San Gimignano
The tour begins with a tour and tasting at Villa Le Corti of Prince Corsini in San Casciano in Val di Pesa.
Villa le corti is considered one of the most important residences in Tuscany for its splendour and majesty.
The villa is a property of Corsini family since 1427.
At the beginning of the seventeenth century underwent a complete transformation in a Renaissance form designed by artist-architect Santi di Tito.
The architecture of the villa is in harmony with the surrounding Italian garden and the large park with the path lined with cypress trees.
The embankment of the garden hides the large wineries and Orciaia where are product and stored the Chianti Classico wines and extra virgin olive of the farm.
The estate covers over 250 hectares in the Chianti Classico territory of which 49 hectares of vineyard and 80 of olive grove.
After the tour and tasting for a period of about 1h and a half minutes, the journey continues to Chiusdino where near the village is the mill of batteries, typical mill built in the early 1200 AD monks of the nearby abbey of Serena, transformed into a quaint restaurant, here you will taste the typical dishes of the area.
After lunch a visit to the nearby famous Abbey of San Galgano famous for the legend of the sword in the stone that will make you go back in time
The sword in the stone has been plunged by San Galgano into the rock emerging on the top of the hill in 1180. To honour the Saint, around it has been built a lovely round church. Only the hilt and a few centimeters of the blade protrude from the rock in the shape of a Cross.
The sword has been considered a fake for many years, but a metal dating research in 2001 by the Siena University has indicated it has medieval origins.
Next stop is San Gimignano: it is located on an hill 334m above sea level and dominates all the valley (Val d'Elsa). It is an extraordinary example of a medioeval town that has remained intact in terms of town planning and buildings. On May 8th 1300 San Gimignano gave hospitality to the poet Dante Alighieri who was the ambassador of the tuscan "lega Guelfa". But most of all the town in famous for its sixteen medioeval towers which stand over the landscape. This is the reason why San Gimignano is known as the "Medioeval Manhattan". Also, this amazing town has been declared a worldwide cultural and natural patrimony by UNESCO.
You must visit it!
San Gimignano is also famous for its "Vernaccia"a very special withe wine to be tasted and appreciated at the farm nestled in the hills "Guardastelle"ovelooking the country.
In San Gimignano you can visit:
IL DUOMOLA CHIESA DI SANT'AGOSTINOIL PALAZZO COMUNALELA PIAZZA DELLA CISTERNALA TORRE DEL PODESTA'
San Gimignano Tour:
Departure h.08.30
h.09.30 arrival in San Casciano Val di Pesa, visit to "Principe Corsini" estate; tastings of 3 types of wine, olive oil and cured meat
h.12.30 arrival in Chiusino; visit and lunch at the characteristic flour mill "Pile"
h.14.30 visit to the old San Galgano Abbey
h.16.00 arrival in San Gimignano; visit to the famous medioeval old town and towers
h.17.30 "Vernaccia di San Gimignano" wine tasting at the wine cellars of the "Guardastelle" farmhouse
h.18.30 end of the tour and return
COMPLETE LIST