Authentic 4BR farmhouse "Casa Pineta" - Chianti  

Description from the owner

Despise enormous tax increases we will not raise our rates for 2012

"Casa Pineta" is the 2nd oldest house of all. It was built in various steps over a period of at least 250 years, repeatedly extended as needs for more space arose. Therefore the various levels within the house create a particular flair.

Prove of its history give the typical handcut oak beam ceilings, some of the original cottofloors, narrow doors, the old fireplace that people used to sit in to warm themselves, the original sandstone sink and many more little signs, that we shall gladly point out to you. Stair and doors sills of local grey sandstone show... obvious signs of wear - signs that thousands of feet left over the last few hundred of years.

This authentic farmhouse was renovated some years ago , but the typical Tuscan structure left intentionally untouched where possible . All rooms are handpainted in the typical warm colours of a Tuscan country home : shades of yellow, orange and green. Its rustic ambiente is one of "... once upon the time ... leading you back i time. an unusual setting considering that most similar houses are often renovated in an sterile, non-typical way.

More then 200 sqm offer plenty of space for 8 to 13 persons. Access the house by some steps up to the diningroom. To the left large livingroom with old open fireplace. From there to the right the spacious fully equipped kitchen with additional dining space and pantry ( 3ring gas stove+ 1 electric hob, oven, dishwasher, microwave, fridge, toaster, American & Italian coffeemaker , etc. etc.)

To the left 4 steps lead up to bedroom 1, a cosy suite with kingsize bed +large ensuite bathroom (shower/wc) with washing machine and dryer. On ground level bedroom 2 with 3 single beds and ensuite bathroom (shower/wc.) Also on ground level bedroom 3, the largest one, with 2 large single beds as a double as well as a small queen size bed. Here the private ensuite bathroom has a Jacuzzi tub with integrated shower and wc.

From the dining room straight ahead through a small reception area access to the spacious bedroom 4 with large double bed as well as a single sofa bed - ensuite bathroom with shower/wc. direct access to the roofterrace

From the reception area some steps down to small summer kitchen, that may be converted into a bedroom with single sofabed. Large glass window doors open to the stunning roofterrace that towers like an eagles nest overlooking in an 180° angle valley and swimmingpool area.

In front of the house the very large sun terrace with a spacious covered patio for alfresco dining. Terrace and loggia are very well equipped with garden furniture as well as a barbeque grill. Also here is a magnificent – almost 300° view .

The large community swimming pool (5,5x11 ) with its pavements of natural quarry stone and grass leisure areas is situated on the windprotected sunny slopes slightly below the guesthouse. Pavillions and solitary trees provide shade. The comfortable shallow entry platform (3x3m) offers space and security also for the smallest of our guests.

for cooler days keep in mind that there are fantastic hot spring facilities only 45 min drive awayRead more

Additional Location Information

spend a dream vacation in Tuscany's heart - " Chianti Classico" - only a few miles from Florence and Siena - vineyard covered hills, silvery olive groves, vast forests and colourful macchia slopes - and admidst hidden ancient farm houses guarded by cypresses and towering pinetrees like the privately owned 16th century estate " Poderi Val Verde " . In this small familystyle hamlet, only 2 km from the next village the famous Castellina in Chianti , our sophisticated guests will find undisturbed and unspoiled nature, silence, sun, good food (cookery courses) Chianti wine, sports (trekking, biking, riding etc.) as well as culture.

Surrounded by more then 2ha of wellcared parklike garden sits the imposing guest house complex which is dived in 3 apartments (2-4 Pers.) , and/or 2 semiattached houses "Casa Pineta (8-13 pers.) + "Casa Acacia (6-8 pers.) as well as the lovely small villetta "Casa Capannina " (4- 6 pers.).

Airports: Florence 45 min, Pisa 90 min, Bologna 2hrs, Rome+Milano 3 to 4 hrs,
train station: Poggibonsi, 30 min, Castellina Scalo 15 min - no car rental!
Siena 35 min, Florence 45 min - car rental!!!!
bus station: castellina 5 min

bad to non-existing train and bus schedules!!!!
you will need a car to see Tuscany's beautiful scenery with its small towns and wine and olive covered hills, not to speak of visits to the hundreds of local wineries and other activities

Specials: 4 course welcome dinner, continental breakfast service, cookery classes of local specialties - euro 35/pers. children euro 25 or less

On day of arrival (or on special request) welcome dinner of typical Tuscan dishes - Joined dinner with all guests - meal incl. beverages - sit down and enjoy your vacation from the first minute!

Breakfast service - Continental breakfast euro 49/week

Spare 3 hours and dont miss out on our half day 'do it yourself' cookery courses (17.00 to 20.00 hrs) of local specialities you normally dont find in restaurants . farmer dishes typical for this part of Italy, easy to prepare with few tasty ingredients (preferable from our gardens and game from the surrounding forests) , our own olive oil and some 'secrets'.
price of euro 70/pers. incl. meal and beverage, minimum participation 2 person - members of the family or friend may join the dinner.

