Villa Le Barone Chianti

Villa Le Barone is a historic patrician home set in the beautiful and unspoiled countryside of the Chianti region in Tuscany. Surrounded by the romantic rolling hills of Tuscany, in a timeless and protected environment, Villa Le Barone offers a peaceful retreat half way between Florence and Siena. Villa le Barone is commited to social and environmental responsability.

The Villa, which has belonged to the Della Robbia family since the 16th century, has been turned into a luxury hotel where guests can relax and resource themselves away from the stress and hassle of city life. This warm and inviting home, filled with character and historic features, provides all the services and amenities you need for a genuinely relaxing break in stunning surroundings.

We boast an infinity, salt water and heated swimming pool, tennis court, fitness trail and offer relaxing terraces overlooking our lovingly tended rose gardens, the surrounding olive groves and vineyards.

There are a number of cosy lounges, with antique furniture, paintings, rare books and romantic objects from the family ‘s past, where people can relax, and, in autumn, enjoy reading by the fire place. The restaurant is set in the old winery and serves Tuscan specialities and famous local Chianti wines.

THE HISTORY
Dating back to the middle ages, Villa Le Barone was the seat of a Baronetcy, hence the name “Le Barone”. During the Renaissance period, the tower was converted into a villa with its own agricultural estate; it was the summer retreat of the famous Florentine ceramist and sculptor Luca Della Robbia.

After the first World War, Marchesa Maria Bianca Viviani Della Robbia managed Villa le Barone as a wine and olive oil estate. Maria Bianca was the granddaughter of François de Larderel, a French 18th century industrialist, who discovered and developed the use of geothermal vapours in Tuscany.

Maria Bianca’s daughter, Duchess Franca Visconti, converted the Villa into one of the first boutique hotels in Chianti, keeping the refined and elegant atmosphere of a private house and adding the comfort of a modern hotel. There are many lounges and sitting-rooms for guests to relax in, read, write or paint.

On cooler autumn days, during the harvesting season, guests can sit by one of the three fireplaces and relax with a good book and a glass of local wine. Throughout the year, large bouquets of fresh flowers adorn the various rooms. The villa is now the property of Duchess Franca Visconti’s heirs, whom you will certainly be able to meet in Le Barone.

THE GARDENS
In a property covering several acres and in a protected environment, the vast gardens offer many quiet places and nooks amongst the rose bushes, under the centennial chestnuts or under other Mediterranean trees.

From everywhere in the gardens, full of flowers in all seasons, one can enjoy enchanting views on the rolling Tuscan hills. Sunsets are making the joy of the romantics!

ROOMS & SUITES
Villa Le Barone lies in the heart of the Chianti hills, considered by many as the loveliest countryside in Italy. This Tuscan landscape has gentle hills bedecked by vineyards, olive trees and woods, with lonely farmhouses and castles nestling between dark cypress trees.

Painters and photographers have been inspired by this reassuring scenery and its unique luminosity, as you will be inspired by the views from Villa Le Barone.

HISTORIC SUITE
Located in the main house, these spacious suites are filled with character. One of them is in the tower and they all have gorgeous views. Experience the ultimate in elegance and style and enjoy a truly peaceful stay in the heart of Tuscany. A complimentary bouquet of fresh flowers or a basket of fresh fruit awaits you on arrival.

JUNIOR SUITE 
These romantic suites offer the ideal setting for a honeymoon or a special occasion. Experience the ultimate in elegance and style and enjoy a truly blissful stay in the heart of Tuscany. A complimentary bouquet of fresh flowers or a basket of fresh fruit awaits you on arrival.

SUPERIOR ROOM
These stylish Superior rooms all present a different atmosphere. They feature elegant decorative items such as exposed wooden beams, Italian terracotta floors, designer fabrics, old prints and paintings. A complimentary bouquet of fresh flowers or a basket of fresh fruit awaits you on arrival.

FOOD & WINE
A region of the world can also be understood by its food and beverages and Chianti is no exception! The freshness and variety of its products, the simplicity of its classical recipes, the hearty Chianti Classico wines that enhance the flavors of Tuscan cookery will give you a sense of what Chianti is: a place where the pace is slow but where life is happy! Irrelspective of where you come from, share our food and wines!

