Unique Activities :: A TASTE OF THE PATRICIAN LIFE

A TASTE OF THE PATRICIAN LIFE
A Wine-Tasting at the Country Home of a Sienese Prince

Just a few miles north of Siena, in the direction of the glorious Chianti Valley, lies the glorious Villa di Geggiano - locale of the Bertolucci film, Stealing Beauty and in the possession of the noble Bianchi-Bandinelli family since 1527. Renovated between 1780 and 1790, the house and its lavish surrounding gardens form one of the most beautiful summer estates in Tuscany.
Welcomed at the gate by your host, Prince Andrea di Bianchi-Bandinelli, you first tour the Baroque gardens. Adorned with century-old cypresses, potted lemon plants and carefully-clipped box hedging, the garden boasts a unique Green Theatre where Alfieri, a family friend, staged some of his tragedies. It is decorated with two masonry proscenium arches in opulent late Baroque style and embellished with statues. There is also a delightful kitchen garden decorated with topiary art and a terraced fish-tank from which one can admire a wonderful view of the countryside opening out towards Siena.
The villa itself dates back to the 13th century and features a gorgeous hall frescoed in 1790 by Ignazio Moder, a traveling Tyrolean painter. Enjoy a tour of the formal rooms of the piano nobile which boast original furniture in Venetian country-style and fascinating family memorabilia.
The family is one of the foremost producers of wine in the region and the visit culminates with a tasting of several examples of their fine production.

Activity type: Unique Activity

Activity duration: Two hours

Available from: CHIANTI VALLEY, SIENA and surroundings