Podere Salicotto Buonconvento

Podere Salicotto is a charming Bed & Breakfast farm near Buonconvento, halfway between the hills of Siena, the Crete Senesi, and the Val d’Orcia. Set on a panoramic and strategic promontory, it is an ideal base for truly experiencing the beauty of Tuscany.

For us, hospitality is a philosophy of life, made up of looking after others, and simple gestures. Breathtaking views and a magical and relaxing atmosphere will be the setting for your dream experience.

The Estate dates back to 1820 when 2 families lived on the upper floor of the main house, whereas cattle were raised on the ground floor and their breathing would warm up the people living above. Next to the main house there was a barn for the grain storage.

The property was abandoned soon after World War 2 when people were leaving the Tuscan countryside and moving to the main cities as they couldn’t make ends meet. Silvia and Paolo bought Podere Salicotto in 2000, moving from Milan. They renovated and rebuilt the existing buildings then opened their home to travellers from Italy and around the world from mid-May 2005.

LOCATION
Podere Salicotto is situated in a strategic location on the top of a hill, straddling the Crete Senesi and the Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO heritage site, and so enjoys stunning views rolling away in every direction.

To the north-west the profile of Siena merges into the horizon while the sky burns with the sunset colours, to the south Montalcino’s hilltop lights and Mt Amiata, and to the east the colours of dawn and the village of Chiusure, near the abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore. The Villa is just 2 km away on a paved road from Buonconvento, a medieval village dating back to 1100.

Here you can find everything you need including: a pharmacy, doctors, 3 banks with Cash Machines, COOP supermarket, shops, restaurants and pizzerias, bars , car tire dealer, mechanic, train station (with trains to the North: Siena, Florence, Milan and to the South Grosseto, Rome, Naples), bus station, local police.

Siena is 27km north of Podere Salicotto, Florence is at 100km, Pisa at 150km, Rome at 210km, Naples at 410km.

SILVIA & PAOLO
Silvia & Paolo, the owners, live all year round in a secluded section of the main house. This lovely, discreet and adventurous couple is happy to welcome you on arrival, salute you on departure and, if you wish, give you all the information about the region for a wonderful stay off the beaten track.

It is our pleasure to carry out a daily cleaning service of the pool and daily maintenance of the garden areas during your stay to ensure that the property is always at its best.

ROOMS AND SUITE
The rooms and suite are welcoming and bathed in natural light, with magnificent views over the hills of Siena. They are spacious and elegant, and offer every creature comfort to make your stay unforgettable.

From all our rooms there are intoxicating views over the Tuscan hills. At Podere Salicotto we don’t need pictures, you just have to open the window! Every morning an organic breakfast awaits you, with sweet and savoury delicacies, and home-made treats, which you can sample beneath the arbour in our beautiful panoramic garden.

NANDA 
The only room on the ground floor. Large and airy, ideal for those unable to climb stairs or who prefer to have a private green area with table and chairs in which to enjoy a glass of wine and a good book. Barn to the North, sunset to the West, moonrise to the East… Double room with option of single beds: when booking, please tell us what kind of bed you would like.

ARANCINO
One of Podere Salicotto’s largest rooms with a splendid view over the surrounding hills and the pool. To the east, the sun rises majestically, a perfect orange disk etched against the sky: a natural spectacle that is priceless.

To the north, the barn and the emerald water of the pool in the middle of the hills. This spacious and comfortable room is on the first floor, with air conditioning. A third bed may be added. Double room with option of single beds: when booking, please tell us what kind of bed you would like.

ROSA
From its two windows which fill the room with light there are amazing sunsets over the Tuscan hills. To the west the view is endless, in the natural loveliness of a landscape that seems enchanted, while the upper half of the sun slowly vanishes below the horizon.

This comfortable double room has a harmonious and relaxing feeling about it. Elegantly furnished in a ‘country chic’ style, it boasts every comfort. The “Rosa” and the “Celeste” rooms share a landing, thus making them an ideal choice for a family or small group of 4 or 5 guests. Double room with option of single beds: when booking, please tell us what kind of bed you would like. A third bed can be added.

BELVEDERE
Stand by one of the Belvedere windows and let the poignant beauty of the landscape enchant you: to the northwest, the skyline of Siena merges with the horizon, while the sky is afire with the hues of sunset; to the south, the twinkling lights of Montalcino on its hill; to the east, the oh-so-delicate colours of dawn.

