Villa I Barronci Chianti

There are times in life – and if there aren’t, we should create them – when the moment has finally come to give ourselves a gift. Places like Villa I Barronci Resort & Spa, nestled in the heart of the Chianti region, exist for this reason, to reward ourselves.

Those who love Tuscany and its lush vegetation, which bestows wellbeing and harmony, cannot help but love an ancient villa from the thirteenth century, refurbished to be the setting of your dreams.

One of the strenght of our Bed & Breakfast is its cuisine. A holiday on the Chianti Road cannot overlook the knowledge and flavours of this place and the panoramic terrace where you find our restaurant is sure to take your senses to the greatest heights.

What is better than a B&B in the Chianti region? A B&B in the Chianti region with a pool! Especially if it also has a Jacuzzi and a large private park where you can relax. That’s without even mentioning the wellness area with sauna and relaxation area. In other words, if you want to treat yourself, you are in the right place.

The location of Villa I Barronci Resort & Spa is truly enviable, as it is found in the wide open countryside, on the highest hill in San Casciano, from which you can admire the breathtaking view over the Val di Pesa, only 15 minutes from Florence. The rest of Tuscany is easy to visit and close by too.

SUITES
They are situated in the oldest part of the Villa, completely restored in a conservative way so to keep the original details of the thirteenth century, the Suites at Villa I Barronci Resort & Spa are elegant and have been carefully furnished, right down to the smallest details.

All our beds come with hypoallergenic toppers and pillows, ensuring you get the best night’s sleep. This is combined with the comfort zone system that will always keep the room at the perfect temperature.

TUSCAN SUPERIOR
Our Tuscan Superior rooms are spacious and airy and can accommodate up to 4 people. They retain the charm that you can find throughout the entire villa, with unique, prestigious pieces of furniture.

What’s more, in order to guarantee that you get the best night’s rest, the rooms are furnished with hypoallergenic bed toppers and pillows. They also come complete with the comfort zone system, so that you’re always welcome with the perfect temperature, whether you stay with us during the summer or winter.

TUSCAN STYLE
Our Tuscan Style rooms are spacious and airy and can accommodate up to 2 people. They retain the charm that you can find throughout the entire villa, with unique, prestigious pieces of furniture.

What’s more, in order to guarantee that you get the best night’s rest, the rooms are furnished with hypoallergenic bed toppers and pillows. They also come complete with the comfort zone system, so that you’re always welcome with the perfect temperature, whether you stay with us during the summer or winter.

PALAZZO TEMPI
If you want a holiday where you can be completely independent, within a ancient building in Tuscany, our Palazzo Tempi apartment is just the thing you are looking for. It is found in the centre of San Casciano, inside one of the oldest buildings in the town.

If you are coming by car for your Tuscan apartment holiday, please be aware that we do not have private parking, but you will find affordable indoor parking just 100 metres away.

One of the highlights of Palazzo Tempi is that it is an extremely comfortable holiday home with the addition of the exclusive services from Villa I Barronci Resort & Spa.

In fact, the guests of Palazzo Tempi can use the outdoor pool, the wellness area (upon reservation) and the restaurant with its à la carte menu. This way, you can cook when you feel like it, and when you don’t there is a convenient and delicious option at your disposal!

THE RESTAURANT
Try the delicious dishes served in our Restaurant, da Tiberio, which is located right on the panoramic terrace at Villa I Barronci Resort & Spa. Restaurant is open every day, except on Moday evenings.

As an expression of the most traditional Tuscan cuisine, the dishes and recipes have been reinterpreted with a modern twist to further enhance the superior quality of ingredients, which are strictly organic and at zero food miles, such as our organic meat coming from certified farms and organic vegetables. Our chefs will also be happy to prepare special menus for specific diets, intolerances and allergies, upon request.

Our wine list also aims to enhance our regional excellences by offering a selection of the finest Tuscan wine labels: Chianti Classico, Chianti Riserva and Super-Tuscans, such as Tignanello, Solaia and Sassicaia. Brunello di Montalcino, the noble Montepulciano and a small selection of whites round out the labels in our wine cellar.

THE BREAKFAST
Our region is just waiting to be explored: spectacular surprises are to be found at every corner. That’s why it’s important that you start the day in the best way, with an energy-filled and tasty breakfast to ease your wakening. At Villa I Barronci Resort & Spa you will find an abundant sweet and savoury buffet filled with entirely homemade croissants, tarts and pastries.

