Tuscan Castle Self Drive Vacation - from $999pp

We just returned from this fantastic location (Nov 2009), just 30 minutes outside of Florence and easily accessible to many wonderful towns like San Gemignano and Siena. Montegufoni Castle is perched atop a gentle hill and set amidst Italian gardens, lemon trees, olive groves and the world famous vineyards of Chianti. Wake to the mist rolling over the hills and the rising sun clears the sky and valleys for your daily explorations. Glorious and historic Montegufoni Castle transports you to a fairy-tale world in the hills Tuscany. You’ll be fully immersed in the rare beauty of this stunning property. You’ll see the artistry of Medieval and Renaissance Italian design—ancient halls, winding stairs, frescoes, and refined furnishings. You’ll enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding Chianti countryside. A stay inside Montegufoni brings you back in time to a simpler world where beauty, pleasure, art and nature commingle to create an unforgettable experience! Explore Tuscany’s breathtaking countryside or nearby cities of international fame such as Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Certaldo, Pisa, Lucca, and Arezzo to name just a few.

Montegufoni Castle

Built on the ancient Volterran road, once traveled by Charlemagne and his army on their way to Rome, Montegufoni Castle occupies a unique place in the historical landscsape of Tuscany. Dating back to the 12th century, the original structure was built by the noble Ormanni family (of Divine Comedy fame) and destroyed by the armies of Florence. It was rebuilt in the 13th century by the aristocratic Acciaioli family, and under their care flourished into a glorious medieval Castrum consisting of 7 distinct buildings surrounded by a fortified wall.

The evolution continued in the 17th century when it became a unified castle redesigned with elaborate and graceful Baroque elements. The melding of architectural styles lends the castle a unique look and feel. Throughout its history, Montegufoni served as a meeting place for Florence’s nobility and later as a refuge for artists and writers. It has been visited by great writers like D.H. Lawrence and Somerset Maugham amongst many others. During World War II it housed famous works of art like Botticelli's "La Primavera" and Giotto's "Madonna D'Ognisanti". Upon arrival one is immediately struck by Montegufoni's palpable past and infinite mysteries. Staying there you experience both the delightful sensations of present day Tuscany and gentle echoes of the region’s illustrious past.

Today, Montegufoni has been converted to 39 apartments, from 1-bedroom to 4-bedrooms which are available as rentals. Sheets and towels are provided and they all have kitchens complete with dishes and cookery should you want a relaxing night in with a home-cooked meal. If not, there is a restaurant on the premises as well as a bar where you can purchase the estate's wine for just €7 per bottle (and it's pretty good!) Please keep in mind that you are renting an apartment and with a rental you are responsible for a cash security deposit (about €150), cleaning (about €40 - €60, depending on the size) as well as heating in the winter (about €14 per day). Any items you use, such as toilet paper (1st roll included!), dish soap or even morning tea must be purchased at the local grocery store and the castle has arrangements with a local grocery to deliver if you wish.

Tuscany

Traveling to Tuscany is like a dream come true. Everything you have ever read or seen about this alluring region of Italy cannot begin to compare to actually experiencing the destination first hand. Tuscany is a place for lovers of history, art, beautiful countryside, wonderful cuisine, and fine wine. The landscape here is as varied as the country itself, with rolling green hills and mountains as well as a beautiful coastline and remote islands. Sunflowers abound here in season as do the iconic Cypress evergreen trees. Chianti is the vineyard clad heart of Tuscany — between Florence and Siena — famous for its noble wine, graceful landscape and the incomprable medieval towns and historic castles which dot the countryside. This is a place to come and experience Italy at its best--to drive around leisurely by car, shop the local markets, wander through the villages, and dine on the rustic foods that the area is famous for. Montegufoni castle exemplifies the Tuscan experience and puts you in prime position to fully exploit the magic and wonder of this beautiful land!

Off-season is my favorite time of year and you can be sure that there is no lack of things to do, just lack of crowds. Enjoy porcinis and truffles as they are harvested and the olive orchards are harvested during the months of November and December! Prices are lower all over the place, making it a deal to travel this time of year.

Testimonials

"The whole area is beautiful, a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the scenery. A great place to go to for artists. Also plenty to do and see. Italian people are so friendly and helpful. I would recommend Castello Di Montefugoni wholeheartedly and have warm memories of how well we were looked after…"

"We were two middle-age couples that shared a two bedroom-two bath guesthouse and we were delighted with the accomodation and hospitality. The reception people spoke english and were very helpful. It is a great location close to Florence, Siena, and Chianti area. Plenty to see around this location. We had a car and loved the countryside. We would definitely go back when we have the opportunity. Price is reasonable and fair…"

"The castle is beautiful and we loved our time there. It was perfectly clean and a joy to stay in. Lovely being so close to Florence and yet have such lovely views…"

"The castle was a great place to vacation with friends. The rooms were interesting and so different that anything else we could have chosen! Montegufoni is near enough to Florence that it was an easy day trip, and we were so glad to not be staying in the city! The views from the castle are amazing. I would definitely recommend staying here..."

Personal Recommendations:

GPS - Don't leave home without it and if you do, don't leave the rental agency without renting one! We visited Tuscany in 2004 when GPS was cheap and available, spending quite a bit of time trying to find these back roads can be difficult and we did a lot of backtracking. GPS got us in and our of Florence within 30 minutes each and every time.

Parking in Florence - We decided to head to Piazza Michelangelo, sitting high a top Florence with incredible vistas. We found plenty of parking -- and it was FREE! We left our car there the whole day, walking down to the city and always having a view of where our car was upon return. We didn't have to remember streets or pay city-prices for parking our vehicles so it was a perfect location to leave your car.

Food - You can't go wrong in Italy really but there are a few suggestions for getting the best food at better rates. You'll find great, local restaurants in many of the smaller towns but each town has a main piazza... the main piazzas tend to be more expensive. The same holds true for Florence... get away from the major tourist areas and you'll find not only less-expensive food but better.

ATM / Cash Machine - If the first machine fails, try another one!

Car Rental / Driving - Many people say that Italians drive like maniacs which I don't think is accurate... they just drive FAST. They also like to ride your bumper, even in the right-hand lane. It's cultural and once I got past that, knowing they weren't trying to make me nervous... it's just that they drive close to each other... then I relaxed a bit. Pass in the left, keep up with traffic in the right. Again, GPS helps you know which exit to take before you pass it. Insurance is included on all these package rentals and you cannot rent a car in Italy without it. Flights to the U.S. from Florence go through Rome (typically) so you'll have to be at the airport early, ensuring you make your connection in Rome and that means leaving the Castle around 4:30am! Car rentals aren't open so you'll simply park the car at an open agency rental spot, note the mileage/gas/etc, lock the car and drop the key at the rental agency's lock box -- that's it. There is a gas station one block before the airport to ensure you top off the tank and get your initial deposit back.

Castle Apartments - These are RENTALS therefore you have to supplly it with food, drinks, toilet paper (first roll included), etc. If you want more towls or change of sheets, you'll pay for that as well. This is NOT a hotel however the front desk will do everything they can to ensure your stay is pleasant. Internet is available at the front desk during their hours as is wireless if you stand right outside the door (it's a castle that is a few hundred years old... tough to get any signal through those thick, stone walls)

Terms & Conditions

Rates are per-person based on 4 people traveling together during the off-season and sharing a two-bedroom apartment and one munual shift car. Keep in mind that airfare will depend on which airport you've chosen (we priced this for our dates in November from Philadelphia). Taxes are not included and will be added when you request a price quote. Rates are for off-season though other seasons are available -- at additional cost of course.