Overview
La Torrella is an outstanding estate in prime location between Florence and Siena, close to the village of Gaiole in Chianti. It used to belong to the famous wine estate Castello di Brolio. 15 years ago the actual owners acquired what was then nearly a ruin, even though it was clear that the main house and the surrounding outhouses had enormous potential.
Beginning with the location, only 15 miles (25 km) north of Siena, nicely settled on a small hill, shouldered by the Chianti hills to the north and a seemingly endless succession of hills with the skyline of Siena in the background to the south west. Surrounded by the famous Brolio vineyards and olive groves and the odd farmhouse in the distance.
La Torrella first became known when, in the 17th century, it is supposed to have given Galileo Galilei shelter during some years of his exile. He had been banned by the papal inquisition, who could not accept his theory that the Universe was centered around the sun and not the earth.
The estate is made up of the main villa, and a number of farmhouses. Two of them are available for rent. The have been fully restored to a high standard and given exquisit landscaped gardens.
Photographs of the Estate and the surroundings
Map & Getting there
La Torrella lies in the Chianti region, the most sought after part of Tuscany half way between Florence and Siena.
- Gaiole in Chianti 12 km (7 miles)
- Siena 25 km (15 miles)
- Castellina in Chianti 30 km (18 miles)
- Greve in Chianti 37 km (23 miles)
- Arezzo 52 km (32 miles)
- Sam Gimignano 59 km (37 miles)
- Montalcino 61 km (38 miles)
- Florence 73 km (43 miles)
- Volterra 80 km (50 miles)
- Pisa 176 km (109 miles)
- Rome 239 km (148 miles)
Activities & Places of interest
- The Chianti area: Famous for its wines - the Chianti Classico - this area of Tuscany has more than just world-class oenological pleasures to offer. You will come accross many delightful villages, each of them with a history of its own. Let us simply mention gems such as the romanesque church of Sant'Appiano, the Basilica of Impruneta, the fortified Castle of Montefioralle in Greve in Chianti, the Church of San Leolino and the Oratory of Sant`Eufrosino in Panzano in Chianti , the Castello di Brolio in Gaiole in Chianti, the roofless romanesque abbey of San Galgano which are all close. And don’t miss the Saturday market in the small town of Greve in Chianti on the famous Piazza del Mercato.
- Badia a Passignano –The splendid monastery of Badia a Passignano takes the form of a quadrangular fortified monastic complex with corner towers. Towards the middle of the 15 C the convent was augmented by the addition of cloisters and a wall. Information regarding the year of the Badia's foundation is unclear. In 1049 Badia passed into the Vallombrosano order, a reformed branch of the Benedictines. In 1545, the abbey became an important theological, literary and scientific study centre; the monastery chronicles report that Galileo Galilei taught mathematics here from 1587-1588. The monastery is still today occupied by the Valombrosiani monk community.
- The „Strada Chiantigiana“ (SR 222) an ancient road leading from Florence to Siena is full of spectacular scenery, historic sites and the romance of the Tuscany region of Italy. This back road runs through rolling hills overgrown with vineyards to Chianti's small cities and towns such as Greve, Radda, and Gaiole.
- Hot Springs: In Tuscany there are several natural hot springs feed by volcanic water from 30 to 55 degrees Celsius. Some of them have been known from Etruscan and roman times like Calidario and Saturnia. You can add to your holiday in Tuscany a day in a thermal hot spring.
- Siena: The Sienese have no doubt, their town is the most beautiful in all of Tuscany, if not all of Italy. Siena has remained a Gothic city. Renaissance, one of the major influences in Florence, hardly affected the urban development of Siena. The city unfolds around the main shell-shaped square called "Il Campo." Twice a year the famous horse race known as the "Palio" takes place here. The narrow streets are lined with old shops and small cafes, while churches and museums are real treasures of the fourteenth century.
- Florence: The city lies on the Arno River and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture. A centre of medieval European trade and finance, the city is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance; in fact, it has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages. It was long under the de facto rule of the Medici family. From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. The historic centre of Florence continues to attract millions of tourists each year and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982.
- San Gimignano is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. It is mainly famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, which may be seen from several kilometers outside the town. The town also is known for the white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, grown in the area.
- Ballooning In Tuscany: This is a unique experience to see the real, old Tuscany, as yet almost untouched by tourism. Robert Etherington, who lives in the village of Montisi, organizes morning flights (starting at about 6 am) which last more than an hour. Afterwards you will enjoy a champagne breakfast laid out in the fields where you land. The whole flight, from inflation to return to base, takes about three and half hours. The ballooning season is approximately late Spring to early Autumn. www.ballooningintuscany.com