Hiking: we are proud to say that we are the only that offer private, marked hiking trails - all start from your door steps - all levels, from 30 min to 6 hours, with guide or with maps that we supply. they lead you through forest, vineyards and olive groves, you may stop at various wineries and restaurants. what better way to experience the beauty of the Chianti region.

ask for our offer on 'hike, wine, dine'

Guided trekking rate: depending on number of participant and length of trekking- please request

'Under construction' as of 2013 we are planing to offer summer bow hunting lessons. as of 2014 there will be also a 50 ha extended 3D animal parcour !!!!!!!!

Staff and assistance: - English, German and Italian speaking staff.. no 'key in hand - you are on your own' policy. we are here to help and advise.

Location: Poderi Val Verde is a tiny auto-sufficient hamlet only 500 m from the main road - so no long rides on dusty country roads - more then perfect for bikers too.

Its closeness to the next town Castellina in Chianti (only 3 km) makes shopping and dining easy - one may even walk there - just zip into town for a coffee break or a cone with delicious ice cream, one the best in the region

Some thoughts to consider: Please be aware that isolated houses in top-of-the-hill position often suffer from shortage of water in the summer months and gusty winds in spring and autumn, which shorten the pool season. Due to our protected position, which is typical for real old houses and the many wells we never suffer from either one.

Privacy: all accommodations have private entrances and terraces so your privacy is ensured.

Pool: Since there are so many sights to visit and so many things to do most of our guests take off early in the morning and come back late in the evening, after a dip in the pool they are off again for dinner. so the pool and leisure area are often deserted.


Right next to the large community pool (11x5,5 m) with a safe entrance platform and extend leisure area with sunbeds and various shady loggia the playground with sandbox, fairy house and swing for the smallest of our guests and the soccer field, the basketball pole, the volleyball field and pingpong table for the active once that are not tired after a day of sightseeing.

When planing your trip take in consideration that due to our perfect location, most important sights can be easily reached within 1 hours drive. Also please dont forget to leave some space for one of the many concerts, horseback riding or some evening with newfound friends or maybe a halfday cookery course with local dishes. Extremes like biking on the new trail up at the Apennin mountains or island hoping on the Tuscan coast are also possible

Location Type Away from it all, Rural

Rental fees

Additional notes from owner

All incl. rates for standard occupation of 10 pers. : electricity, water, taxes, house insurance; weekly change of bed, bath and table linen, pool towels, bathrobes (on request), hairdryers in all bathrooms, fire/barbeque wood, use of washing machine, dryer, iron and ironing board, portable fans, as well as a starter package of spices, coffee, tea, toilet paper, soap and detergent.

Seperate charges may be: visitor's tax (€1,50/pers./day), sofa bed (€50/pers/wk), heating, wifi (€14/wk) , baby bed and highchair (€39+10/wk), expenses for animals (€50/wk) welcome dinner (€35/pers), breakfast service (€49/pers./wk) , extra meals, cookery courses (€70/pers.).

Early bird discount for 2013 booking - 10% on 2012 prices
Last -Minute discount - 15% if arrival within 1 week

2 weeks booking - 10% on second week (previous discount exempted)

What Past Guests Are Saying

Overall Rating

• Bea
  Ottawa, Canada

  What a great time!!

  Left on 08/16/2012 for a stay in July 2012
  
  

  Poderi Val Verde was the perfect place to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. There was 3 couples sharing the Casa Pineta Villa which provided us with plenty of space. The villa was well equipped, very clean - we were pleasantly surprised that it did not have a musty smell being such an old villa and the property was beautiful.
  Poderi Val Verde is located central to most attractions -Florence, Sienna, Cortona - (1.5 hours travel time)- we would leave in the morning for a day trip and then returned to the villa to enjoy the well kept property - the pool was the perfect spot for gathering to chat about our adventures and enjoy a refreshing swim before dinner. Casa Pineta allows for entertaining both inside and outside the villa. The kitchen had all the essentails for us to prepare our meals that we enjoyed overlooking the grounds and the beautiful view of the mountains. From the villa, you can also hike into the village of Castellina. Castellina has shopping, grocery stores and great gelato.
  Ulrike offers a welcome dinner which was delicous. She prepares a homemade feast of Italian cuisine including appetizers, pasta, wild bore,dessert and her own wine. It was the perfect way to unwind after a long day of travel.
  Thank you for such a wonderful time and we hope to visit again!!!

