Hotel Villa Barberino

The Ancient Residence
The Ancient Villa and Farm of Barberino in Meleto lie in the countryside, halfway of the slope that separates the Upper Valdarno from Chianti, on a plain called Pian d’Avane due to the strategic importance it had in the 13th and the 14th centuries. The Castle of Barberino was connected to the history of the Florentine Republic, fighting with the near Arezzo.

Meleto was the chief town of the Lega d’Avane, a federation of communes near Florence. The Castle of Barberino was the seat of the league, “habitazione et residenza del notaio uffiziali di detta lega” – habitation and residence of the notary and officers of the said league (from the Statuto d’Avane, 1412). The original owner of the Medieval castle was Guido from Meleto, who lived in the Santo Spirito quarter in Florence, in the time of Dante.

The historical residence has been property of the Da Meleto family until 1590, then it passed to the Capponi families of Florence (16th and 17th centuries) and afterwards to the Germans that in the 18th century, following the principles of duke Pietro Leopoldo’s agrarian reforms, built a mill and new colonial houses, giving birth to the beautiful and flourishing farm whose heart was Villa Barberino.

In 1824, Villa Barberino passed to Filippo Uguccioni’s family and later to Tommaso Uguccioni Gherardi Piccolomini, until 1860 when it was transferred to the Rosselli Del Turco family.

This important and ancient residence risked to be ruined when the farmers abandoned the countryside.

It was only thanks to a wise and loving restoration, led for many years by today’s owners, that now Villa Barberino returns to life, in an atmosphere full of history, regained and reinserted in the beauty of the Tuscan landscapes.

Today, Villa Barberino offers its guests an unforgettable and peaceful stay, immersed in the nature and in touch with the traditions of the Tuscan countryside, its typical dishes, people and vivid culture.

...Notes and Curiosity

Cookery courses
Villa Barberino organises typical cooking courses. Tuscany, particularly plenty of food specialities, from bovine meat, to cheese, to the best Chianti wines, often used in the past by the peasant families, has handed on until today its extraordinary recipes, made with the simple and genuine ingredients of the Tuscan countryside. An expert cook will teach you how to prepare the Tuscan dishes and many other Italian specialities, just like typical desserts and cakes, thus making your holiday instructive.

Painting courses
Villa Barberino offers really enchanting views, a perfect subject for lovely paintings. Many Italian and foreign groups every year plan painting vacations in Villa Barberino, whose personnel are especially trained for this kind of event.

...Prices List

...How to reach us

By car:
from Florence (20 km) and Arezzo (20 km) take the A1 motorway, exit Valdarno (about 8 km), then follow signs for S. Giovanni Valdarno and then for S. Barbara (S.P. delle Miniere). In S. Barbara, turn right for Meleto.

From Siena:
take the Strada Chiantigiana road, famous for its landscape and the renowned Chianti vineyards. Pass though the Gaiole area in Chianti and reach Cavriglia. From there, go on to Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni and then to Meleto.

The nearest airport is Peretola in Florence:
From the airport go to the nearby Florence railway station or get on the A1 Bologna-Rome motorway at the Firenze Nord exit (in the direction of Rome).

The main railway stations are:
Figline (055.951911), S. Giovanni Valdarno (tel. 055/9122208) and Montevarchi (tel.055/980257). They are all central and are connected by regular bus services to other municipalities and hamlets.

Villa Barberino is close to the most important Tuscan Outlets:
17 km from "I PELLETTIERI D'ITALIA" and PRADA (loc. Levanella, Montevarchi), 15 km from "THE MALL" (Incisa V.no motorway exit), 55 km from "OUTLET VALDICHIANA" (Valdichiana motorway exit).