Visit Tuscany | Villa in Tuscany

The Roman theater and the Roman baths of Volterra

Posted onJanuary 30, 2014August 28, 2023

The Roman Theatre Volterra has come to light in the 50s thanks to the historian Henry Rivers, is a building of the end of the first century BC which is accessed from the top, through two stairs to the summa cavea , from which it passed to the bleachers where they were accommodated with seats made of stone Pignano which is also made our villa that we rent . (the other side entrances were destroyed over time). This theater was the orchestra paved in marble, the scene remained the pulpitum and the structures and of the marble columns of the frons scenae which was 35.98 meters long (122 Roman feet) long and consisted of two floors to a height colonnades than 16 meters. Behind the scene originally ran a long porch , transformed into the following century by the family Caecina (especially the consuls Gaius and Aulus Cecina Cecina Largo Severus, as mentioned dedicatory epigraph of the theater , in the Museo Etrusco Guarnacci ) , with the addition of two side arms , adorned with marble columns with Corinthian capitals and articulated at their center by a esaedra covered in marble .The capacity of the theater should be about 3500 spectators given its size ( diameter of 60 meters by 24 steps) , comparable to other theaters, similar in size. In the later period of the porch was added in a thermal bath. These Terme was accessed by a large – stairs (A) with an apse on the one hand, this was passed in frigidarium (B) , quadrangular , with two semi-circular tanks on the sides E and O ; then you went in a different stairs ( C) , paved with mosaic black and white circular motifs and petals to pass in the tepidarium (D) and then in the caldarium (G) , environments with raised floor for the passage of hot air from the furnace (F). On either side of the caldarium (G) , there were three tanks for hot baths . On the side ( E) was the sudatorium heated by a furnace. Even this spa building over time underwent the transformations.
WHERE TO STAY IN VOLTERRA
To stay in Volterra, you can choose to sleep in the solution of this typical Tuscan villa with apartments and rooms. Paola and Valerio, the owners are at your disposal, for more info: info@leginepraie.com
www.leginepraie.com

www.villaleginepraie.com
House: 0039-0588-35113
Valerio: 0039-338-21.38.464
Paola: 0039-333-888.58.57

A river in Tuscany where you can swim

Posted onAugust 5, 2013May 8, 2017

Cecina is not only a Tuscan city, is also a Tuscan river where you can swim, the most charming point is called “Masso delle fanciulle” and means Rock of the girl. and it is in a natural reserve called Berignone
To reach this place, take the road towards Pomarance, at the iron bridge, turn left and walk along a flat for about 10 minutes, then take a small dirt road on the right and you will reach the river Cecina.

You park the car and ford the Cecina river, traveling a path for about 20 minutes and then you get into a woods to find the river Cecina. From this point you will find many places to stop for a swim. Follow the path until you get to the Boulder of the Maidens.
The reason for this name is explained by a local legend: Three Youths women to escape the oppression of a local squire represented by a werewolf jumped from this rock and drowned.
On the opposite side there is a small beach with trees, an ideal place to rest and have a picnic.
Guests of the Villa Ginepraie who wish, may be accompanied by Valerio for a swim in this place.

Look at the other TREKKING you can do from our villa in Tuscany:

WALK TO THE VILLAGE OF PIGNANO

THE WATERFALL NEAR THE VILLA

ITINERARY OF VILLAS AND CHURCHES

ANCIENT VILLAGE OF CASTELVECCHIO

SMALL PONDS OF MONTENERO

The Canyon “BOTRIO AI BUCHI”

Villa le Ginepraie
Località Pignano
56046 Volterra
Mob: 338-2138464
mail: info@leginepraie.com
website: www.leginepraie.com

Tuscan villa with lakes

Posted onJune 26, 2013

Our Tuscan villa is situated in a beautiful reserve near two small lakes very beautiful.

The farm Pignano managed wisely to find the ancient source of the area and bring the water in the ponds which were also cleaned to enhance the entire area.
Guests who rent the villa can enjoy the view of these two lakes and at night you can hear the concert of frogs.

