There is a villa, about 1 hour south of Florence, Italy that sits a top a hill overlooking the Tuscan countryside with spectacular views of vineyards and olive groves. The Apennines mountains are off in the distance and the town of Figline Valdarno is just down the road. For years it sat in ruins until a couple from England decided to buy it and restore to its original grandeur. This is the story of Il Palagio.
Il Palagio dates back to the early 1500 when it belonged to the Martelli Family. In the early 1800’s they sold it to the widow of the Duke of San Clemente. The estate remained in the family for over 150 year as a working oil mill and grain store. By the late 80’s /early 90’s the estate and fields were left unattended and is disrepair. It was in a very “Fragile” state and in desperate need of love and restoration. A lovely Englishman and his wife purchased the home in 1993. They began the painstaking and costly process of restoring it. This became their summer home to enjoy with friends and family for many years to come.
Today there is the main villa and 3 other homes; Casa Colonica, The Red House, and The Chalet on the estate. The homes can accommodate up to 49 guests overnight and 400 guest to celebrate a wedding, birthday, or other milestone event. The working vineyards produce six blends of wine: four Sangiovese-forward reds, one Vermentino white, and Beppe Rosato, the estate’s first rosé. You may have heard of some them: Roxanne, Message in a Bottle, Sister Moon, and When We Dance.
There are 80 beehive colonies, producing 8 varieties of honey, and fields of olive trees harvesting cold-pressed organic oil each season. When you are not wine tasting, wandering through the olive gardens, or enjoying the chestnut honey, you are invited to go for a swim in the pool at the main villa or take a dip in the lake on the premises. Arrangements can be made for cooking lessons or a private meal with the resident Chef. Perhaps in such a serene setting your prefer sunrise yoga? A walk in the traditional English gardens surrounding the villa may inspire a poem or song in your head. Thank goodness for the state-of-the-art recording studio on site if that is the case!
As you may have determined on your own , this is no ordinary villa and these are no ordinary hosts. This is the home of Sting and his wife Trudie. They opened their private home in Tuscany back in 2013 for 3 months a year for visitors to enjoy. Since that time it has become a popular wedding destination and retreat for Sting fans and wine lovers alike. It is quite easy to get to from Florence (1 hour away) or Rome (3 hours) and the perfect spot to celebrate life’s important moments.
I am convinced Sting would personally want to host a milestone birthday I have coming up in a few years (hint,hint). And a private concert…..This gives my family and friends ample time to plan, https://www.il-palagio.com
Travel is My Passion 