Yet it doesn’t stop there – we also have fresh fruit, yoghurt, cereal, jams, eggs, cold cuts, cheeses and pies with high quality ingredients at Km 0 and also the Goat’s milk from Tuscan pastures in addition to that of cow or soy.

Of course your table will not be without Tuscan bread and the traditional schiacciata flatbread from the region, , you can order your favourite hot drinks or make from self service machine thanks to the brand Franke, combining modernity and high quality in a single action!

The buffet is also complete with organic, diet and gluten-free products, so as to meet the needs of all our guests. The breakfast service is open until 10.30 am, but we also serve brunch and a light lunch in late morning on special occasions.

GRACE’S GARDEN
Our garden is named after our mother Graziella, who is a deep lover of plants. We intended to create a circular vegetable garden: our goal is to produce a natural soil by reusing kitchen scraps like vegetable and fruits peels, mown grass and remains of pruning, that together with the existing grounds in our property can help us sprout healthy vegetables all year round.

We like to follow the natural succession of the seasons without forcing the growth of our crops. We buy seeds and sprouts at a local organic farm and accommodate them in the cozy garden beds that are located near our kitchens; we have dedicated a corner of the garden to the “scents”: the herbs that are needed to add a pleasant flavor to recipes.

In this corner you can find: Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Mint, Parsley and some secret spices that our Chefs use in their dishes. For the pleasure of the eye and not only for their taste, we are also growing an interesting amount of colorful salads and radicchios, as well as tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines and peppers.

A special thanks goes to Claudio Gori who is helping us with his professionalism and his passion in the realization and maintenance of our organic garden

NAMASTE WELLNESS CENTRE
Since March 2018 the new wellness center of Villa I Barronci has been reopened after bein g completely renovated: it consists of relaxation area, Turkish bath, Finnish sauna, emotional showers and a romantic Jacuzzi for max 2 people. Access by reservation with bathrobe, towel and slippers included.

Namaste Relax Area was created to offer our guests the opportunity to regenerate body and mind in an atmosphere of absolute tranquility, surrounded by the Chianti hills. The highly qualified staff will take care of you and you can relax with relaxing and relaxing massages, upon reservation, and / or request exclusive and personalized treatments.

You can use the relaxation area and the herbal tea area, relax with the lounge music, purify body and spirit in the sauna and rely on expert hands of well-being in our massage area. The SPA is open every day from 1 pm to 9 pm – also available in the morning upon reservation.

Let yourself be tempted, discover the wellness packages that Villa I Barronci Resort & Spa has designed for you! Please note! The outdoor pool, with thermalized water and constantly heated to 30 ° C, has an incomparable view.

Adjacent is a Finnish sauna. The external system is available free of charge to Guests staying at Villa i Barronci and remains open from 10 am to 7 pm, except in cases of bad weather for safety reasons.

POOL & JACUZZI
A pool illuminated by the colours of the sunset…Have you ever experienced sipping an aperitif at sunset, while enjoying a bath in the pool, with the Chianti valley as a panorama?

It is the splendid atmosphere that our Guests will be able to experience staying at Villa I Barronci Resort & Spa. In the park there is in fact an enchanting 7 meter by 12 panoramic swimming pool, with Jacuzzi corner.

The outdoor pool is open all year round, is heated with 30° Celsius constantly and has thermalised water (potassium and magnesium salts are add for healthy benefits of skin and body). An adjacent sauna complete the relaxation. The area is open form 10 am to 7 pm, except on bad weather days for safety reasons.

SAN CASCIANO
San Casciano in Val di Pesa is a small town that is located 15km away from Florence, part of the Chianti Classico sub-area and famous for its wine and extra-virgin olive oil production. Surrounded by hills, the old town centre also has a wealth of distinctive medieval buildings and museums that attest to the Roman settlements of the 12th century

This museum is found at the Church of Santa Maria del Gesù and holds the paintings that used to be found in the churches within the municipal area. Belonging to the artistic movement of Florence and Siena in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, these works of art show how San Casciano has been a crossroads for different cultures and philosophical schools of thought since ancient times.

