A Tuscany war story Podere Patrignone, 1944 Told by Mario Campatelli on 22 September 2007. He was 16 at the time of this story. On 29th December 1943, Poggibonsi was bombarded by the advancing Allied forces because it was a … Read More

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

The best green soup…..ever!
If you, like me, are swimming in a sea of zucchini at the moment, you may appreciate this recipe. I love zucchini bread, zucchini and lime cake, zucchini and almond pesto for my pasta but I have just made this … Read More

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

Rose & pistachio cake. Made with real roses!
If you have un-sprayed roses in bloom right now, use them to make this delicious and spectacular cake. Any colour roses will do, so long as they are fragrant. The recipe 250g/9oz softened butter 250g/9oz caster sugar + extra for … Read More

Saving the Planet, one piece at a time
We produced this cute infographic to show the different approaches we take to eco-tourism, energy conservation, organic farming, and waste recycling here on our agriturismo in Chianti, Podere Patrignone. When we first came to Italy, some 10 years ago, we … Read More

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

Delicious Italian gluten free cakes
We see an ever-larger need for gluten-free recipes here at our agriturismo in Chianti, Podere Patrignone. Gluten intolerance is on the increase, particularly amongst our guests from the US. Some think it’s down to how wheat is grown in the US, … Read More

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

Honey and rosemary cake
Whenever the rosemary is in bloom, as it is now, I start to think about making this delicious cake. It makes a great cake for Easter or anyother time when you have delicate rosemary flowers available. Torta di rosmarino e … Read More