Poggio all'Olmo, a classic Tuscan farm house vacation location in Chianti

Now is the quiet season for Tuscan agriturismi, those rural vacation rentals that provide such excellent and economical holiday accommodation in Tuscany, especially in the Chianti Classico wine zone. Since agriturismi are, by definition, also working farms, right now most of them are attending to their olive oil production. I took the opportunity to visit Poggio all'Olmo, a classic Tuscan farm house vacation location in Chianti, owned and managed by my friend Francesca Vanni. It's been a year or two since I paid her a visit and it was great to be reminded of what a beautiful property she has in the Chianti hills above Greve in Chianti.

Poggio all'Olmo Tuscan farmhouse vacation rental in Chianti

Francesca offers two vacation apartments for 2 to 4 persons, as well as a double room. Since my last visit, the bathrooms have all been modernised to a very high standard. The rooms are furnished in Tuscan country style and the flowering shrubs on the terraces are more mature than during my previous visit. The swimming pool has fabulous views out over the vineyards and olive groves that surround the agriturismo on all sides. The olive harvest was completed last week so I picked up several bottles of olio nuovo!

Poggio all'Olmo swimming pool

The location of Agriturismo Poggio all'Olmo  is very convenient for those who would like to explore Chianti and central Tuscany together with Florence and Sienna. This is because Greve is located halfway between Florence and Sienna, on the scenic Chiantigiana road and it's an hour by car or bus to Florence. It's about the same to Sienna but for that you need a car, otherwise it's a long haul by bus to Florence and then from there to Sienna by train or bus.

Breakfast at Agriturismo Poggio all'Olmo

For those who want it, Francesca will prepare a spread of fresh fruit, juice, rolls tea and coffee for your breakfast - that's a worthwhile extra at 10 euros per person.

More about Poggio all'Olmo vacation accommodations in Chianti, Tuscany.

Don't forget to visit Elena Spolaor's Travel Guide! Up-to-date news on what to see and where to stay in Chianti and all of Tuscany & Umbria. Chianti Travel Guide

Author: Anna Maria Baldini

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Vacation accommodations in Tuscany

Now is the time to consider reserving your vacation accommodations in Tuscany. As soon as Christmas and New Year are over, everyone will be starting to plan a vacation for the new year. If you'll be coming to central Italy, be sure to consider the option of staying for at least part of the time in Tuscan vacation accommodations in the country. There a numerous agriturismi, as these rural holiday homes are called, within easy reach of the bigger art cities by car or bus, and their prices can be extremely reasonable - as little as 65 euros per night for an apartment sleeping 2-3 people - that's with a fully equipped kitchen and often access to a pool. Add to this tranquility, panoramic views and, during summer, significantly cooler temperatures, and a stay in the country becomes a very attractive option.

A beautiful Tuscan agriturismo for your vacation accommodations in Tuscany

One of the most popular areas to stay in is the Chianti area between Florence and Sienna, with numerous agriturismi being located in the hills around Greve in Chianti. Florence is easily accessible by bus although a car makes it easier to visit Siena. The entire Chianti area is packed with history in the form of castles, fortified mediaeval villages, abbeys, monasteries, Romanesque churches and tower houses. And of course Chianti Classico wine is available directly from the wineries throughout the area.

To obtain the best rates, OWNER DIRECT reservations are recommended. You can ask the owner questions and at the same time avoid middleman fees any dodgy rental agencies that might be out there on the internet.

Click this link for accommodation in Chianti and elsewhere in Tuscany.

For information on almost every town and village in Tuscany and Umbria: www.bella-toscana.com

For information on the Chianti Classico area and Tuscany in general: www.chianti.info

Author: Anna Maria Baldini

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Recommended family-friendly accommodations in Tuscany

Now that spring shows signs of coming (well, at least it isn't snowing here in Tuscany anymore - other than in the mountains), I'm receiving requests for recommended family-friendly accommodations in Tuscany. What parents usually have in mind by "family-friendly" is plenty of space for children to run around far away from traffic. My top recommendation goes to Piano di Montagliari, a Bed and Breakfast vacation accommodation located between Greve and Panzano on one of the rare flat areas of Chianti.

Piano di Montagliari Bed and Breakfast accommodations in Chianti, Tuscany

Chianti, as almost everyone knows, is a very hilly wine-growing area covering the territory between Florence and Sienna. One of the very few extensive flat areas lies where the river Greve emerges from the hills below Lamole before turning north to run through the town of the same name to join the Arno just west of Florence. This flat, former flood plain is known as the Piano di Montagliari after the big villa and formerly castle Montagliari nearby.

Part of the extensive lawns around Piano di Montagliari - Villa Vignamaggio
is visible on the ridge in the distance.

B&B Piano di Montagliari is part of an old mill and is surrounded by extensive lawns which are ideal for young people's games (soccer goal provided!) and there is almost no traffic on the adjoining road which accesses one or two houses further upstream. The location also means peace and tranquility for parents who can relax in the lovely gardens after a hard day of sightseeing. Rooms with private bathrooms as well as rooms with access to a common bathroom are available. Highly recommended!

More about B&B Piano di Montagliari.