Make yourself at home outside with a glass of wine, and revel in this beautiful stillness and quiet. The Panoramic Suite is on the upper floor of a converted barn, a stone’s throw from the main house.

This open-plan space of 700 sq.ft. is equipped with everything you need to make your stay a comfortable and enjoyable one: a fully-equipped exposed kitchen counter with view, decorative corner fireplace, living area and sofa bed. The Belvedere Suite can accommodate from two to four people, but being an open-plan space, it does not have two separate bedrooms.

Also available as an “apartment” on a weekly basis. As such, breakfast can be requested and ordered from day to day. Double room with single beds: when you book, please specify what kind of bed you would like.

OUTDOOR KITCHEN WITH BBQ-GRILL
In the Mediterranean, it is very common to see families cooking outdoors. This is why we came across the idea of offering this opportunity to all our guests. You can cook and make friends with other fellow travelers while enjoying the quiet beauty all around us. La vita è bella at Podere Salicotto!

COMMUNAL LOUNGE
With us there is never any shortage of occasions to enjoy an aperitif and pleasant moments together and, why not? Make friends with other travelers. Our lounge is perfect for this.

GENTLE AWAKENING
Under the arbour in our garden a rich breakfast awaits you with home-baked bread and cakes, organic jams, honey, sheep’s cheeses, ham and many other specialities from small local producers.

GARDEN
Our farmhouse Podere Salicotto is surrounded by green in total harmony with nature. Enchantment, tranquility, colours, sweet smells: a unique spectacle that is renewed every day.

POOL
You can allow yourself a plunge in our panoramic pool, then relax on a sun bed with a carafe of good wine as you gaze across the Tuscan hills.

LIVE YOUR EXPERIENCE
We will be happy to share with you everything we have learned in our years in this marvelous region which still enchants us every day. We have handpicked the best experiences for discovering the most authentic Tuscany.

Plenty of ideas and hints to steer you beyond the traditional beaten track, between Crete Senesi – the hills of Siena – and the Val d’Orcia, and all the way to the sea. We are at your service every day to offer suggestions for a unique experience. Welcoming our guests is not just a service for us, but a philosophy of life.

COOKING CLASSES
Podere Salicotto organizes classes of traditional Tuscan cooking, where you can plunge your hands into dough and have fun learning the authentic recipes of our tradition.

In Italy, a passion for food and good cooking have always been part of the popular culture. There is a deep love which links this land with food. Travelling does not just mean visiting magnificent places and taking photos of awe- inspiring landscapes.

Travelling also means opening yourself up to the culture of a region and the traditions of the people living in it. To fully experience this land, you will have to abandon yourself to the pleasures of its authentic tastes.

This is the best way of getting to know the territory and then amaze all your friends when you get back home: learn the secrets of Tuscan cooking. After the class, we can sit in the garden together and taste the delicacies we have prepared, enjoying the view while sipping a good glass of wine

TUSCAN DINNER
You will enjoy home-made recipes with a glass of wine at sunset in a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. We are happy to prepare a dinner for our guests twice a week. You will enjoy a lovely and healthy meal with home-made recipes and vegetables from our organic garden as well as local products from local small producers. The sunset and the beauty of the landscape will be the setting for your special Tuscan dinner.

You can choose your wine from our wine-list by the glass or bottle. Please do not hesitate to let us know whether you have any allergies, thank you. The set menu is available on the day before the dinner. We require a min of 8 guests.

WINE
Wine is the epitome of a region, a culture and a lifestyle. Paolo and Patrick will guide you to discover Rosso and Brunello wines from niche family wine farms, where passion, love of one’s land, and respect for tradition make all the difference. Tastings in our cellar take place from 6pm to 7pm. You are most welcome!

You have 24/7 free access to our cellar. It’s the honor system here at home: you help yourselves and pay upon departure. Tuscany is a land of great wines, and you will find an embarrassment of riches: from the Brunello di Montalcino, the Orcia DOC and the Nobile di Montepulciano to Chianti. We will be happy to reccomend some of the best wineries where you can enjoy unforgettable visits and tasting sessions.

BIKE TOUR
Another unmissable experience in Tuscany is a good bike ride. Tuscany is a land of cyclists, appreciated by enthusiasts from all over the world. Wherever you choose to ride you will certainly meet many other two-wheels travellers. For lovers of Slow Travel, bike tours are one of the best ways to connect to this territory.

Tuscany, and especially Val d’Orcia and Crete Senesi, have plentiful itineraries and routes for everyone: you can cycle between the great cities of art, among the small medieval villages, take the white roads of the famous event l’Eroica or follow the wine roads.