At Villa le Barone we are happy to serve gluten free, vegan or vegetarian diets, we are also happy to take into account your special dietary needs if you let them be known at our Reception. Dinner at Villa le Barone allows you to have that extra glass of Chianti wine or Grappa without fearing the drive back to the hotel on windy roads!

THE RESTAURANT
Our Restaurant “Il Torchio” (the wine press) in the old wine cellars, under the guidance of Alessio, Tommaso and Felicita, offers traditional dishes made with local in-season products full of perfumes, aromas and flavours that make up Tuscan cuisine.

Wines from our cellar are sourced within a small radius around Villa le Barone and are chosen for their capacity to enhance the taste of our food.and are specifically chosen to complement the food we prepare.

After an antipasto buffet offering a rich and varied selection of Tuscan delicacies, you will find a choice of soup or pasta dishes, a choice of main courses (one vegetarian). A cheese buffet and desserts round off the meal in style. Our wine list includes some of the best Chianti and Tuscan wines. Menu changes every night!

LUNCH & SNACKS
Light lunch is available both on the terrace or by the pool.: salads dressed with Villa Le Barone’s home-produced extra virgin olive oil, but also home-made tagliatelle and spaghetti with several sauces, ravioli, cold cuts, cheeses, pizzas and – of course- several kinds of desserts and ice creams. When hungry, just ask Reception or one of the yellow-clad maids on the grounds.

THE BREAKFAST
Each morning a delicious buffet breakfast is served both in the restaurant or on the green terrace just outside. It is included in the room price.

Breakfast is a self-service buffet with several kinds of cereals including porridge, home baked muffins and croissants, cakes, several kinds of breads, jams and marmalades, fried eggs with bacon, soft boiled eggs, cold cuts, cheeses, yoghurts, fresh fruits, fruit salad, juices … american coffee, espresso, cappuccino, teas.

THE BARS
By the pool a self-service honor bar has soft drinks,, wines, several kinds of beer, ice creams and a wonderful coffee mousse. Inside the Villa another self-service honor bar allows you to help yourself to soft drinks, several kinds of beers, wines and spirits. Afternoon Tea or Coffee is possible by the pool, on the terrace and in the lounges by just asking Reception.

COOKING CLASSES
Guests eager to receive a practical, hands-on introduction to Tuscan cuisine may take part in a morning or afternoon cooking class with our own chefs. These classes are for small groups to guarantee that participants finish the class with all the knowledge they require to produce a delicious Tuscan meal when back at home.

CHIANTI WINES
To accompany our Tuscan recipes our wine cellar offers the best Chianti wines from the best vintages. Our wines – to a few exceptions- come from withinn a small radius around Villa le Barone in the Chianti Classico territory. Our preferences go to small vintners that, on top of taste and quality, manage their vines in a safe biological way.

“Villa Le Barone is situated in the heart of the world-famous Chianti wine-producing region, one of the oldest in Italy. Our cellar boasts Chiantis from some of the best Tuscan wineries such as Molino di Grace, Antinori, Fontodi, Lamole, Fonterutoli.

We also have a wide selection of excellent “Super Tuscan” wines. This name covers wines made in Tuscany using non-traditional grape varieties or non-traditional vinification methods.

You will also be able to finish off your meal in the Tuscan tradition with a glass of Vin Santo (Holy Wine) accompanied with Cantucci (almond biscuits). For wine aficionados we organize wine tastings in our own premises and in the surrounding wineries.”

TOURS & TASTINGS
From Villa Le Barone, you will be able to visit major Tuscan wineries. We can organize wine tours, wine tastings, wine purchase, wine shipping, and special wine events and much more in most of them! And we have a special partnership with Il Molino di Grace, which is located just 3 km from the Villa and where you can go walking.

ENVIRONMENT 
If you wish to stay in a hotel truly committed to environmental protection, then Villa le Barone is for you! Villa le Barone is fully engaging itself to act for climate and to protection of the environment and and this is not “greenwashing”.

To reduce our carbon footprint, our solar panels produce 50% of the energy we consume, we have energy efficiency devices in the rooms, we recycle glass, paper, plastics, our restaurant only uses seasonal ingredients sourced from local suppliers, we are planting trees each year (400 olive trees in 2020), our infinity pool is salted (no use of chlorine), and heated with an heat pump, the fresh flowers bouquets that guests are finding in their room when they arrive are coming from our gardens.

