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A visit to the six buildings comprising the complex offers one the rare
occasion of taking a few steps through the most fascinating moments of a
historical period which lasted at least a thousand years, but probably more than
two thousand five hundred years. HistoryIn the area of Barberino Val d’Elsa, on the summit of a hill, 310 metres
above sea level lie a group of houses and a villa which preserve the name of the
ancient “Castello di Cortine” (Castle of Cortine) attested to it in 1037. The
word “cortine” comes from neo-Latin; from the term “curtis” meaning court.
Cortine, this very ancient Tuscan castle, stands among vineyards, olive groves
and woods on the watershed of the Elsa and Pesa valleys. Here the silent magic
treasure of a thousand years of collaboration between a generous soil and an
extraordinary line of descendants is preserved.
Oh Guests of this ancient abode, now is the time to lose yourselves in these
surrounding lands which are rich in traces of Etruscan roads and memories of
Roman conquerers.
In medieval Tuscany Cortine was an important meeting point between Florence and
the Via Francigena for Rome; it lies very near the scene of the deadly duel
between the council powers of Florence and the aristocratic pride of Semifonte.
In 1260 the people of Cortine were forced to contribute an onerously high
quantity of their precious grain to support the Florentine army in their
Montaperti campaign. As a result the small village church later became enriched
with beautiful works of art, four of which are presently preserved at the Museum
of Tavarnelle.
It was not until 1774, by virtue of a Grandducal regulation, that the people of
‘San Lorenzo a Cortine’ became incorporated into the Community of Barberino Val
D’Elsa.
The Villa is an admirable example of architecture from the “Lorenese” period on
a par with the most famous Medici Villas from the fifteen hundreds; this
beautiful building still has an ancient oil mill within its walls thus showing
itself to be intimately connected to agricultural demands.
Scholars have established that the present church was restored in the eighteen
hundreds and completed in 1850. The bell tower was completed in 1880.
What remains of the Castello di Cortine It has been suggested that parts of its
foundations make up the impressionable walls of the Villa’s underground
passages: the fascination of the eternal youth of medieval Tuscany lies in
thousands of secrets like these. Here, following the flight of a falcon in the
sky, you may recognise the green hills painted by the Renaissance masters, and
when you wish to join the pleasure of the eye with the delights of the … spirit,
the traditional food and the miraculous wine of this land can only be unequalled
guides for you!
The historical references were taken from the work of Francesco Donnini, Cortine:
una traccia attraverso i secoli (Cortine: a path through the centuries).
The Coat of Arms of the Falciani and Fusi families, which counter-distinguish
the local fruits of agriculture and craftsmanship chosen for guests at the
Canonica di Cortine, pays homage to the forefathers of Lucia and Stefano who,
for many generations, by hard work and an instinctive love for perfection,
contributed to creating the finest landscapes and products from our own
Chianti’s oil.
Canonica Cortine is situated among vineyards, olive groves and woods
on the watershed of the Elsa and Pesa Valley in the Chianti area between
Florence and Siena.
Facilities:
- Swimming Pool
- Parking Lot
- Bike Rents
- Cooking Lessons
- Taxi Service: Airport Transfers, Wine Tasting, Guided City Tours.
- Booking Service: Restaurants, Tickets for Planes, Trains, Museums
- Lunches and Dinners: It is Possible to Organize Lunches and Dinners on
Request
- Hairdresser
- Beautician and Massages
Facilities Outside the Property:
- Tennis Courts: 1 Km.
- Horse Back Riding: 1 Km.
- Restaurants: There are Excellent Tuscan Cooking Restaurants Near the
Property
- Bank: There are 2 Banks in S. Donato in Poggio (2 Km.) with Cash
Dispenser
- Bus Stop: In the Centre of S. Donato in Poggio
- Train Station: In Poggibonsi: (8 Km).
- Petrol Station 24 Hours Service: 3 Km.
Solatio
(80sq.metres) - 4 People
This splendid apartment was originally a barn belonging to the Castle
of Cortine. From the independent entrance you arrive at the ground floor:
the sitting room/dining room is dominated by a lovely fireplace; the kitchen
opens out onto a patio; a bathroom with shower and a double room complete the
ground floor. Climbing up a stone staircase you come to the first floor with
another double bedroom and another bathroom.
Facilities:
- Air-conditioning,
- telephone,
- tv/satellite,
- internet connection,
- washing machine,
- dishwasher,
- electric oven,
- iron,
- safety box,
- parking lot,
- barbecue
Meriggio
(80 sq. metres) - 4 people
This apartment has an independent entrance. On the ground floor,
separated by a large arch, we find the sitting room, the dining room and the
kitchen which opens out onto a private garden with patio. On the first floor is
a double bedroom, a room with two single beds and a bathroom.
