Il Guardia - Chianti - Tuscany

La Selva is a Tuscan farm that was established by the Medici in the 15th century. Today it covers 300 very picturesque acres. Since 1988, a team of dedicated enologists (wine experts in case you were wondering) has been developing a 75 acre vineyard on La Selva’s gently rolling hills. Their mission was to produce wines of “absolute quality” as they put it, and it’s been an outstanding success - thus a holiday at La Selva isn’t merely about a nice holiday apartment in a fine setting. You’ll be staying at one of Tuscany’s premier wineries!

La Selva’s lovingly tended Cabernet Sauvignon vines produce a full, velvety red wine which is aged in oak to develop intense notes of toasted almonds, vanilla and black currants - we think you’ll love it. If you’re not too busy developing your tan by the pool, you can check out their full range of excellent wines - their Vin Santo and Chianti D.O.C.G. are superb! Pop into the estate office and book yourselves a trip around their cantina, followed by a guided wine tasting through their entire range of wonderful wines - what a holiday experience! And the “extras” at La Selva don’t stop at wonderful wine. Apart from the swimming pool or walks in the sylvan hills, there’s also a fine tennis court, ping pong and a picturesque lake for boating and fishing. This is a great place to entertain the kids and ensure the adults are well catered for too!

La Selva is at the very gateway into Chianti. Having sampled the wines on your own estate, you’ll be ready to explore the many castles and cantinas all around. Head to the medieval town of Castelnuovo Berardenga, a mere 10 km away. Having taken in the sights there and lingered over cappuccino e cornetto con la crema in the village square, you’ll need to decide if you’ll carry on into the Chianti hills. If so, pause at the fantastic castle of Brolio - now that’s a castle that really looks like a castle! If you rang ahead to book a wine tasting in their huge cantina, then drive straight in, otherwise ring the bell for an outside visit. Their restaurant is very fine, the views from the castle are even finer and the owner’s name is sheer delight: Baron Bettino Ricasoli Firidolfi! Having enjoyed Brolio, carry on to Gaiole and maybe you’ll want to take in the formal gardens at Badia a Coltibuono too - an ancient monastery with another outstanding restaurant and a shop selling their wonderful cold pressed olive oil and some temptingly collectable Tuscan pottery. Radda is yet another nearby Chianti must-see. All this is within just 30 km of Il Guardia.

You are more or less equidistant from Siena and Arezzo, barely 30 km in either direction if you want to seek out some of Tuscany’s great art and wonderful architecture. Florence is 45 km away and makes for a wonderful day exploring art galleries and museums and shopping in the Florentine markets. Or take the Incisa exit (15 km before Florence) and head for a naughty indulgence instead ...? Incisa is home to “The Mall” and a host of other high fashion, low cost outlets. You could spend a very happy day trying on Armani, D&G, Valentino and many tempting others. And don’t forget to stop off at the Cuoieria Fiorentina (200 meters from the Incisa A1 exit) to get a matching bag or briefcase and maybe a leather coat or a pair of trousers? With luck and a little perseverance, you’ll find some real bargains!

After all this sightseeing you may want to hurry home to your barbecue or you may prefer to eat out - and you'll find there are plenty of eateries close to Il Guardia. A 15 minute downhill walk will bring you to La Leccarda, a huge and well organised trattoria. Or a 3 km walk (or drive?) up the hill will get you to the charming little village of Montebenichi with its excellent trattoria. Ambra is the next town along, just 4 km from La Selva. You’ll find shops, banks, bars and a pizzeria, or head for the little restaurant there for an inexpensive treat. carry on and you’ll be at Montevarchi in 10 minutes. The town’s Thursday morning market is another excellent bargain-hunting opportunity.

Il Guardia is built on the ancient foundations of a fortified guard tower dating back almost a thousand years - hence its name. Nowadays, Il Guardia is a pleasant first floor apartment, only a minute’s walk to the estate office and just three minutes’ walk to the pool. You enter your own private garden through a little gate and then up the steps to your own front door (in the top picture). You’ll have plenty of privacy as well as the fun of making friends with your fellow guests sharing this quintessentially Tuscan spot.

Il Guardia gives you a host of options for entertaining the kids, and mum and dad will have a great holiday under the Tuscan sun too!