La Canonica Di Cortine

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.

In 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.

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

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.