Villa Barberina is situated in an idyllic and hushed area of Chianti, but the rest of Italy’s treasures are not too far away. You will be only a forty-five-minute drive away from Florence and Siena. The nearest town is Castellina, famous for its spectacular wine, cultivated from the Chianti Hills. The old town sees travellers flock to the 16th-century San Salvatore church and the Via delle Volte, a historical arched passageway built in medieval times, giving visitors an insight into an ancient world.
For those wishing to revel in the history of the local surroundings, following the 'via Chiantigiana' route which connects Florence to Siena will lead you to explore various churches, abbeys, monasteries, villages, and hamlets. The areas on the route are world renowned for their excellent food and wine: sample the most extraordinary extra virgin olive oil, cheese and salami.
The famed site of San Galgano is in the picturesque region of Val di Merse. It is renowned for its deep and rich history and is visited today particularly to view the San Galgano Abbey which has always depicted an important reference point for world travellers.
The enchanting building sees the very best of Cistercian architecture and one of the fascinating sites to see at San Galgano represents the legend of The Stone and the Sword. Catholic saint Galgano Guidotti received a divine message which led him to split rock with a sword, today at the Abbey; the sword can still be seen embedded into the stone. Other great local locations to visit include San Gimignano, Volterra, Lucca, and Pisa.