Villa Information
The History of Poggio Alle Corti
Poggio Alle Corti, which translates to “Courtyards on a Hill,” dates to the 11th century. Some of the existing walls and archways date to the 1200s, and many of the villa’s floors and beams are hundreds of years old.
The stone structure was originally a farmhouse and watchtower fortress, typical of Middle Ages houses of importance. It provided protection from hostile neighbors and supported local farming activity. The location was chosen due to its hilltop position and 360-degree views. The original structure also had a tall tower, and the lower walls of this tower remain intact. It was common at that time for the farm family to live on the upper floors while livestock, such as cows, sheep and goats, lived on the ground floor.
The high ceilings, thick walls, and important arches suggest that the original home was built by a substantial landowner, most likely the Bishop of Passignano. The doorway from the entry hall into the dining room is original and built in the 1200s.
The villa was expanded in the 1500s, and then in the mid-to-late 1700s the entire valley was acquired by Bishop Scipione de’Ricci, whose coat of arms is the hedgehog (il riccio). It is likely that the vineyards around the villa were first planted about this time. Bishop de Ricci built his main house farther up the valley from Poggio Alle Corti, near the top of the hill. He died in 1810 and both he and his mother are buried in the chapel near Fattoria di Rignana. Poggio Alle Corti then housed lesser lords who were subservient to the main house.
Poggio Alle Corti has been added to and modified over the years but much of its original structures and charm remain.
Bathrooms: All bathrooms are cleaned once daily.
Linens and Towels: Beds will be made daily. Towels are refreshed midweek. For any other bedding needs, cots, cribs, etc., please ask Rafael or Marinela.
Breakfast and Lunches: No breakfasts or lunches are provided. The staff are happy to purchase grocery items for you in advance and stock your fridge. Please ask us for recommendations or you may consult our comprehensive guidebook for a list of cafes and pastry shops (pasticciera).
Dinners: We are pleased to offer three complimentary multi-course Italian dinners for your entire party. This includes a Welcome Dinner on the night of your arrival from a pre-set menu and two additional dinners on a night of your choosing (from Monday - Thursday). You may also book up to two additional dinners at the cost of €500 per dinner for groups of 6 or under (€50.00 per additional person over 10 years old).
The dinner menu is available online and will also be presented upon arrival. You can discuss your choice of meals and preferred dates with Marinela. Please be sure to inform her of any dietary restrictions.
Dinners may be served any time between 5pm and 8pm, per your preference.
Water, Wine, and Olive Oil: Guests will be provided with a few bottles of wine from our vineyard, olive oil from our olive grove, and bottles of water. Additional bottles of wine or water can be purchased from the staff or on your own. The tap water is also very good.
Dishes: Staff will clear and clean all dinner dishes on the nights that they cook. Guests are asked to use the dishwasher for all other meals.
Note: The staff have Sunday off and will not be available
Pre-Stock Fridge Service
We are happy to pre-stock your fridge with whatever food items you'd like (the cost of groceires not included). We will provide you with an itemized grocery list to fill out within a week of your trip.
Grocery Stores
There are grocery stores, butcher shops, and pattiseries in the nearby towns of Panzano and Greve. Please keep in mind that they close at 7:45/8pm respectively on Saturday evening and do not open again until Monday morning.
Grocery Service
The staff are happy to get groceries for you on Monday and Wednesday (50 Euro per trip). The staff must have your list by 10am that day.
Guests will be provided receipts and must reimburse the staff directly, in cash.
There are two designated smoking areas: outside the courtyard (where you park your vehicles) and on the pool deck. Smoking anywhere else, or indoors, is strictly prohibited.
Please let us know if anyone in your group smokes. Otherwise, there will be no ashtrays available on the property.
Activities and Attractions
Please inquire and we’re happy to connect you with any of the following activities.
- Hot-Air Ballooning
- Wine Tours and Vineyard Picnics
- Cooking Classes
- Electric Bicycle, Mountain Bike, and Bicycle Rentals
- Vespa Rentals
- Tennis Lessons
Scenic Drives
There are numerous scenic drives in the area, and throughout Chianti. Some of the most famous are Route 222 and S71.
Hiking, Biking, and Roman Roads
You are in a hiker’s paradise, with all kinds of options for hiking and biking, including along ancient Roman roads and the famed Romea Sanese that connects Florence and Siena.
Wildlife
Chianti is rich in wildlife, and the villa grounds are home to many birds and animals.
You are likely to see or hear many of these animals in our olive grove, in the surrounding woods, or along Chianti’s winding roads.
Below is some information about the local wildlife and how to find them.
