Fattoria Bassetto: Budget Bed and Breakfast accommodation in  TuscanyCertaldo accommodation in Tuscany, Italy


Mini-van tours (June 1 - Sept.15)

These tours are designed for travellers without private transport to access towns and regions and discover some other aspects of the Tuscan countryside. Here's an idea of some of the tours we run:
 

Certaldo - Volterra - Woman's Rock - San Gimignano (full day)
This is our most popular tour. Our first stop is "Vincenzo and Giampiero's" pasticceria in town to stock up on local delicacies for the journey and then through the rolling hills of western Tuscany to the hilltop town of Volterra which enjoys a commanding position on a windswept ridge. Here you visit Giorgio and Roberto in alab'Arte who still use traditional methods to produce high quality alabaster artwork. Volterra was once covered in a fine white dust from these workshops and still has one of the largest alabaster fields in the world.














Alabaster workshop in Volterra



Rooftops of Volterra

Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance influences all reflect in the buildings and artwork. Wander around and see the Teatro Romano (Roman Theatre) built around 200 A.D., the oldest seat of local government in Italy 'Palazzo dei Priori', a 14th century monastery tempting fate on an eroding cliff and more.
 

From here we whisk you over to "La Donna della Rocca" ("Woman's Rock"), an opening in the Cecina river where women once did their laundry. Enjoy an afternoon of swimming and sun-tanning before the final stop in the enchanting, fairytale-like, medieval town of San Gimignano. This town was named after a martyred bishop but it seems the locals also like to laugh at the way tourists pronounce its name.
 



"Woman's rock"

"Saint Jimmy's" once had 72 towers but the wealth, strength and influence displayed by them was considered a temptation for someone to take over the town, so most were destroyed and now only 14 remain. There is a good view of the remaining towers from the Rocca, a crumbling ruin of the towns fortress on the top of the hill. Be careful negotiating the stairs that have had hundreds of years of use. San Gimignano also features a medieval torture museum that is not for the faint hearted, ancient churches and wells. But usually the best way to finish off the tour is to endulge in a gelato from the World Famous shop in Piazza della Cisterna.
 



San Gimignano: medieval towers


Certaldo - Monteriggioni - Colle di Val d'elsa (half day)

This is a half day tour that usually departs in the afternoon. As usual our first stop is Vincenzo and Giampiero's friendly pasticceria to get you stocked up on local pastry delicacies for the journey.

The captivating walled medieval stronghold of Monteriggioni is the first stop. This is one of the few towns with a wall that is still completely intact. Wander through the tiny streets past little coffee shops, wine cellars for tastings, churches and gardens. From here it's not far to Colle di Val d'Elsa. This is a town often missed by tourists. Despite being the home of a well known medieval architect Arnolfo di Cambio, it has also long been an important centre of Italian crystal production.

On the road...

You can visit crystal shops and catch a demonstration of burning and setting. The old centre perched up on a ridge has a cathedral and several museums. Stop for some views on the way back to Certaldo.


Certaldo - Monteriggioni - Radda in Chianti - Coltibuono - Wine tasting (full day)

As usual no tour could start without visiting our friends Vincenzo and Giampiero in their pasticceria - often voted the favourite stop on all tours. From here we travel across to Monteriggioni (see the details above) and then into the Chianti region past Castellina in Chianti to Rada in Chianti. Sing out for photo stops along the way. In Radda you can get lunch and wander around the charming village. Our next stop from hear is the old abbey of Badia a Coltibuono. It's possible to join guided tours of the interior, gardens and old cantina for a small additional fee. Alternatively try some of the local trails, check out the chapel or relax in the cafe.
 



Medieval wine cellar

From here the wine tasting starts at a local enoteca run by Antonio who will let you try all the Coltibuono wines, all of which would go down well with your dinner. On the way to the next vineyard we stop at San Donato for gelati and some great views. The tastings here include a tour of the cantina and surroundings and more opportunities to stock up on local wines.

Enjoy the views on the way home to Certaldo.

Certaldo - San Gimignano - Wine tasting (3/4 day)



Grapes used for wine making

This tour gives travellers the opportunity to spend more time in San Gimignano and appreciate its local wines. Start the tour with pastries from Vincenzo and Giampiero, our local friends in Certaldo. Follow the old Appian way to San Gimignano, a medieval route for pilgrims from France heading to Rome. See details on San Gimignano above for more information on this town.
 

But our journey here is more for wine appreciation and to taste Vernaccia - a white wine only grown in the San Gimignano area. We stop at two cantina's nearby after you've seen a bit of the town, one where you can buy a 5 litre bottle of red from a huge barrel-shaped shop and where you can taste more local wines.
 

 

For bookings and enquiries please write to:
info@fattoriabassetto.com
 

 

 

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