Podere Casanova, Family Fun in Tuscany

Something more to Love about Chianti

While making my way from the parking lot to the reception area of Podere Casanova it was impossbile to not appreciate the daisy filled plot strategically placed among the shade trees - from here I saw a bunch of colorful toys, a swing set and seesaw. Lisa, the owner and one of your hostesses, certainly understood the appeal of keeping the kids entertained in the fresh outdoors. Beyond the playground, there was more: I caught sight of a fussball game, a grassy field for a game of soccer and a ping pong table.

Even before I took one step into any of the five self-catering apartments minutes from Montespertoli, it was obvious that this part of Tuscany is “all fun and games” ;-).

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The Start of a New Family Tradition

Lisa's father saw it from the very start! After visiting the podere (Italian for farm estate), he went home and shared his vision with his family: create a small oasis highlighting Tuscan traditions in the picturesque hills near Montespertoli. The extra large garden that surrounds the agriturismo and the pool are the perfect setting for families looking to spend some quality outdoor time. Here you can appreciate fresh clean air, the tranquility of the Tuscan countryside and the warm sunshine. The position of the farm is ideal: placed between the small, yet active, town of Montespertoli and the town of Montelupo Fiorentino, where you will find the entrance to the main east-west highway from (FI-PI-LI) that connects Florence and Pisa. There are stores, restaurants and local attractions all within a few kilometers of Podere Casanova.

Making your Holiday Stress-free

Taking care of the family means having something that works also for mom and dad. Upon request, Lisa and her family organize two special evenings during the week (Mondays and Fridays): they will order pizzas for guests on one day, and put together a Tuscan evening on the other, where you can taste the specialties of the region. It gives everyone the opportunity to meet and greet their neighbors for the week you stay at Podere Casanova.

You can also request wine tastings of their own Chianti wines and olive oil tastings of the special extra virgin olive oil, fresh pressed from their 1000 olive trees during your stay, as well as have a cooking lesson directly in your apartment. If you don't feel like preparing breakfast on any given day, or want to stay in and enjoy a special meal prepared for you, all you need to do is ask and Lisa can organize breakfast in your apartment or a private chef to come over and prepare a special dinner for you and your family.

The Family Business: Wine & Olive Oil

Olive oil is not the only homemade product available at Podere Casanova, they produce a white wine and two reds in Montespertoli, a sub region of Chianti. One of these wines is their newest experiment: organic. In addition, to the red and white wine, Podere Casanova has a vinsanto, a traditional sweet dessert wine from Tuscany that goes extremely well with the cantucci biscotti that Mamma makes. For those hot summer nights, nothing is better than a glass of ice cold Limoncello, made from the fresh lemons available on the property.

All of the wines, vinsanto, limoncello, even home made biscotti are on sale at the reception area shop. 

Taking Care of Her Guests

Lisa, with her short dark, curly hair and expressive brown eyes, is always ready to share a laugh. You can see that she is the type of person who will go that extra distance to see that her guests are taken care of, feel comfortable, and settled in. She was just out of school when her father and family decided to embark upon this new adventure in the year 2000 and quite honestly she admitted that she had absolutely no experience at all.

”I learned my job thanks to my guests” Lisa,who shares the responsibility of Podere Casanova with her husband, sister Lara and her parents, ”I wasn’t born into this job, and I had no experience but every family, every new request, every new smile and happy guest has given me confidence to grow.”

Join the Family Fun

But now with the help of her husband and sister Lara, and the constant support of her parents, Podere Casanova provides a safe and tranquil environment for families near Montespertoli and Chianti while on vacation. A place where families come back, year after year, sharing photos, memories and new adventures

The largest of the apartments, boasts two bedrooms, a full bathroom, a living room with a huge “focolare” (the Tuscan styled fireplace) and an exceptionally large and well equipped eat-in kitchen. It might sound like a mouthful, but this is just what you want when travelling with family and friends: space! Not only are there are the common areas set up around the Podere Casanova, but each holiday rental apartment has its own dedicated space outside - either a patio or terrace with tables, chairs and a BBQ area.

Comfortable & Cozy

Each apartment, with its simple yet traditional Tuscan country decor, has a unique floor plan and the kitchen is loaded with all the basics, including a microwave, moka/espresso maker and a hot water kettle. All of the apartments have air conditioning. The agriturismo also has an area for doing laundry with a washer, dryer and iron. With only 5 self catering apartments for 2 to 6 persons, there is always abundant space at the pool and the gardens below the farmhouse.

Reserve at Podere Casanova

The familiar atmosphere found at Podere Casanova, centrally located close to Chianti, Florence, Pisa & San Gimignano, offers a vacation base in Tuscany that will appeal to families of all ages and sizes. The opportunities to play, explore and relax combined with the perfect distance from the many popular sites in Tuscany gives everyone a chance to enjoy the holidays in their own special way.

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