Resort La Darbia in Chianti

Even the arrival is truly cine­matic: an avenue of cen­turies-old pine trees that, with every step, immerses you in the atmo­sphere of this place, deeply rooted in the coun­tryside and its tra­di­tions. All around, cri­ckets chirp and bees buzz. At the end of the avenue, La Darbia in Chianti comes into view – an ensemble of his­toric stone houses stret­ching across two levels of the hillside.

Sur­rounding it are fields of lavender, olive groves, pome­granate trees, meadows and Medi­ter­ranean gardens. Here, on the out­skirts of Flo­rence, in the Val di Greve – the legendary home of the Mona Lisa – the archi­tec­tural firm Studio Pri­ma­testa has trans­formed an 11th-century hamlet into a holiday retreat with an emphasis on slow tourism, lending country life an elegant, mini­malist twist. Once owned by the da Ver­razzano family – whose most famous member, the navi­gator Gio­vanni da Ver­razzano, was the first European to explore New York Bay – and later inha­bited and cul­ti­vated by farmers, the estate is now a place that respectfully carries its rural heritage into a new era and invites you to slow down from the very first moment.

La Darbia in Chianti is the second project by Studio Pri­ma­testa. As with the sister project, La Darbia Lago d’Orta, atmo­sphere, land­scape and views play a key role.

The 17 suites at La Darbia in Chianti are spread across two hillsides and several buil­dings, with each accom­mo­dation telling its own unique story and offering dif­ferent per­spec­tives: from small and cosy to family suites with separate bed­rooms, right through to signature suites with private spa areas. Some feature a pergola and a private terrace, others a free­standing bath or a steam room. Always inte­grated into the estate’s Medi­ter­ranean vege­tation and over­looking the backdrop of vineyards and cypress trees, which shines through every window like a painting. Both inside and out, the complex pays homage to tra­di­tional building and craft­smanship tech­niques: tra­vertine, ter­ra­cotta, pietra forte, iron and wood cha­rac­terise the rooms, roofs and façades with artfully simple details.

Nine suites are situated within the cluster of buil­dings, which fea­tures an inner cour­tyard and a medieval tower house, not far from the pine-lined avenue. The complex also fea­tures a secluded, semi-cir­cular pool, as well as a restaurant with a pan­o­ramic terrace and lounge area, over­looking a vast field of lavender with 40 beehives and the sil­houette of Panzano in Chianti. As you con­tinue up the hill, a small piazza comes into view, fea­turing time-honoured olive trees, cypresses, plane trees, pome­granate trees and num­erous outdoor seating areas that, much like a winding monastery garden, are only gra­dually revealed. Grouped around the piazza are three buil­dings housing a further eight suites, as well as tas­tefully appointed com­munal areas fea­turing a small but finely curated library.

The plunge into a sea of corn­flowers, poppies and broom is right around the corner: a second pool set amidst a wild­flower meadow. Their pre­sence empha­sises the agri­cul­tural cha­racter of the estate, which pro­duces not only its own olive oil but also honey from its huge lavender field. Served at breakfast on the pan­o­ramic terrace or as another culinary high­light from the restaurant, which con­jures up creative Medi­ter­ranean cuisine in tune with the changing seasons. This is where the day begins or draws to a close, offering a holistic expe­rience for all the senses that sinks deep into body and mind and is sure to linger long in the memory.

What to do

Relax, go hiking, go cycling (e-bikes available on request), visit regional wineries (right in the heart of Chianti Classico), take trips to small medieval towns and villages (e.g. Montefioralle, Badia a Passignano, Panzano in Chianti, Radda in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti) or to Impruneta with its traditional terracotta kilns, golf at the L’Ugolino Golf Club, cultural excursions to Florence (just 25 km away) or Siena (35 km), culinary delights in the on-site restaurant and throughout the surrounding area

Why we like this house

You can’t get more Tuscan than this! An exceptional retreat brimming with rural elegance.

This house is great for

Nature, culture, architecture and wine lovers looking for an atmospheric place to ‘wind down’.

Sustainability

Public transport: the bus stop is 300 m away, but a car is recommended

Details

Request/Booking