The Property

Farmhouse in Siena

The Origins...

Pieve di San Martino (before Niccolò) has existed since the start of the 12th century as one of the suffragans of the "Pieve a Elsa", repeatedly mentioned in the Papal bulls. The Church, with its gabled façade, presents the characteristic ornament in dichromate bands, made by using brick decoration graffito and travertine vein. The portal has an overhead round arch in "serena" stone and the apse has the chromatic characteristics of the façade. On the right-hand side are the ruins of a massive bell tower, which guarded and served as watch-out tower of the Via Francigena.

For several centuries, the Via Francigena (generated from the ancient Via Clodia) has linked Rome with the regions of the north of France upon which great masses of humanity flowed going towards and coming from Rome.

Pieve di San Martino was a stop-over and a meeting place along the long and difficult journey of the pilgrims and still today it is a meeting place of people from different nationalities where it is possible to take in an air "of past times" and live with present day commodities.

The tuscan countryside is the frame of "Pieve di San Martino": green hills during spring time, which are transforming during the summer months in a golden hilly landscape.

At the guest's disposal there are 4 holiday indipendent apartments. They are tastefully furnished in the typical Tuscan country style and they are situated close to the chapel whose construction dates back to the 13th century. The antique chapel is also the place where the owners usually meet their guests. It could be also business meeting place. You can easy find peace, quiet and mysticism in this place.

Easily accessible from Pieve di San Martino are some of the most beautiful places and art towns of Tuscany. Florence is 60 km away with its monuments and its worsk of art. Siena, the city of the "Palio", is 20 km away, with its Piazza "del Campo" unique in the world. San Gimignano, "the town of a 100 towers" is only 15 km away. An excursion in the Chianti hills, rich in vineyards, castels and cellars where it is possible to taste the fine Chianti Classico DOCG is a must. It is possible to cross the clay hills of the Siena area, unique in their shape, or go hiking on part of the Via Francigena in the heart of the "Montagnola Senese" surrounded by chestnut woods, oak woods and century-old holm-oaks, which are tinted with marvelous hues in autumn.

Moreover, it is easy to reach many other places, both unique and distinctive, like the castle of Monteriggioni, Montalcino, Pienza, the Val d'Orcia, Volterra and, not least, the beautiful Abbeys of San Galgano, Sant'Antimo and Monte Oliveto Maggiore.

Should one wish to, it is possible to reach the coast, about 60-70 km away, or it is possible to stay for the whole day at the Pieve, enjoying the swimming pool and the splendid views without doing anything at all.

Pieve di San Martino is found in the country side of the commune of Colle di Val d'Elsa, internationally well-known for the production of Crystal, from which it is about 4 km far and where it is possible to find bars, restaurants, postal offices, banks, supermarkets, tennis court, golf course and bike hiring facilites.

The whole holiday accommodation is framed by an extremely well-kept garden with swimming pool (14 x 7 m). Those who are keen on sport, right underneath the pool, there is a sport field to play soccer or many other kinds of sport. The guests are free to use the barbeque for tasty, open-air grills. The Pineschi family produces chianti wine and extra vergin olive oil that can be purchased directly at the accommodation.