Opened in 2009, this museum is home to an important archaeological section that holds some of the oldest documents concerning the history of San Casciano: from the Etruscan stele of the archer, to everyday objects from the Roman world.

The section dedicated to primitive dwellings is also fascinating, with scale models, information panels and period photos, all with the aim of showing the great range in the types of buildings and traditional homes.

By going to the top of the tower – and former aqueduct – and simply turning around, you can enjoy the stunning view of the Florentine and Vallombrosa valleys, the Pistoia peaks, the areas around Pisa, Siena villages, the Chianti hills and, when there are clear skies, even the sea.

Built in early 1900s and then restored after the Second World War, it still carries out its original function – water storage – but also hosts contemporary art exhibitions and cultural events.

THE CHIANTI ROAD
The land of the Gallo Nero – the black rooster: ever present, with treasures that increase everyday. The food and wine tours in the Chianti region of the Tuscan countryside are part of one of the most beautiful and famous landscapes in the world.

Kilometre after kilometre, it offers visitors evidence of its Etruscan and Roman history and of the changing occured during the wars between Siena and Florence during the Middle Age, in order to conquer the region.

The passion and dedication of the people who have lived and worked here have made this territory full of rich and evocative panorama even today, with sprawling expanses of vineyards and olive groves, narrow streets and medieval villages that have been perfectly preserved.

The Chianti Road connects various municipalities, stretching from Florence to Siena, all of which are dotted with wineries and oil producers, tourist accommodation, restaurants and craftsmen that are all pursuing the same objective: that of developing the area as a whole while respecting its individual characteristics.

GREVE IN CHIANTI
We suggest beginning your tour exploring the Chianti region in Greve, a town that is only 20km from Villa I Barronci Resort & Spa. It is famous for its unique piazza, which was the market for the surrounding villages, castles and farms built in the Middle Age.

It also offers many opportunities to try numerous traditional products from the Chianti region. What’s more, the Wine Museum is also located here.

CASTELLINA IN THE CHIANTI 
The next stop on the Chianti Road is Castellina. Its ancient origins are attested to by the Etruscan tombs in Montecalvario. The Archaeological Museum of the Chianti Senese covers the history of the area and preserves Etruscan artefacts found during excavations that began in 1989.

GAIOLE IN CHIANTI 
If you are a fan of fortresses and castles, Gaiole is the place for you! Found half way between the Chianti and Valdarno areas, you can visit Vetrine Castle, Meleto Castle and Parish Church of Spaltenna within its territory. Today these are also places which focus on wine, oil and traditional produce.

PANZANO
By continuing in the direction of Siena, you will get to Panzano. Here you can visit the Castle that was fundamental in defending the Florence territory from the 12th century onwards.

Strolling through the ancient village, you can stop for a glass of wine in one of the many wine bars and try a classic Florentine steak at the famous Antica Macelleria Cecchini, with verses from the Divine Comedy lauded in the background.

RADDA IN CHIANTI 
This village may be the one that has best preserved its original medieval appearance. Still protected by walls, the centre of the town spreads out into concentric narrow streets, where the Palazzo del Podestà stands out with its 51 coats of arms on the façade, recalling the chief magistrates that followed on from one another over the years. You can also visit Volpaia Castle, which is only 10 minutes away by car, a tourist village where wine tasting reigns supreme.

SAN GIMIGNANO
Hills dotted with villages that have over three thousand years of history…No matter which way you arrive to San Gimignano, this town stands on top of a hill at over 300 metres above sea level, with all its towers. Today there are 13 of them, but it is said that in the 14th century there were more than seventy, one for every wealthy family, who displayed their economic power in this way.

Not too far away you find Volterra, the ancient city of Etruscan origin which has been conquered by the Romans, Barbarians and Florentine legions more than once over the centuries. Its picturesque old town centre is dotted with churches and museums and has been the film set for Italian and international products many times.

Another undoubtedly charming village is Monteriggioni, famous for its walls that have completely surrounded it since the early thirteenth century, spanning 570 metres, interspersed with 14 towers and two gates, which are still intact today.

A section of the walkway on the walls has recently been opened to the public for visits: from here you can take in the Chianti and Val d’Elsa countryside for as far as the eye can see.

These are picturesque itineraries that are convenient for people staying at Villa I Barronci Resort & Spa and are the perfect way to enhance your Tuscan holiday in the Chianti region even further.

