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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

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

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

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

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

The December 2016 Newslatter from Podere Patrignone www.patrignone,com

Our latest newsletter – Dec 2016

Sorry we’re a bit late posting this to the blog, but things get a bit crazy here at Christmas. Anyway, better late than never, right? So here it is. Just click on the thumbnail and it’ll take to straight to the … Read More

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

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

Crostini with mascarpone, fresh herbs, and sun-dried tomatos at our Chianti Villa Rental in Tuscany

Our Tuscan Banquet. Not your usual Tuscan fare.

Once a week we cook for our guests. It’s a fun, informal dinner, with lots of chat, lots of wine, and lots of laughter. Everyone staying in one of our Tuscan villa rentals is invited, and we usually put everyone together … Read More

Certaldo, atmospheric medieval town of Certaldo Alto, near our vacation villa in Chianti, Podere Patrignone www.patrignone.com

Certaldo – a classy medieval town with beautiful atmosphere

Now, our agriturismo is in the very centre of the Chianti Classico wine region, and with so many beautiful towns to see near us, sometimes it’s hard not to feel a little disloyal to suggest places to see outside the area. … Read More