The Villa Il Poggiale Dimora Storica bed and breakfast is located in San Casciano in Val di Pesa in Italy. To book this Bed and Breakfast click here.

Villa Il Poggiale, with its expansive Renaissance loggia opening onto the garden, has the special charm of a centuries' old family home.In the large frescoed hall antiques, sofas and armchairs help to create an unforgettable atmosphere. The walls of the bedrooms, all of which are large and each different from the other, are painted in colours made with earth and natural pigments.

The materials used for the curtains and the canopies over the beds come from small Tuscan artisanal workshops. Oriental silks have, instead, been used in the salons and the rooms on the main floor. Great care has been taken in the decorating of the bathrooms where specially made tiles in pale tones have been used. Breakfast is served in the dining room on the ground floor with the fire lit on winter days.

Seated in the Renaissance loggia, you can have a wonderful view of the classic garden which envelops you with the perfume of old roses and of other flowering plants. The beautiful central courtyard with its well and the gardens surrounding the swimming pool have always been planted with flowers which give off glorious perfumes according to the season. Activities (on request) • The Olive Harvest Wine and oil are the two treasures of Tuscany.

You can take part in the olive gathering, in their pressing in the old olive presses and finally, taste the oil as soon as it is made, together with a fragrant piece of toasted Tuscan bread. • Cookery Lessons From the old country cooking to the more refined cuisine, the complete range of Tuscan gastronomy and and also that of other Italian regions is available. From Piemonte with its French influence to the rich and imaginative cooking of Naples and from Sicily where the Arabs and Spanish left their mark.

We will be happy to prepare a personalized cooking course with you. • The Truffles of San Miniato Villa Il Poggiale is situated about 30 minutes drive from San Miniato. The area surrounding this charming medieval town is famous for its plentiful truffles. It is possible to take part in searching for truffles, following the dogs which are specially trained for just this task by their owners who gather the priceless tubers and who are a source of inexhaustible information.

In the squares and streets of the town, during the last weekend of November, there is a very lively festival held for their tasting with dozens of stalls selling truffles of every type and size. • Wine Tasting in the Heart of Chianti You can visit the Castello di Rampolla, where some of the highest quality wines in Tuscany are produced including the “Vigna d’Alceo” which was selected two years ago by the “Wine Spectator” (the world’s most prestigious wine magazine) as Best Wine of the Year.

The castle is situated in a splendid position with its terraces looking out over the valley and the vine-covered hills which change colour with the seasons. You can visit the cellars and taste the different wines and the owner, princess Maurizia di Napoli Rampolla, will be your highly informed guide. • The Palio of Siena The Palio of Siena has no need of an introduction. The procession in the “contrade”, the quarters, of the city and the race in the splendid Piazza del Campo, are a breathtaking spectacle.

The atmosphere during the days of the famous race is unique. The suppers and the festivity in the streets of the city, the benediction of the horses in the churches of the various quarters, the music, and the costumes, remain an unforgettable memory. Il Poggiale is only 40 minutes from Siena and tickets for the Palio and for the supper in the “contrade” are available through the Villa.

Tinaia The old cellar containing a selection of the best local gastronomic products and a large choice of Tuscan wines.