SIENA
Siena is one of those magical cities, where every corner is steeped in history and legend. Its origins can be traced back to the Etruscan era, even if legend tells that it was founded by Senius, one of Remus’ two sons, who fled from Rome with a wolf, which remains the symbol of the city today. With its typically medieval urban layout, there are many places that are worth a visit.

PIAZZA DEL CAMPO
This is held to be one of the most beautiful squares in the world, thanks to its distinctive shell shape with 9 wedges that can only be admired from the top of the Torre del Mangia.
Even today, this square is the hub of city life, where the 17 Contrade – city districts – face off against one another in the Palio di Siena, which is as famous as it is controversial.

TORRE DEL MANGIA
400 steps that will bestow you with a breathtaking spectacle: from way up on top of its 88 metres you can admire all of Siena, your gaze reaching right to the most distant hills.

The name of the tower comes from the its first guardian, Giovanni di Duccio, renamed Mangiaguadagni by the Siena people – which literally means profits-eater – due to the fact that he squandered all his earnings by eating in the town’s taverns.

Legend tells it that two good-luck coins were buried at its base when it was being built, which were to ward off thunder and lightning, along with the Latin and Hebrew inscriptions on the square stones.

SIENA CATHEDRAL
A place where the sacred and the profane come together. The floor of the cathedral is covered in esoteric symbols and religious stories, such as the Sibyls from Ancient Greek tradition, the Massacre of Innocents, the life of Moses and much more.

The Piccolomini Library is found in the right-side nave, which – despite its name – has never held the books of Pope Pius II. Michelangelo did, however, work within the Piccolomini Chapel for three years at the beginning of the 1500s, creating 4 statues, which are kept in the lower recesses.

FLORENCE
If you are planning a visit to Florence, staying at Villa I Barronci Resort & Spa will add a touch of class to your itinerary, making it undoubtedly unique and special. Our ancient property is actually only 15 km away from Florence, meaning it can be easily reached via the Florence-Siena freeway.

It is certainly difficult – if not impossible – to make a definitive list of all the wonderful things that are studded around this city, but we will try to give you a few ideas.

THE UFFIZI GALLERY
Famous all over the world, this museum can boast of an exceptional collection of paintings and ancient statues by artists such as Giotto, Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Mantegna, Leonardo, Raphael, Caravaggio and Michelangelo.

It also features smaller collections from important German and Flemish artists. The Uffizi Gallery is located inside the building designed by Giorgio Vasari to house the administrative offices of the ancient Tuscan state.

THE ACCADEMY GALLERY 
This gallery is renowned for its many sculptures by Michelangelo, including his famous David, yet you will also find religious themed paintings here. Its collection of panels painted over a gold background stand out in particular, being the only collection of its kind in the world.

The gallery was recently expanded and today is also home to the Musical Instrument Department, with important, antique instruments from the Cherubini Conservatory of Florence.

PALAZZO PITTI
Created to be the residence of the grand dukes of Tuscany, and subsequently the kings of Italy, today this is also home to various kinds of different collections, including paintings, sculptures, porcelain pieces and the costume gallery. The stunning Boboli Gardens is found next to it, one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy.

A CITY FOR CHILDREN TOO 
Florence is a city that is perfect for children too, with its many parks, gardens and museums featuring fun-creative activities that will make their visit a lovely and engaging experience.

Take the Galileo Museum for example, home to Galileo Galilei’s scientific instruments, or the Geology and Palaeontology Museum where your kids can enjoy over 40 full-scale dinosaur replicas, with interactive educational panels and a 3D paleo-aquarium.

PISA & LUCCA
Outings in pursuit of history, art, culture and fun. If you’re planning a few excursions to explore the area, there are two destiantions you shouldn’t miss out: Pisa and Lucca.

THE CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA 
Pisa Cathedral is the most important example of Pisan Romanesque Art. Foreseeing the Florentine Renaissance, the architect Buscheto distilled classic tradition with elements of Byzantine, Norman, early Christian and Arab art, thereby creating a new style that was extremely original for those times.

THE PISA BAPTISTERY
Standing as the largest baptistery in Italy, the Pisa Baptistery completes the monument complex found in the famous Piazza dei Miracoli. It was created by Diotisalvi and has many sculptures created by Nicola Pisano and his son Giovanni.

