Zietta

There’s a part of Tuscany that feels untouched — not remote, just quietly timeless. Villa Zietta Tuscany sits right there, tucked into the hills just outside Castellina in Chianti. If you’ve ever dreamt of waking up to rows of olive trees and drinking your morning coffee while everything is still — this is that place.

The property’s big, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Nine bedrooms spread across a main house and two smaller guest homes. It was fully renovated in 2021, but they didn’t strip out the soul. Everything’s simple, lived-in, easy. Stone walls, light-filled rooms, a layout that feels made for big family gatherings or long, wine-soaked dinners with friends.

Outdoors, it’s exactly what you hope for in this part of Italy. Olive groves stretch into the hills, and there are a dozen little spots to sit and just… be. One terrace is shaded with a pergola and has a long table for twenty — it faces west, so dinners come with sunsets. There’s an infinity pool that reflects the sky, and the kind of silence you don’t notice until you realize no one’s said anything for a while — and it feels perfect.

Kids will love it here. There’s space to run, explore, and disappear for hours. You can play table tennis, fire up the grill, or just walk. The country roads around the villa wind through some of the most peaceful corners of Chianti, past vineyards and crumbling stone walls.

And when you feel like trading olive trees for cobblestones, you’re in one of the best locations in Tuscany for day trips that feel effortless. Castellina in Chianti is minutes away for espresso, gelato, and that classic afternoon passeggiata along Via delle Volte, the medieval covered walkway that’s pure Chianti atmosphere. A little farther, Radda and Gaiole deliver postcard villages and the kind of wine bars where you end up staying for “one more glass.” Greve in Chianti is perfect for a market morning and a casual lunch in the piazza, and Panzano is a must if you want a long, slow meal in the countryside paired with big views.

If you’re here for wine, you’re surrounded. Some of the most celebrated Chianti Classico estates are right in this pocket of Tuscany, and tastings can be as relaxed or as serious as you want — from family-run cellars pouring straight from the barrel to iconic producers with vineyard tours and curated pairings. It’s also an ideal base for a private “vineyard-to-table” day: tasting late morning, lunch at an agriturismo, and back home in time for a swim before sunset.

For culture, Florence and Siena are both within easy reach, which means you can do the Uffizi or the Duomo in the morning and still be back by late afternoon, showered and ready for aperitivo on the terrace. San Gimignano is another easy win — climb a tower, wander the lanes, grab a gelato, and leave before the crowds thicken. Even Volterra is doable for a slightly moodier, more cinematic day out with Etruscan history and artisan workshops.

Nature is part of the everyday here. The rolling Chianti hills are made for gentle hikes, morning runs, and e-bike rides that stop whenever the view demands it (which is often). You can follow quiet paths through vineyards and woodland, or head to nearby trails for longer walks with panoramic overlooks. If you want a fuller “Tuscan reset,” plan a day that’s nothing but movement and ease: a slow breakfast, a countryside walk, a pool afternoon, and a long dinner under the pergola.

And while it feels miles away from everything, you’re still right between Florence and Siena. It’s private, but not isolated. Comfortable, but not fussy. Honest, beautiful, and made for people who don’t want to rush anything — not meals, not mornings, not memories. It’s a place to gather. A place to exhale.

CIN IT052005C2WXRAQ2E4

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