The mountain range of the Monte Albano, 16,000 hectares of solid rock, encompasses the three provinces of Pistoia, Prato, Florence. Montalbano branches over the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, covered in countryside and nature. It covets art and treasures of medieval and Renaissance culture in its stone casket. These are places ripe with history and works of art, rich in castles and fortifications that are still standing today. They are surrounded by a breathtaking panorama that are able to cast a spell over visitors, plunging them into the enchanted past. It is exciting to think that once, the De’ Medici family had a game reserve in this vast wilderness. In big cities or in every village or small town of Tuscany, there are testimonies of a past filled with power and immeasurable artistic stimuli. Everything is to be seen, to be savoured: environment, art, food. There are many place worth stopping for.

view from agriturismo

Veni, vidi, vici (I came, I saw and I conquered), the famous words attributed to Julius Caesar, his statement on how easy victory was. This may be applied to the ease of visiting a piece of paradise that will light up your view and will allow you to conquer the beauty of a unique place. This is Vinci, evocatively beautiful and historical as well as famous for being the birthplace of the most sublime talent in the world, Leonardo Da Vinci April 15, 1452. The house is now a museum where you can follow the story of his life with an audiovisual guide. Information surrounding his inventions is supported by the most advanced technology, such as through the interactive multimedia application Leonardo Touch which presents all the great Leonardo’s artistic pictorial and graphic material. This enables the viewer to participate in the different areas where they can explore and discover every detail.

Fondaccio from above.

 Where to taste

Monsummano Terme: The tour of the house museum owned by the poet Giuseppe Giusti is of great interest. The Valdinievole White Wine DOC and the wines of the Colli Etruria Centrale red, rosé and white are of particular note.

Lamporecchio: Visit the Church of Santo Stefano where you can admire the polychrome glazed earthenware altarpiece attributed to Giovanni della Robbia made in 1524. The white and red wine Poggio al Pino, Rosato, Templar and Chianti are exquisite.

Carmignano: Go to the Galleria Schema Polis to admire the works of the artist Alberto Moretti. Try the Carmignano DOCG wine (Sangiovese), The Chianti Montalbano DOCG, the Vin Santo di Carmignano.

Monte Lupo: A place to discover the beauty of Tuscan ceramics, an ancient manufacturing tradition seen in Bartolomeo di Giovanni d’Astore of Sinibali, known as Baccio da Montelupo (1469-1523), one of the most important Italian sculptors of the sixteenth century. The DOCG Chianti Colli Fiorentini wine, the Tuscan IGT red and white wine and Vin Santo Stoiato are notable.

Vinci: Selengaia Chianti DOCG, Altrove IGT Rosso Toscano red and Tinnari IGT Bianco white wines are of great repute.

view from the farm

Photo gallery

Photo gallery