We protect biodiversity (no use of harmful pesticides!). We have plenty of birds, of bees, of butterflies. We are approaching these efforts towards sustainability as a team with our great staff who shares our values. We are also sustaining the work of local NGOs.

SWIMMING POOL 
What’s better than a whole relaxing day at the large outdoor infinity swimming pool (heated if need be) pool in Villa le Barone with your friends, your other half, or your family? You will enjoy breathtaking views on the medieval church of San Leolino, and the Chianti hills.

TENNIS COURT
Don’t want to miss your usual tennis match during a holiday in Tuscany? Want to start playing tennis? Enjoy our tennis court in the beautiful Chianti landscape. No need to bring your own equipment: we have rackets and balls for you!

FITNESS
Wish to stay fit and healthy? A fitness trail for all ages, with a series of 12 exercise stations information boards is located in Villa le Barone’s gardens. We also offer a Fitness Room (also with a view) equipped for those who want to keep fit and train even when away from home.

CYCLING
Fan of cycling or biking? Then, Chianti is for you! It offers fantastic bike rides for cyclists of all levels on asphalt or dirt roads! Itineraries passing through beautiful landscapes are also been prepared for you to follow! 2 bicycles are available free of charge at Villa Le Barone But, il you fear the hilly region, you can rent electric bikes and road racing bikes on demand.

HIKING
There are many walks and hikes that can be enjoyed around Villa le Barone and we will be pleased to provide a number of detailed itineraries that our guests can follow to discover Chianti. Our reception is also happy to offer advice!

You don’t feel like hiking? No problem! Chianti and Tuscany are full of hidden gems: this is why we have prepared a series of car itineraries of diverse lengths to discover them!

SURROUNDINGS 
The location of Villa Le Barone in the heart of Chianti makes it an ideal place from which to explore the world-famous Renaissance towns and cities of Tuscany with their architectural and art treasures.

Our guests will find in their room suggestions for driving itineraries to explore Chianti “off the beaten track”. Villa le Barone may also arrange tours of various cities and their museums

FLORENCE
The birthplace of the Italian Renaissance needs little introduction. Florence is the capital of Tuscany and is considered as one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, if not the world.

With its magnificent cultural, architectural and artistic heritage, lying on the picturesque Arno River and surrounded by the lovely hills of Tuscany, it is a city of richness and splendour not to be missed. Florence is 29 km away from the Villa Le Barone.

SIENA
The well–preserved medieval city of Sienna stands 33 km south of the Villa Le Barone. Apart from its charming and traditional narrow streets Sienna is best known for its stunning black and white Romanesque cathedral, and the Piazza del Campo, the unique shell-shaped piazza in the city centre where the famous horse race, Il Palio, is run twice each year in the summer.

SAN GIMIGNANO
San Gimignano is a medieval walled city particularly worth visiting for its historic town centre and numerous towers. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is 40 km south-west of Villa Le Barone. During your visit, why not taste a glass of the well-known local white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

RENAISSANCE VILLAGES
The Chianti hills surrounding Villa Le Barone are dotted with charming villages and abbeys. On the way to San Gimignano lie the beautiful medieval hamlets of Montefioralle, Badia a Passignano, Volpaia and Gaiole in Chianti, all of which provide superb examples of medieval rural architecture in Tuscany.

CHIANTI HILLS
Villa Le Barone lies in the heart of the Chianti hills, described by many as the loveliest countryside in Italy. This Tuscan landscape has gentle hills bedecked by vineyards, olive trees and woods, with lonely farmhouses and castles nestling between dark cypress trees. Painters and photographers have been inspired by this reassuring scenery and its unique luminosity, as you will be inspired by the views from Villa Le Barone.

SHOPPING
For those of you wishing to shop whilst in Tuscany, Via Tornabuoni in Florence offers the best fashion shops, but one can find at the outlet at the Mall at Leccio, situated 35 km from the Villa Le Barone, an array of shops selling top luxury French and Italian brands at discount prices.

Rooms: 7

Price: from 142 EUR per night

Source: www.villalebarone.com