The unusual appearance of the chapel – that alternates between red tiles and sheets of lead – seems to be due to a lack of funds, making the use of different materials obligatory. This also accounts for the absence of frescos on the ceiling, which were, however, envisaged in the original project.

THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA
The tower is the most famous monument in the city and is known worldwide. It has also been suggested several times as one of the seven wonders of the world. Dating back to the 12th century, the tower leans due to land subsidence, which existed during the initial building works and has been like that ever since.

Photos taken in the park in front of the tower are famous. Here, thanks to tricks of perspective, you can get very nice visual results. It is practically an obligatory stop for people about to embark on a tour of Tuscany!

THE LUNGARNI 
The passing of time has greatly changed the Pisa Lungarni, the embankments that run along the River Arno, yet they have managed to retain all of their medieval charm. The most famous is the one that hosts the Palazzo dei Medici, Palazzo Toscanelli and the Church of San Matteo, which are interspersed with many pubs and restaurants.

The width of the embankments makes the centre of Pisa especially airy and picturesque, especially at sunset. If you are nearby during June, be sure not to miss the spectacle of the lungarni lit up by a thousand candles on the 16th of the month for the feast of the city’s patron saint.

VISIT LUCCA
Continuing onwards with your perfect tour discovering Tuscany, you will get to Lucca, another important centre for art, culture and wellbeing.

THE CITY WALLS 
Built in the sixteenth century and still intact today, they stretch over more than 4km and are surrounded by the centuries-old trees that are part of the Urban Park of Lucca, the perfect place for those who love sports, taking walks, having picnics and spending time outdoors, enjoying the view of the city.

PIAZZA DELL’ANFITEATRO
This square, as well as the streets that surround it, were built on the ruins of the colossal Roman Amphitheatre that was made up of 52 arches and wide steps and could hold up to ten thousand spectators, which was destroyed during Barbarian invasions.

It remained virtually unused for centuries, or only as a quarry for building materials, and was subsequently brought back into use as a site for dwellings that were created on the perimeter of the circular structure of the amphitheatre.

SETTE BAGNI DI LUCCA
If you want to add a bit of pampering and relaxation to your culture, you should know that Lucca is also known for its thermal baths of Sette Bagni di Lucca, the Seven Bathes of Lucca.

The main one, which is still open today, is near Bagni Caldi, at the “Jean Varraud” centre and Casa Boccella. A folk legend says that the thermal activity is due to the presence of an underground volcano.

VERSILIA & THE CINQUE TERRE
Known all over Italy as the birthplace of night life and entertainment on the Tyrrhenian coast, Versilia also combines cultural aspects and wellness within the municipalities that are part of it.

Indeed, we find the most social of all here, Camaiore and Forte dei Marmi, right on the sea and where legendary restaurants, bars and clubs are flanked by thermal bathes and wellness centres, which are particularly blessed by the benefits provided by the salsobromoiodic water and the peat, such as the Terme delle Versilia.

Moving further inland we find the towns of Pietrasanta, Seravezza and Stazzema, which feature a particular focus on cultural and naturalistic tourism.

Crossing over the border into the Liguria region, we get to the wonderful and delicate world of the Cinque Terre, which has been declared as being a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The rugged and uneven character of the area, which fluctuates between rocky cliffs and farmed terraces that descend towards the sea, have given life to small, breathtaking fishing villages.

Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are the five gems that make up this small chain, meandering between promontories and the Liguria coast, which has been a landing point ever since the Maritime Republics.

Each village has kept its own unique qualities: Monterosso has the largest beaches, thanks to the breadth of the golf that it looks out over; In Vernazza you can try the best bottles of traditional local wine, the Vernaccia, and it is connected to Corniglia via a pathway that winds through peaks and the sea.

Corniglia is the only village that does not directly look over the sea. Surrounded by vineyards that are cultivated on the distinctive terraces, it can be reached on foot from the staircase, known as the Lardarina, which is made up of 33 flights with 382 steps.

The houses in Manarola, on the other hand, have been built close to one another and look onto the main street, because they sprung up around the waterway that used to cross through the town. In Riomaggiore, however, you will find the typical Genovese tower-houses that follow the steep course of the river.

Rooms: 21

Price: from 99 EUR per night

Source: www.ibarronci.com