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Tuscany day-trips for ambitious travellers

At least once a week, I get asked by one of our future guests about a crazy idea they’ve had to visit some far-off city on a Tuscany day-trip. I used to push back hard. “Are you nuts? Why on … Read More

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tuscany cycling hiking bike tours trekking chianti

Tuscany for the fidgetty traveler

For those of you who find it hard to sit still on vacation, Tuscany is the perfect stomping ground for you. If you are wanting to indulge in a little walking, running or cycling to help combat those extra calories … Read More

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Plan your retreat or workshop in Tuscany

Are you are an expert in your field, and love the idea of running a course or workshop in a beautiful location?  Maybe you’ve run courses before, but would like to run a more up-scale retreat? You might be a yoga instructor, … Read More

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Day-trips in Tuscany #3 – The villages of East Chianti

The third day-trip in my series of Day-trips in Tuscany takes us to the east to visit some of the cuter, smaller villages that we love. You can take this route in either direction, depending on where you want to … Read More

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Rada in Chianti, lovely walled town near the vacation villa to rent in Chianti, Podere Patrignone www.patrignone.com

Day-trips in Tuscany #2 – The Hills of Northern Chianti

Guests who come to stay at our Chianti villa rentals near Castellina in Chianti are often looking for day-trip ideas. A couple of weeks back I described our most popular day-trip, to San Gimignano and Volterra. This week I’m heading north of Patrignone … Read More

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Day-trips in Tuscany #1 – San Gimignano, Colle & Volterra

Guests at our agriturismo in Chianti are always asking us for ideas for day-trips, and so we’ve got good and creating manageable tours that won’t leave you exhausted. And here’s the first. It’s one of our most popular days out. … Read More

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Montefioralle near Agriturismo Podere Patrignone where you can rent a vacation villa

The last wine fair, in a magical town…

The grapes are in, and the season of chianti wine festivals comes to a close with the smallest event in the calendar, the Montefioralle Divino. First, a bit about Montefioralle, a charming little town in the hills just to the west of Greve in … Read More

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The Chianti Classico Expo near Podere Patrignone www.patrignone.com

Two fantastic wine fairs in Tuscany

The grapes are fat and juicy, the harvest is in full flow, and so is the wine. Because while people are toiling in the fields breaking their backs picking the new grapes, lots of other people are tasting huge quantities … Read More

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Frittura, our guests' favourite seaside dish, www.patrignone.com

A day on a Tuscan beach. Sun, sand, sea…and great food.

Obviously, we don’t get a lot of time off during the summer. Our holiday villa rental business keeps us pretty busy, and then there’s the olives, the garden…we’re pretty much on our toes the whole time. But if we can … Read More

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Great quality fruit and vegetables, most grown locally in Castellina in Chianti, near our agriturismo in Chianti, Podere Patrignone www.patrignone.com

Want the best fruit & veg at the best prices? Head to a market in Tuscany.

There are dozens of produce markets in Tuscany every day of the week. No matter where you are staying, there will be a daily market somewhere near you. And while the quality of the fruit and vegetables sold in the … Read More

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