Castellare de’ Sernigi

An Introduction to the Villa

The ‘Castellare de’ Sernigi’ lies amongst the Chianti Hills, on a ridge that looks down on a valley rich in history.

An ancient house originally belonging to the noble family of Sernigi, who were rich merchants and patrons of the great artists of the 1400’s, it later passed into the hands of the family Naldini del Riccio when, during the 18th century, it was left to degenerate into an ordinary farmhouse. At the end of the 1950’s the house was bought by the Corti Family who restored it to is original splendour.

The villa lies in the 1,000 year old hamlet of Palazzuolo and is surrounded by a park with olive trees, roses and Mediterranean plants. It has a large swimming pool and courtyards which are ideal for relaxing outside in fine weather.

Just a few 100 metres from the villa are tennis courts and horse riding stables. Mountain bikes are available at the villa and it is tempting to take them on an excursion or to go trekking as the landscape is so very beautiful.

The villa which is furnished with antiques has spacious lounges and a dining room with centuries old fireplaces, an enormous, fully equipped kitchen and a large utility room (laundry, pantry). The villa has satellite television, CD stereo and internet connection. Wine, olive oil and local produce may be purchased from the Castellare farm.

There are 5 bedrooms, all with en suite bathroom. All the bedrooms have antique beds but both their mattresses and wooden slat bases are orthopaedic.  The different rooms each have unique views of either the church, the garden, the swimming pool, the courtyard, and the front of the villa.

The villa has two very warm and inviting lounges on the first floor, with comfortable settees and armchairs, enormous arched windows enjoying a view of the cypress tree lined drive, satellite television, dvd, cd player.  The floors are of handmade traditional terracotta tiles.

In one of the lounges there is a marvellous stone fireplace with the coat-of-arms of the Sernigi Family.  All the villa’s arches, windows and doorways are true to the original structure of the house.

On the ground floor there is a large entrance hall, with the villa’s original doorway and two antique benches, which can be used as a ground floor living room.  Halfway up the staircase there is an office with internet access, telephone, fax and safe.

The large kitchen is equipped to a professional standard (from the Stove to the restaurant grade dishwasher). There is a microwave, freezer and restaurant grade oven.

There is a spacious dining room with a table which expands from 3m up to 4.5m.  There are various antique sideboards and cupboards containing crockery with the coat of arms of the Sernigi Family. 

There is also an enormous table outside under a gazebo where it is possible for 20 persons to eat. There is a cellar housing our red Chianti wine and our own olive oil.

The swimming pool area is next to the villa; it is completely enclosed with a gate which can be locked.  The large pool(15m x 7m)has a depth of 1.20m to 1.40m so it possible to always touch the bottom.

It is in a private position thanks to the climbing roses which surround it which are in turn surrounded by an olive grove and 2 hectars of grass and yellow flowering broom.

There is a changing room at the pool which has a fridge for keeping drinks cool.  On the lawn next to the pool there is a shady gazebo furnished with table and chairs. The sun beds are made of wood and canvas.

The villa has a large garden with lawn, roses and olive trees and there are armchairs and table by the swimming pool.

There is an antique paved patio hedged with laurel and furnished with comfortable armchairs and a gazebo covered by ornamental vines housing a table which is 4 metres long and ideal for alfresco dining. At the edge of the garden there is a little wood where you can relax on hammocks under the shade of the trees.

The area is illuminated and there is a large marble table and a little kitchen where you can prepare food.