Facilities:
- Telephone,
- tv/satellite,
- internet connection,
- washing machine,
- dishwasher,
- electric oven,
- iron,
- safety box,
- parking lot,
- barbecue,
- air conditioning in the bedrooms
Alba
(90 sq. metres) - 4 people
From the independent entrance you come to the sitting room and dining
room separated by an arch. From here you go into the kitchen which opens out
onto a patio surrounded by a hedge. The first floor is made up of a double
bedroom, a room with two single beds and a bathroom.
Facilities:
- Telephone,
- tv/satellite,
- internet connection,
- washing machine,
- dishwasher,
- electric oven,
- iron,
- safety box,
- parking lot,
- barbecue,
- air conditioning in the bedrooms
Vespro
(80 sq. metres) - 4 people
Vespro used to be the chapel belonging to the Castle of Cortine. Today it is a
splendid two floor apartment surrounded by a private garden. On the ground floor
there is a sitting room, a bathroom, a dining room with fireplace and a kitchen
which opens out onto a private patio. An open staircase from the sitting room
leads to a loft furnished with two single beds, a double bedroom and a bathroom.
Facilities:
- Air-conditioning,
- telephone,
- tv/satellite,
- internet connection,
- washing machine,
- dishwasher,
- electric oven,
- iron,
- safety box,
- parking lot,
- barbecue
Tramonto
(95 sq. metres) - 4 / 6 people
You arrive at the patio of this apartment’s independent entrance via a
little terracotta path. On the ground floor is a sitting room with fireplace, a
dining room, a kitchen and a bathroom. Upstairs on the first floor there is a
double bedroom, a bedroom with 2 single beds and a bathroom.
Facilities:
- Telephone,
- tv/satellite,
- internet connection,
- washing machine,
- dishwasher,
- electric oven,
- iron,
- safety box,
- parking lot,
- barbecue,
- air conditioning in the bedrooms
Palagetto
(75 sq. metres) - 4 people
This apartment was created out of the restoration of the old castle
which dates back to the XI century.
A private gate allows entry to the garden which is directly off the splendid
kitchen – cum - dining room/sitting room dominated by a big fireplace with the
coat-of-arms of the family FALCIANI-FUSI. A double room with bathroom en suite
is accessible from the sitting room. Another bedroom with two single beds and a
small bathroom complete this apartment which is situated within the walls of
VILLA CASTRUM with an independent entrance.
Facilities:
- Telephone,
- tv/satellite,
- internet connection,
- washing machine,
- dishwasher,
- electric oven,
- iron,
- safety box,
- private parking lot,
- barbecue
Bacco I
80 sq. metres (4 people)
The apartment is situated on the ground floor with an enchanting view over the
Chianti hills. There is a kitchen, a dining/living room, a double room, a twin
bedded room, a bathroom.
Facilities:
- Electric oven,
- dishwasher,
- tv/satellite,
- fans in the double room,
- hairdryer,
- iron,
- security box,
- barbecue,
- parking lot
Bacco II
80 sq. metres (4 people)
The apartment has independent entrance with patio outside. There is a
kitchen, a dining/living room, a double room, a twin bedded room, a bathroom.
Facilities:
- Electric oven,
- dishwasher,
- tv/satellite,
- fans in the double room,
- hairdryer,
- iron,
- security box,
- barbecue,
- parking lot
Primavera
70 sq. metres (4 people)
The apartment has an independent entrance with patio outside. Downstairs
there is a living/dining room, a kitchen. Upstairs there is a double room, a
twin bedded room and bathroom.
Facilities:
- Electric oven,
- dishwasher,
- tv/satellite,
- fans in the bedrooms,
- hairdryer,
- iron,
- security box,
- barbecue,
- parking lot
Lucia
60 sq. metres (2 people)
A private patio with a garden is the outside of this nice villa situated
in a very quiet position with an indipendent entrance. Entering the apartment
you have a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom with a shower and a tube, 1 double
room.
Facilities:
- Fridge,
- dishwasher,
- electric oven,
- telephone,
- internet connection,
- security box,
- air conditioning,
- tv satellite
Villa Castrum
(340 sq. metres) - 10 people
The villa owes its name to the Castle (Castrum) of Cortine. As you go through
the large gate you will come to a private car park with its independent entrance
in front of the first of the gardens belonging only to the guests of “Castrum”.
On the ground floor is the large salon, a spacious and functional kitchen, a
dining room with fireplace, a T.V. room, a double bedroom and two bathrooms.
A side entrance takes you directly to another large park with a swimming pool
reserved exclusively for guests of the Villa.
Arriving at the first floor from the grand salon we find two double bedrooms
each with bath, two single bedrooms each equipped with two single beds and
another bathroom. There is also a narrow terrace with beautiful views of the
Tuscan countryside which runs almost the entire length of the Villa and is
accessible from two of the bedrooms.
Facilities:
- Telephone,
- tv/satellite,
- internet connection,
- washing machine,
- dishwasher,
- electric oven,
- iron,
- 2 safety boxes,
- barbecue,
- private parking lot
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