The zigzagging cypress lined roads seem to be the perfect frame for a nice bike ride. You can enjoy this adventure regardless of your level of expertise. It is also possible to rent an e-bike, then set off for your adventure, taking in the breathtaking scenery.

We will be happy to show you the most suggestive roads and give you our best tips to find the right bike for your trip. To thoroughly appreciate these unique landscapes, you must savour them slowly, pedaling calmly from hill to hill, from road to road, from cypress to cypress.

SAILING
Would you like to have a truly evocative experience? A sailing trip is yours for the asking. Tuscany is not only spectacular landscapes and fine food. Here we also have one of the most beautiful coasts in Italy.

From Podere Salicotto the sea is only an hour’s drive away, and a day on a sailboat could give your journey intense and unexpected feelings. Paolo will help you discover the most beautiful coastal views, tacking among the small isles of the Tuscan Archipelago. You can agree on your route and sail to the shores of Elba.

As well as enjoying the sun, the crystal clear sea and the loveliest of landscapes, and giving in to moments of sheer relaxation, you will be introduced to the fascinating world of navigation, as you listen to and observe the skipper’s manoeuvres, and even try to play a small part in the navigating yourself. Join us to experience unforgettable moments.

ORGANIC PASTA TOUR WITH THEMED LUNCH
An organic farm with a long family tradition in the production of different types of grains and its own stone mill, awaits us in the heart of the Val d’Orcia. We will witness grains turn into the most amber-colored and mineral rich pasta. At lunch, we’ll enjoy this tasty pasta together followed by the real artisanal coffee.

CHEESE TASTING TOUR WITH STOP AT BAGNO VIGNONI
We buy our cheese from this small cheese producer which is one of the best of the area, with a selection of 30 different types of cheeses and 100 sheep. We will taste 8 different cheeses as well as still warm ricotta cheese with bread, wine and… some water as well!

We will later stop to visit the little Tuscan jewel Bagno Vignoni, an enchanting village with a fascinating thermal bath in the middle of the main square.

SIENA: EVENING WALK WITH GUIDE
We warmly recommend you a cultural and panoramic walk under a canopy of stars. Siena is rich with art culture and incredible food. It is very well known for its horseback riding competition called “Palio” and has been on the World Heritage List since 1995 as it has skillfully preserved many of its major medieval features.

Your guide is Siennese and has a real passion for Art, Architecture and Beauty. You will appreciate this stunning town from a new perspective. The guided walk lasts 1hr30 and can take place before or after dinner.

SIENA & VAL D’ORCIA TOUR
A guided tour in Siena, the “Manhattan of the Middle Ages”, and/or in Val d’Orcia which is on the World Heritage List. With the right Guide you can discover the secrets that are undisclosed to the mainstream. Daytime – 2hr30 hours w/your officially appointed Guide – Museum tickets are not included.

LEARNING ITALIAN IN TUSCANY WITH SILVIA
Italian Language Lessons. Learn Italian during your vacation, why not? At Podere Salicotto you can learn the language or improve your knowledge. The Italian language is as sweet and warm as a song.

If you wish to learn some Italian or improve a little without taking standard lessons, we are here for you ! We have prepared a few solutions for you during your stay with us to learn while having fun!

HIKING IN TUSCANY
Natural trails with beautiful views, and rich in history, Tuscan trails in the Val d’Orcia and the Crete Senesi. The best way to discover this nook of paradise is to choose a beautiful trail and hike along it on foot. Step by step, you will slowly savour everything nature has to offer.

The roads through the Crete Senesi and the Val d’Orcia are truly extraordinary, and it is no coincidence that the stretches of the Via Francigena between Siena and Radicofani, which wind through our very hills, are considered the loveliest and most poetic of all.

The Via Francigena is just one of the possible routes, but there are many other itineraries to be discovered which are just as uniquely beautiful. Slow Travel means you can better appreciate everything a region has to offer. Tuscany is famous all over the world for its wonderful and surprising landscapes.

For hiking enthusiasts this is paradise, to be discovered step by step, by looking, listening, thinking, and feeling your emotions. You haven’t really been in Tuscany if you haven’t trodden its land, admired its skies, felt its wind on your skin, and turned your gaze towards its romantic skylines. We will be delighted to give you advice about trails best suited to your needs, making sure that you discover the most seductive landscapes.

Rooms: 8

Price: from 171 EUR per night

Source: www.poderesalicotto.com