Map of the main sights of Chianti.

Travellers Guide to Chianti.

Author: Anna Maria Baldini

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Recommend a Bed and Breakfast accommodation in Greve in Chianti

I've been asked to recommend a Bed and Breakfast accommodation in Greve in Chianti, right in town, so I'm happy to give a recommendation for three B&Bs on or within a few minute's walk of Piazza Matteotti, the main square (or, rather, triangle) of Greve. Bed & Breakfast "Nella Piazza", which is right on Piazza Matteotti near the church, plus "Chianti Rooms" Bed & Breakfast and "Casa Montechiari" which are about a 10 minute walk north of the piazza among the last houses of Greve.

A view across Piazza Matteotti to B&B "Nella Piazza" on the top floor.

B&B "Nella Piazza" offers three rooms each for 2 or 3 people and each with its own bathroom. Guests have use of a sunny terrace behind the building. There is also a kitchen that guests may use to prepare their own meals. If you want to be right in the middle of things in Greve, this is the place for you!

More about Bed & Breakfast "Nella Piazza" on Piazza Matteotti, Greve.

The garden of "Chianti Rooms" Bed & Breakfast in Greve in Chianti

"Chianti Rooms" B&B offers just two double rooms with en suite bathroom. They are one of the few places in the area that take guests for just one night and are open all year round. They have a beautiful garden out the back, with a terrace and a pergola where guests can enjoy their breakfast on sunny days. There is a WiFi connection available.

More about "Chianti Rooms" in Greve in Chianti.

The terrace of "Casa Montechiare" Bed and Breakfast in Greve in Chianti

About 100 m beyond "Chianti Rooms", we come to "Casa Montechiare" Bed and Breakfast. The front of the house is on an urban street while the terrace and garden at the back look out over the Chianti countryside. Their accommodation consists of two double (or twin) rooms, with en suite bathroom, linked by a double door, together with a fully equipped kitchen-dining room. One bedroom contains a sofa bed that can be expanded into a bunk bed for a total of 4 persons. The Greve public swimming pool is just 5 minutes walk away.

More about "Casa Montechiare" Bed and Breakfast.

Travellers Guide to Chianti.

Author: Anna Maria Baldini

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Bed and Breakfast Accommodations in Chianti

Ancora del Chianti Bed and Breakfast in Chianti

Not everyone realises that there is a plentiful supply of excellent Bed and Breakfast Accommodations in Chianti. These B&Bs are usually rooms but can also be small apartments, and they are located in both towns and villages as well as out in the country. B&Bs in town have the convenience that you can usually walk out your front door into the main piazza or be within a few minutes walk of it. In addition, a town location usually means there is a bus stop nearby linking you easily from rural towns to Florence. Bed and Breakfast accommodations in the countryside usually require a car for access but are also much more likely to have a swimming pool. If they are up in the Chianti hills, they will surely be cooler than average in summer, and of course quieter. Competition and the weakening euro mean that B&B prices are highly competitive and will usually give you much better value than a hotel.

An excellent range of B&Bs in Chianti are listed here.

Author: Anna Maria Baldini

Vacation rentals in Chianti

The Chianti region of Tuscany, Italy

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Great vacation accommodation deals in Tuscany, Italy

Now is the moment to take advantage of the excellent range of great vacation accommodation deals in Tuscany, Italy! While tourists still stream into Florence on tour buses, independent travellers have been somewhat shy so far this year in venturing out into the Tuscan countryside, particularly the Chianti Classico wine zone. With the recent rise in the value of the dollar against the euro plus the large number of agriturismi and Bed & Breakfast vacation accommodations available, prices are currently extremely attractive for tourists planning to spend a few days in Tuscany. The old days of having to book Saturday to Saturday are long gone. By going to reputable owner-direct websites, you can rent a traditionally furnished apartment for less than the price of a not very good hotel room in Florence. One of the best of these owner-direct sites is www.greve-in-chianti.com which not only lists all kinds of vacation accommodations in central Chianti Classico, but also contains a huge amount of useful information on what to see in Chianti and elsewhere in Tuscany.

Much additional useful information for tourists visiting Tuscany is provided by:

www.chianti.info

www.bella-toscana.com

www.bella-umbria.com

Author: Anna Maria Baldini

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Bed & Breakfast accommodation in Tuscany

Bed and Breakfast accommodation in Tuscany, Italy, provides an excellent and often very economical alternative to a hotel for those who have no need of the additional facilities offered by hotels and/or who would like to stay in a village or the Tuscan countryside where hotels are not very commonly found. Most Tuscan B&Bs offer just a few rooms in a farmhouse or, rarely, in a classic Tuscan villa (for example Corte di Valle), often with access to a swimming pool and a terrace or garden for relaxing in the sun. Sometimes they are air-conditioned although air conditioned vacation accommodations in Tuscany are not common, in large part because air conditioning is not really necessary and is incredibly expensive to run because of the high cost of electricity in Italy.

Here are some useful links to information about Tuscan B&Bs:

• Bed and Breakfast rooms, vacation apartment accommodations in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy.
• Bed and Breakfast in Chianti.

Author: Anna Maria Baldini

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