Our Resident Tawny Owl, Gufo
A beautiful tawny owl makes his home in the outer wall of the villa. To see him, stand below the west-facing window of the master bedroom. Have someone open the master bathroom window shutter from the inside. When they do, he will fly right over your head. Be sure the window hasn’t already been opened, or he’ll have already flown away and will “not be home”.
Deer, Cervo
Both fallow deer, with their massive antlers, and roe deer call the villa grounds “home.” Watch for them near dusk, in cultivated fields, or in our olive grove. The road between Panzano and Castelina is an especially great place to see them.
Pheasants, Figiano
The colorful male pheasant loves to strut and show off in our olive grove and the surrounding vineyards. He is brighter-colored than the female, and often “crows” in a husky voice especially around dawn and dusk. You will also find pheasant served in some local restaurants–it’s delicious!
Red Fox, Volpe Rossa
We have at least one local fellow who lives just up the road from us, between the villa and La Cantinetta. You will sometimes see him in the fields or vineyards looking for mice, insects, or worms.
Badger, Tasso
This mostly nocturnal animal spends the day inside its brown tunnels in the forest. Badgers eat fruit, worms, frogs, snakes, bulbs and acorns. They have an acute sense of smell but poor eyesight. Do not corner them as they are powerful and can be quite vicious when defending themselves. This fat fellow sometimes appears after dark on the white road between the La Cantinetta restaurant and the top of the hill.
Porcupine, Porcospino
The African crested porcupine will stamp their feet and raise their quills to rattle them when threatened. They are unable to “shoot” their quills, but when cornered they will try to stab their attacker. They are nocturnal animals, often hunting for roots, bulbs, and insects.
Scorpions, Scorpione
You are very unlikely to see a scorpion unless you’re looking for them, though they are quite common. Look for these handsome little fellows under rocks, especially in the olive grove. Their sting feels similar to that of a bee, but they are not dangerous.
Fish, Pescare
You will see some fish, most likely brown trout, in the river just down from the villa in Fiume Pesa. A range of fish, some quite large, can usually be seen below, under, and around the bridges in Greve as well. If you would like to go fishing, Rafael (an avid fisherman) can give you some tips.
Wild Boar, Cinghiale
You may see signs of where boars have been rooting in the olive grove or along the white road–the ground will be dug up. Dusk is the best time to see them. Try driving down the white roads in heavily wooded areas; keep a lookout in cultivated fields as well, especially on rainy days. You can also see and hear them on the trails around the villa. Be careful not to approach the boars, especially if their adorable little ones are with them. You may notice Cinghiale listed on the menu in many restaurants in Tuscany–it’s delicious and a local favorite. To see one up close, large stuffed boar soften grace the entrance of butcher shops, including the one in Greve square.
Lizards and Geckos, Lucertola e Geco
The Italian wall lizard is the most common. Its body usually has a green or brown back and a white or green belly. They love to sun on the rocks and hide in cracks, especially down by the pool or along the villa walls and patio. They are mostly visible during the day when the sun starts to warm the stone.
Kotschy’s geckos can be grey, yellowish, reddish, or dark brown with rounded toes. They are shorter and stockier than other lizards and tend to be shy and nocturnal; however, you may see them warming in the sun in the late afternoon.
These are both completely harmless and kids love to catch them.
Hares, Lepri
We don’t have rabbits in Tuscany, but we do have hares. Hares are mainly nocturnal, but you can sometimes see them nibbling dandelions or grasses on people’s lawns or in the fields.
Giant Toads, Rospo
The European, or Common, toad can reach up to 6 inches in length. Behind their eyes are two bulging glands that emit a noxious substance to deter predators. Look for them at night along dirt roads, or as they randomly hop through the olive grove in the early morning. They tend to hide under stumps, logs, and large rocks during the day.
Wolf, Lupo
The Italian wolf (also known as the Apennine wolf) is a subspecies of the gray wolf. There are about 3,300 wolves in Italy and they are featured prominently throughout Italian culture and legend, including during the founding of Rome. The wolf is considered the unofficial national animal of Italy.
Mouflon Sheep
While rather uncommon in Chianti, you will sometimes see Mouflon crossing the roads at night. They are more common in the Apuan Alps of northwestern Tuscany. You will find a headmount of a mouflon sheep in the billiard’s room.
Birds “Uccelli”
It is common to hear the distinctive call of cuckoo birds in the trees around the villa. A large flock of eurasian collared doves also lives in our valley. Other birds in the area include: mallard ducks, rock pigeons, swifts, barn swallow, Eurasian blackbird, Italian sparrow, magpie, Western house martin, European starling, redstart, white wagtail, goldfinch, Eurasian blue tit, longtailed and great tit, Eurasian blackcap, firecrest, hooded crow, European serin, mistle thrush, wood pigeon, kestrel, Eurasian nuthatch, buzzard, sardinian warbler, common nightingale, European green woodpecker, and many more.