During the summer many animals come to drink and with a little ‘luck you might see deer, hares, wild boars, foxes, hawks and herons, as well as porcupines and skunks.
The Walk that we propose:
“From the house except for a small path between fields of 100 passing yards between the two lakes, is continuing a climb that leads to the village of Pignano, you can move on to return for another dirt road, where you will find the right ‘ancient cemetery of Pignano, then return back to the Villa Ginepraie. This walk made ring is short and takes about 40 minutes with a slow pace ”

Caption of the photo:
Photo number 1: Overview of the 1st pond with the holiday cottage in the background
Photo No. 2: villa for rent with lake
Photo number 3: 2nd pond

For more info:
Paola and Valerio
Villa le Ginepraie
info@leginepraie.com
www.leginepraie.com
www.villaleginepraie.com

Castelvecchio San Gimignano trekking

Posted onJune 9, 2012May 8, 2017

The reserve of Castelvecchio
This reservation is a few kilometers from the villa San Gimignano. The reserve occupies the western part of the Municipality of Poggio, a survey of just over 600 meters, which for almost unbroken forest cover, stands on the hills surrounding cultivated. The reserve is known for the medieval town of Castelvecchio, a military outpost in the town of San Gimignano, which controlled the territory from here on the border with Volterra. The remains of Castelvecchio stand on a rocky cave limestone rock that characterizes the entire reserve and which has influenced the morphology and vegetation, especially in the southern tip of the reserve where the waters of the Botri Libaie and Castelvecchio, have dug deep ravines bordered by steep cliffs. The environment is home to wild boar, deer, birds of prey like hawks and Sparrowhawk Buzzard and small rodents such as the dormouse.
For its natural importance, besides being a natural reserve, Castelvecchio is also a site of Community importance (sic) located inside of the “Habitat” which includes in addition to reserves, much of the hill of the City for a total of 1,114 ha

Borgo di Castelvecchio
This village is mentioned as early as the twelfth century as a fortified settlement pertaining to the bishops of Volterra, and by the end of the century San Gimignano was intended to seize it. By the mid 1200’s San Gimignano exercised its sovereignty over the bishops of Volterra Castelvecchio but continued to demand for a long time, “fodoro”, ancient origin of the imperial tax on every household. The castle suffered a rapid decline as early as in 1458, was inhabited by only seven families. Inside the walls of filaretto, partially preserved, there are ruins of ancient buildings, a tower and a Romanesque church with semicircular apse

Look at the other TREKKING you can do from our villa in Tuscany:

WALK TO THE VILLAGE OF PIGNANO

THE WATERFALL NEAR THE VILLA

ITINERARY OF VILLAS AND CHURCHES

SMALL PONDS OF MONTENERO

The Canyon “BOTRIO AI BUCHI”

MASSO DELLE FANCIULLE

For more information about other treks that depart from our villa you can ask questions to
Valerio
Villa le Ginepraie
www.leginepraie.com
info@leginepraie.com

Tuscan thermal baths: Petriolo

Posted onMarch 11, 2012August 28, 2023

The Thermal baths of Petriolo are 40 minutes from our villa in Tuscany can be a viable alternative to trips to the cities, for guests who book our house a week, want to explore Tuscany’s less traveled by tourists mass.
These thermal waters in Tuscany are very ancient, dating back to ‘Roman times and are known for their healing properties, due to the conspicuous presence of hydrogen sulphide, are particularly suitable for those suffering from problems affecting the respiratory system. The water flows Petriolo at a temperature of 43 ° C from the source located on the river Farma with the average flow of 40 liters / sec. In reference to its high mineralization and temperature of the water Petriolo was defined as salt-rich, solfidrica, hyperthermal and thermal waters in the general classification of water falls into the category solfidriche, salt-sulphate-bicarbonate-alkaline-earthy hyperthermal. To enjoy these baths have 3 options:
The first is to enter the modern resort, recently renovated, and the second to go free in the spa under the facility where tanks with stones, you can immerse in water at different temperatures and when you can swim in the cool Farma. The third passibility, in my opinion the best, is to continue for 300 meters on the river taking the baths on the left to get to the ponds where normally there are few people and where you can fully enjoy the quality of the place, because these tanks are formed by deposits of lime and sulfur and so you can make a mud bath and relax.
The villa in Tuscany that we rent for groups, can organize a day or a half day at the thermal water of Petriolo, putting you in touch with agencies specialized minibus with a driver who will accompany you and bring you back into the country.
Another alternative is to go with Valerio, the owner of the villa, as it is passionate, free will accompany you in this fantastic place.

