell tower has been proposed as one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

If this first stop is almost a must when visiting the city, what to see in Pisa after stopping to admire the Tower? On what to see in Pisa you will be spoiled for choice because the beauties of this city are many. Marina di Pisa is a perfect destination to dedicate a day of vacation to the Tuscan sea. The pebble and sandy beaches are sheltered by the docks, this conformation favors a calm sea and for this reason they are particularly loved by families.

The distance between Pisa and Marina di Pisa is just 12 km, therefore an absolutely accessible stop for those who have little time available but want to enjoy the beauty of the area. The Duomo di Pisa (or Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta) is the medieval cathedral of Pisa and is located in the center of Piazza del Duomo, also known as Piazza dei Miracoli. The construction of the Cathedral of Pisa dates back to 1063 while its consecration is given in the year 1118.

Piazza del Duomo, or Piazza dei Miracoli, as it was nicknamed after the war, was recognized as a UNESCO heritage site in 1987.

Volterra

48 km

Volterra, Tuscany , is a lovely and charming city in the province of Pisa, not far from Florence, Siena and the coastal coast.

This land owes notoriety to its Etruscan origins and in particular to the many archaeological finds dating back to that era and which have occurred over time.

The Volterra area is located exactly in the Pisan countryside, very close to the borders of Siena and Livorno, therefore in the heart of Tuscany and is rich in alabaster which is extracted here and then handcrafted.

There are many artisan shops in the area which, every day, transform alabaster into unique and precious artifacts. How can we not connect the Volterra area to vampires? Thanks to the famous saga, Volterra Twilight seems to represent, for years now, an inseparable pair.

For fans of the genre, it should in fact be remembered that Volterra is not only a beautiful medieval village surrounded by breathtaking views, but it is also the home of the royal vampire family of the novel, in fact, Twilight, New Moon Saga. Volterra Twilight between reality and legend. A peculiarity: even if the references refer to Volterra, it seems however that, in reality, most of the shots were shot about 100 Km from here.

What to see in Volterra? This Tuscan land offers many attractions, all to see and easily accessible, even if you have little time available. Some of the stops not to be missed are Piazza dei Priori and Palazzo Pretorio, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Etruscan Guarnacci museum, the Etruscan acropolis, the walls and the access doors, so, given the offer, what to see in Volterra it mostly depends on personal taste.

Another advantage is that in just about 50 minutes you travel the distance between Volterra and Siena so that, as mentioned, even with a few days available, you can easily visit both cities.

San Miniato

39 km

San Miniato is both the seat of a diocese and an important economic and industrial center for the entire Ponte a Egola leather area.

Not many people know that, in addition to the much better known and loved Palio di Siena, the leather area also stages its own, that is the Palio del Cuoio and it seems that even Ponte a Egola, after various vicissitudes, will run again behind the kegs together with its five districts. The flagship of San Miniato, however, is its highly prized white truffles, for which it is particularly renowned, together with its wine and oil products.

There are many festivals and events related to the local food and wine and in one of the food and wine tours of this Tuscan land, the San Miniato truffle festival cannot be missed. When you are in this land, the truffle festival is an unmissable stop, also because, during this event, a real market exhibition takes place which has been taking place, as usual, for over fifty 'years.

When does the white truffle festival of the Samminiatesi hills take place? For enthusiasts but also for the curious, it is possible to participate in the San Miniato white truffle festival during the last three weekends of november, in compliance with a calendar full of initiatives, all concentrated in the historic center.

San Miniato truffle of excellence yes, but not only white because even the black one finds space, in this context, to satisfy all palates. Just as it happens for white, in the month of November in San Miniato black truffle means theme nights, tastings, appetizers with truffles, the market exhibition and much more.

It is certainly worth stopping at the San Miniato truffle festival to enjoy the aroma of the truffle and, why not, take home a piece of this splendid land.

Certaldo

11 km

Certaldo is a town in the city of Florence, known, among other things, for being Boccaccio's house, it is here that the writer and poet Giovanni Boccaccio was born and he died.

Boccaccio's house, transformed into a museum, is located in the medieval part of the town, the museum is now managed directly by the municipal administration and forms a single museum circuit with the Palazzo Pretorio and the Museum of Sacred Art.

Located in the suggestive and lush Val d’Elsa, the town is divided into two blocks, Certaldo Alto which stands on a hill and Certaldo Basso.

The historic center of the town is located in Certaldo Alto and is entirely pedestrianized, perfect for being explored on foot in complete safety. There are three different options to reach the center which are by car to the pedestrian area, on foot along a charming medieval street, or by using the funicular.There is no shortage of events in Certaldo and one of the most anticipated and evocative shows is certainly that of Mercantia, the international festival of the fourth theater, that is the street one, which winds through the streets and squares of the city.

What to see in Certaldo? Beyond Mercantia, the city of Certaldo offers a series of attractions not to be missed such as Boccaccio's house museum which houses various editions of the Decameron, the Church of SS Michele and Jacopo , the Palazzo Pretorio and much more.

There is another question besides Certaldo, what to see and Certaldo what to taste and taste? Many food and wine tours to savor the culinary and wine wonders produced in this generous land of Tuscany.