Il podere “Le Pietraie” è situato nella bellissima Valle del Pavone, nel cuore della Toscana, ad un’ora e mezzo da Firenze e da Pisa, a 50 minuti da Siena, ad un’ora dal mare.
L’edificio e’ un’antica casa colonica che risale al’600, che è stata recentemente ristrutturata, e’ circondata da un giardino ricco di specie botaniche locali e rare (diverse rose antiche, vari tipi di rosmarino e timo e molte altre essenze profumate), con fiori in ogni stagione dell’anno. Il giardino è circondato da prati e boschi collinari, a 500 m dal Torrente Pavone dove si possono fare bagni e stupende escursioni fino a Bocca di Pavone, il posto dove il Pavone si getta nel Fiume Cecina e che dista qualche chilometro, e alla Rocca Sillana, fortezza d’origine etrusco-romana, che sovrasta la valle.
A 20 minuti d’auto (Larderello) c’e’ una grande piscina natatoria riscaldata con la geotermia; a 15 minuti (Pomarance) la possibilità di fare equitazione; a 5 minuti(Montecastelli) un campo da Tennis.
I tre appartamenti esistenti sono situati al piano terra, ricavati da antiche strutture preesistenti, ristrutturati recentemente con cotto antico ed equipaggiamento moderno. Al primo piano abitano i proprietari che parlano italiano, inglese e tedesco e s’interessano di Pittura, Arte e Scambi Culturali.
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APPARTAMENTO MIMOSA
Il monolocale Mimosa ha una pergola adiacente con tavolo e sedie di teak per mangiare fuori. E’ composto di un cucinotto, una zona per mangiare con tavolo e sedie, un divano letto a due posti (190x160) + poltrona letto ad un posto , di un bagno rivestito di marmo bianco di Carrara e giallo di Siena. (circa 50 mq).

Le Pietraie is a stone-walled farmhouse first built in 1600's, surrounded by a wonderful garden full of many typical and rare plants and shrubs, lovely at all times of year. The house nestles in the beautiful Peacock Valley (Val di Pavone), encircled by fine woodlands, hills and meadows, and is like a terrace on the valley. The valley is home to a wide variety of animals, birds, butterflies and rare wild plants: snowdrops, hellebore, anemone, narcissus, cyclamen, wild orchids, primrose, brooms, wild cherry trees and arbutus unedo to name just a few. The Pietraia lies 300 m from the Peacock River (Pavone) where it is possible to bath, to swim, to make long walks in a wonderful canyon until you reach the confluence with the Cecina River. On our website you can see more photos of the garden, the Valley, the hills around Le Pietraie. The owners live on the first floor. They speak English,German, French and Italian. In case of health problems an English speaking family doctor is nearby.

PERGOLA is 50 m2, has a kitchen wher you can eat, a bedroom with a double bed and a single sofabed, a Bathroom wuith Carrara marble and a terrace covered with vine near the kitchen with a teak wood table and chairs wher you can eat.

you can find more photos on FaceBook...lePietraie Montecastelli...photos.....album...Mimosa, Pergola, Olivo.

Guest book: 2004: We had wonderful days cycling the many hills. active on the slow ascents. This is a very special place. B. Beerle , Anchorage, Alaska *** July 2006: We had an absolute great time staying at your place. You achieved a perfect combination of comfort and fine style, a superb mix of old and new at your property. We certainly like to return to Pietraia one day again. N. Bendin, Ottawa, Canada. *** August 2006 We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at your wonderful place. Set in a beautiful area, within driving distance of some fabulous sites; we could not have asked more. At times, it felt as though we were a million miles from anything/everything; and that is the way we we wanted it! It was totally relaxing! The Smith family, Louisiana, USA



Cities of art – thermal baths: According to the UNESCO, 60% of World's Heritage is concentrated in Italy, half of which is to be found in Florence alone! Florence is one hour from Montecastelli, Pisa 80 minutes, Volterra 40 minutes, Siena 40 minutes, San Gimignano 40 minutes, Colle Val d'Elsa 25 minutes, Lucca 1 hour 45 minutes, Castelnuovo Val di Cecina 15 minutes, Montecastelli 5 minutes, not forgetting the little discovered gem of Massa Marittima,45 minutes. But remember: the lesser known Medieval and Etruscan towns of Tuscany hold its real charm and beauty. Hundreds of churches, museums, art galleries, buildings, as well as street markets, shops and restaurants, hidden in narrow streets of little villages, are waiting for you to discover and explore them. Very old and beautiful thermal baths were you can relax yourself are 20 to 90 minutes far: Sasso Pisano, Bagno Vignoni, Petriolo, Casciana Terme, Venturina.



Tuscan wines, Tuscan olive oil, chestnuts: Around Montecastelli it is possible to find high quality wines at really reasonable prices, in Castelnuovo VC (15 minutes) there is a good Enoteca. Montalcino with its Brunello and Rosso is not far. It is possible to buy good olive oil in many villages. In Castelnuovo Val di Cecina there is in October a chestnut fair. In San Gimignano there is in November a Festival for finest olive oils (olio extra vergine). In Volterra you can find the local white truffles. During the early spring you can find wild asparagus along the paths. Three good local restaurants at very reasonable prices are 5 minutes from Le Pietraie, many others are in the nearby vi