Loro Ciuffenna is the closest village ( at 3 km ) .
This is a lovely medieval village with an amazing view on the river Ciuffenna. Here you will not find souvenirs for tourists but traditional family run shops, a colourful weekly market, traditional Italian coffee shops, ice-cream shops and a selection of very good restaurants ( 2 of them recommended by Michelin Guide), “osterie” ( one of them recommended by Slow Food Guide) and “pizzerie”, of course.
Definitely a little town where you can breath an old times Tuscan atmosphere.
Loro Ciuffenna could be a great starting point for a variety of excursions and activities such as:
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Sightseeing on Pratomagno mountains
Driving for 15-25 minutes you can reach unique hidden villages on the slopes of Pratomagno mountains.
All of them have a spectacular view on the Arno Valley ( Rocca Ricciarda and La Trappola are at 950 m. above the sea level)
Centuries of history, beautiful forests, old mills, silence and…. good food!
In Chiassaia, an old village of 50 permanent inhabitants, Varis, the baker, makes a local flat bread called “schiacciata” with no chemicals ingredients baked in a wood oven.
There you can enjoy a very good brunch with salty and sweet delicacies feeling you jumped back in time of at least 50 years…
In Casamona,
you can visit a farm house, where you can find fresh local produce us yogurt, cheese, andfresh milk,
you can make a beautiful walk through the pasture land “meeting” cows rough grazing; then you can see how cheese is produced from the milking to the seasoning: the old cellar where they keep the cheese is worth a visit by itself.
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Sightseeing all along the Chianti hills and the Arno Valley
Molino delle Gualchiere is located along one of the Wine Roads of Tuscany, an ancient Etruscan road that was connecting Fiesole to Arezzo called “Strada dei Setteponti”;
all along this panoramic country road there are farms producing very good wines ( some of them recommended by Wine Spectator ) and wine tasting tours there are interesting and amusing.
Most of the farms are situated next to medieval hamlets worth visiting,
like Il Borro, property of Ferragamo’s family and beautiful Gropina with its Romanesque Parish church declared world heritage site.
The Chianti Classico, with its widely known wine producers, can also be an alternative wine tasting destination.
In this area it is very easy to combine the wine tour with a visit to historic castles and villas.
To quote few names: Meleto Castle, a medieval castle ,Brolio Castle with its
gardens, from where you can enjoy one of the most beautiful sight over a traditional Tuscan
landscape, Badia a Coltibuono a fascinating ancient Abbey, Volpaia nested on top of a hill.
Pls. take note that all sites listed above are easily reachable from Molino Gualchiere in 15/ 40 minutes driving.
The Arno Valley in the nearby of Molino delle Gualchiere offers a spectacular view over a unique landscape. Cliffs called “balze” with pinnacles and spires
created during the centuries, a fabulous scenery that you can see behind the portrait of Monnalisa and in other drawings and painting of Leonardo da Vinci. There are quite a number of paths to follow even walking directly from Molino Gualchiere.
Florence is easily reachable by car or by train ( the closest railway station is at 10 km.)
Siena and San Gimignano can be reached by car trough the “castles road”, a unique itinerary.
Arezzo ( 20 miles ) and Cortona could be both visited in a day trip.
Arezzo -
City of the Giostra del Saracino - As it testifies same city architecture, it boasts one born ancient. It is one of the greater Etruscan cities and subsequently one strategic roman city. The part more elevated of the city conserve one detached medieval aspect, dominated from the Cathedral and the Medicea Fortress. To the city center, Piazza Grande true anthology of architectonic styles unfolds one. Piazza Grande , the third Sunday of the June month and the first Sunday of September, becomes the scene of the
Giostra del Saracino
, game to horse of medieval origins. The same public square and great part of the historical center accommodate, every the first Sunday of the month and the previous saturday, the famous
Fair Antiquarianism
.
Worth a visit also the medieval towns of Anghiari and Sansepolcro
We organize cooking classes at the Molino and in nearby restaurants. Traditional Tuscan recipes, local genuine products and a passion for food.
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Shopping at Fashion Outlets
Prada Outlets is in Montevarchi ( 15 minutes by car)
The Mall, an outlet village divided in branded stores where to find Gucci, Yves Sant Laurent, Armani, Ferragamo, Valentino and many more,is at 25 minutes driving.
Fendi Outlets and Dolce & Gabbana Outlets are just around the corner from each other, at 35 minutes by car