When we talk about Florence and its surroundings we usually think of spring or summer walks and do some shopping in the Tuscan capital, visits to museums or a day lunch in the Chianti countryside. All true, and all beautiful, but there are also a huge number of other activities and places that this territory has to offer during the cold season.

If you have in mind a weekend off during this winter, trying to get away from the daily activities and have the opportunity to refresh yourself with hot food, meditate with a good glass of red wine and – why not – give yourself some luxury and relaxation, a stay at Volognano is the perfect choice.

Private dinners. Once arrived and welcomed in our castle on Friday evening, you will have the option to enjoy a dinner, Italian style prepared by our personal chef. From traditional Tuscan dishes up to vegetarian options such as the black cabbage soup, cooked with dried beans, celery, carrots, onions, potatoes, tomato paste and of course extra virgin olive oil made in Volognano, the taste experience will be simply amazing.

The wine. Among the wines produced in Volognano the NOI – Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG with its ruby red, its intensity and soft and balanced persistence is what we suggest you to combine with this type of recipe. Served around 18 degrees, it is also ideal to rest for a long talk after dinner.

Activities. After a good rest in Volognano´s suites and rooms, Saturday can be a good day for a nice excursion. About 30 minutes’ drive from Volognano you can find the Abbey of Vallombrosa, at the same time a hermitage and a monastery that embellishes one of the most beautiful and representative woodland areas of Tuscany. In its Latin cross plan you can appreciate its Baroque references and live a moment of spirituality, immersed in the silence of the surrounding.
On your way back to Volognano the idea of stopping for a meal or snack at the Bottega di Rosano is certainly to be considered. Among the many regional specialties that you will find, the harsh climate allows you to dare a delicious Tuscan sopressata.

Shopping. An afternoon of shopping is always a good idea. Our suggestion is to spend some time at the Sartoria Rossi boutique in Florence to choose the clothes and accessories you prefer, or opt for a tailor-made dress characterized by a style that encompasses the exclusiveness of the long tradition of Italian high fashion. It is definitely s triumph of refinement and comfort.

The food. For a Saturday night dinner we recommend the Tripperia Osteria Il Magazzino by Luca Cai, in Piazza della Passera, Friday’s vegetarian option will be a distant memory. Together with the many typical Tuscan dishes you can choose from the menu reserves a treasure that in recent years has been rediscovered and repeated overwhelmingly by Italian cuisine, also revisited: the lampredotto, a strong and decisive flavor, excellent for the winter, to which – in case you want to opt for a softer solution – you may prefer the excellent Florentine tripe, also amazingly cooked.
Sunday is the day of greetings. Before leaving to go back to your daily life, however, in Volognano, after a short walk in the bitter cold of the surrounding countryside, a rich Sunday lunch at the Castle awaits you, with a dessert accompanied by a sip of Aetius, our sweet Tuscan wine excellent to taste with blue cheeses. But we will talk about this better on other occasions…

Your winter stay in Volognano

Period of the year: Week-end in winter (request our availability)
Recipe not to be missed: Black cabbage soup cooked by the personal chef of Volognano
Wine pairing: Noi – Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG
Recommended local product: Tuscan Bottega a Rosano Soprassata
Shops in and around Florence: Sartoria Rossi, via Porta Rossa, 33 / red, 50123 Florence.
Landscapes and itineraries in the Volognano area: A naturalistic itinerary among the 14 available in the area of the Hermitage of Vallombrosa
Food & Restaurants: Osteria Tripperia Il Magazzino by Luca Cai