For more information on our villa in Tuscany,
you can visit our website:
www.leginepraie.com
or contact us at:
MAIL: info@leginepraie.com
Cell1: 0039-338.2138464
Cell2: 0039-333-8885857
TEL: 0039-0588-35113

Villas and churches Tuscan tour

Posted onMarch 2, 2012May 8, 2017

route-of-the-villas-and-churches
For those who rent our villa in Tuscany offer the famous route of the villas and churches starting directly from the villa.
This trail is located in the area of Volterra and has a length of about 36 km, almost all to go on a white white. During the journey you will meet old churches dating back to 1200, the walls of an ancient fortress built in 1000 churches in 1100. and bucolic ponds.
The route can be traveled by car but also quad bike riding or walking with the ability to take shortcuts and avoid making small pieces of asphalt road.
Starting from the Villa Ginepraie old house in 1600 was once inhabited by sharecroppers who worked for the Marquis of Pignano, continue along the white road, after 500 meters you are in front of the Village of Pignano with its walls dating back to 1000 . On entering the village are the Church of St. Bartholomeo the Apostle in Pignano and villa.

Continuing along the dirt road after about 2 km you reach the village of Grignano farm, producing wine and oil from which on clear days you can even see Corsica.

After just over a mile on your awake, you’ll see the ruins of roofless church of San Lorenzo of the twelfth century, continuing the route on the horizon there appears a pointed hill called Mount Voltraio, at the foot of this on your right a ruin of an ancient monastery where it says that there is a secret passage leading to the mountain.

Continuing on the left you have Villa Palagione with its parish church of St. John of the thirteenth century, before this, the path starts to get on top of the mountain where there are the walls of the fortress of Monte Voltraio the tenth century.

After about 2 km on the left is a path that leads to Palagione lake formed after a failure of the hill in 50 years.

Go straight until the junction with the paved road, then turn right and continue for about 4 km, then follow the signs to the right Ulignano Sensano Cozzano.

100 meters after turning right you will find the mill and after 300 meters you will see a fork, go left towards the church of S. Octavian then arrive in Cozzano Mommialla and spa, while going straight, following the dirt road for about 2 km you reach the reserve Montenero.

On the left you will find an old sign for the Nature Reserve of Montenero, we recommend that you park your car (if you’re driving) and follow the trail (15-20 minute walk) to get to the lakes of Montenero. The water that you will find if you do not go in July and August is clear and clean … suitable for a relaxing bath …

Shoot the car and drive on the left is the Villa Scopicci the eighteenth century and after a mile of the Villa Ulignano go straight to the right after about a km away from the junction leading to the rural church “the Black”, for But to get there you must place the machine and walk …

If you

If you have decided to undertake the journey on horseback or by bike, 1 km from the junction of the “Black” on the left you will find traveling along a path that takes you back to the church of S. Lorenzo.

If you continue straight on the road enters a typical forest of the Poggio of the child, then on the right is an indication of the farm Escaia, from here you can if you are on horseback or on foot to return directly to the Villa Ginepraie, otherwise it is going straight reached after about 2 km from the village of Sensano with its church of the Blessed Ippolito and Cassiano erected in the twelfth.

Paved the way end up going straight, turn right, continue for a few miles and then turn right at the fork for Pignano .. soon you will find the Villa Ginepraie …

Look at the other TREKKING you can do from our villa in Tuscany:

WALK TO THE VILLAGE OF PIGNANO

THE WATERFALL NEAR THE VILLA

ANCIENT VILLAGE OF CASTELVECCHIO

SMALL PONDS OF MONTENERO

The Canyon “BOTRIO AI BUCHI”

MASSO DELLE FANCIULLE

For more information about other treks that depart from our villa you can ask questions to
Valerio
Villa le Ginepraie
www.leginepraie.com
info@leginepraie.com