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• D.Baroncelli
  Babylon, New York

  Authentic Tuscanny Vacation

  Left on 08/07/2012 for a stay in July 2012
  
  

  My family of 11 stayed at Casa Pineta for 1 week this July.
  It was truly a wonderful experience. The villa was very roomy, clean and an authentic Tuscan Home. The grounds are beautiful with blooming flowers and breathtaking views. The pool was spotless and we usually had it to ourselves. We used this as our home base and drove to nearby towns very easily. The location is perfect, being about 30 minutes away from several great towns that we visited. Castellina,
  the town the villa is in, is very quaint & beautiful also.
  I would definately recommend this to friends & I hope to return one day. The owner Ulrike is very friendly & helpful.
  When our rented car broke down on our way to the villa the first day, Ulrike came & got us & brought us & our luggage back to the house. She is also a great cook. We had the welcome dinner the first night. It was absolutely delicious
  and varied for all tastes.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Romantic, Families

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• Eric_Greeney
  Turku, Finland

  Great Chianti getaway

  Left on 07/24/2012 for a stay in July 2012
  
  

  Poderi Val Verde is a well-managed vacation rental 5 minutes drive from Castellina in Chianti. The location is good, giving access to Chianti area, San Gimignano, Florence and Siena (and the rest of Tuscany). Poderi Val Verde has several houses in a peaceful valley up on the hills. Our choice was Casa Pineta with 4 bedrooms (2750€/week), comfortably large enough for 4 adults and 5 kids.
  During our stay, from the very beginning we felt welcome. The first evening we gathered together with the residents of all houses to a truly memorable welcome dinner hosted by Ulrike, our landlady. She introduced us to Tuscan cooking and during our stay helped us by giving recommendations about which places to visit, where to go shopping, what to do in Siena etc.
  Casa Pineta is beautifully decorated, all bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms, and the kitchen is really well equipped. Wifi connection is available which is useful as the valley has no mobile phone service. The lack of air-conditioning could be a minus for travelers not accustomed to a bit higher night temperatures. Outside, nights were below 20 C, but inside well above it. We were provided with fans that made this easier for us.
  Kids loved the place, particularly the pool! Pool area was nice and clean, water refreshing after daily excursions. There were also other possibilities for outdoor activities. On the grounds, children made friends with Ulrikes cats, dogs and goats, and from a distance we saw deer in their natural environment! Occassionally, the dogs barking or sound of the rooster disturbed us in the night.
  All-in-all we had a memorable holiday. Beyond Castellina there are many places to explore, beautiful landscapes to see and the road network is in good condition. The check-out time is 9 am, check-in 4 pm, a schedule we considered as a small minus. Still, you can always go an ask Ulrike if something is troubling you. She keeps Poderi Val Verde is well organized (she's German...) but still authentically Italian!

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• Amy
  Upstate New York

  Heaven in Chianti

  Left on 03/17/2011 for a stay in July 2010
  
  

  Poderi Val Verde was the setting for a fabulous vaction with extended family (12), including teenagers. The location was great as we could take a number of day trips to explore Tuscany, from Florence to Siena and small, quaint town throughout the Chianti area. At the end of our long days, we returned to share our stories and much laughter with Ulrike and Fabian, her son. As the weather was unusually hot, it was wonderful to jump in the pool to cool off and relax. The grounds of Poderi Val Verde were terrific. We hiked on the trails, fed the goats, played ping pong, wandered through fragrant gardens and many hours on the patios, playing cards and making great memories. Each morning Ulrike had a terrific breakfast lined up for us. Fresh eggs from her chickens, homemade jams, a variety of cheeses, yogurts and other goodies. The dinners Ulrike prepared were out of this world-- wild boar, venison, pastas and one night an amazing variety of cheeses. Ulrike and Fabian were terrific hosts, helping us learn about the culture and the region. Ulrike's expertise was instrumental in guiding us so well with our planning. Our teenagers and young adults were never bored and so enjoyed the company of Fabian and Ulrike. Of course, nearby Castellina in Chianti with amazing gelato was the hit on most nights! We had so much to do and a week wasn't enough to take it all in. We dream of returning in future years. If you go, and you really should, stay two weeks and have the time of your life!

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Friends, Groups, Tourists, Families w teenagers, Romantic, Families w children, Rugged, Singles

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• A Vincelli
  Toronto, Ontario

  Home away from Home

  Left on 03/14/2011 for a stay in September 2010
  
  

  We thoroughly enjoyed our time with friends staying here while in Tuscany (20 of us in total--but 8 of us stayed in Casa Pineta--we took over the whole property). It felt like home. It felt like our Nonna's home. We wanted a true Italian experience and you couldn't find it better anywhere than here. The extraordinary views, the living space, the look and feel of a authenic farmhouse...in a word, spectacular!

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Friends, Groups, Tourists, Families w teenagers, Romantic, Families w children, Rugged

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  Was this review helpful? Yes