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A short Easter break in Chianti

Easter in Villa le Barone’s gardens Chianti Toscane

Why not take a short break to spend Easter in Chianti and discover some of the many Tuscan traditions to celebrate this important moment of the year: the special menu, the chocolate eggs, the “Colombina”, a custom that dates back to the time of the Crusades? You can enjoy all this while staying at Villa le Barone, and furthermore on Easter Monday you can stroll through the flea market taking place in Greve in Chianti.

At Easter you will savor in our restaurant the typical traditional dishes, in particular the leg of lamb, and for dessert “la Colomba”, a molded cake in the shape of a dove. In general, like the Christmas “Panettone”, the dough of the Easter dove is made of flour, eggs, sugar, yeast and butter, to which can be added candied fruit. The cake is usually sprinkled with almonds and pearl sugar. Delicious!
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Of course, on Easter day, an egg hunt in the gardens of Villa le Barone is organized for the youngest … and on each table, at breakfast, our guests find a beautiful chocolate egg that they can enjoy when they wish.

Chocolate eggs at Easter in Villa le Barone’s gardens Chianti

And there is also the famous custom of the “Colombina” which is held in many Tuscan cities: Florence of course, but also Greve in Chianti, and Panzano: a terracotta dove is set on fire, it goes down a cable, explode, and must go back all along the cable: it will bring good luck to the city! All the local population is present to witness the event!

Finally, on Easter Monday, there is a flea market on Greve in Chianti’s triangular square and, under its arches or around Verrazzano’s statue, you will be able, perhaps, to find a treasure: painting, sculpture, lace, porcelain, or other piece of art!
After a grey winter, feel the spring’s sun and discover Tuscan Easter traditions in a charm boutique hotel in Chianti!

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Palazzo Larderel Via Tornabuoni in the center of Florence

Palazzo Larderel Florence – The terrace

Ideally located on Via Tornabuoni in the center of Florence, the historic 16th century Palazzo Larderel offers a unique opportunity for a wonderful stay in the Renaissance’s capital.

It makes you feel a true Florentine aristocrat! Decorated with antique original furniture and paintings but with all the modern comfort, the apartment to rent is situated on the second floor, and has a wonderful 60m2 terrace. It can host 6 persons.

The Palace, a classified building, member of the Italian Association of Historic Monuments (ADSI), was built around 1580 in late Renaissance style on a design by Giovanni Antonio Dosio for the Giacomini family, and has been the property of this family that lived there until 1793.It then passed on to the Michelozzi Boni, and was purchased in 1839 by the Larderel counts, and still belongs to their heirs.

Palazzo Larderel is situated on the smartest street of downtown Florence, a stone’s throw away from such monuments as Il Duomo (Cathedral and Baptistry), Palazzo Vecchio (Town Hall), Ponte Vecchio (covered bridge) and innumerable attractions related to art and beauty, but also to gastronomy and high style shopping.

Palazzo Larderel Florence Living room

The apartment for rent is located on the second floor (there is an elevator). It boasts a wonderful 60m2 sunny internal terrace, surrounded by jasmine, where guests can relax and have their meals. It has a wonderful large living room opening on the terrace with a dining area for inside meals. Also opening on the terrace is the master bedroom, with its en-suite bathroom, recently redone with a superb bath tub and shower. There is another smaller bed room with a stowaway bed for 1 or 2 persons, and a bath room with a shower. A small stair leads to a double bedroom that can be arranged with twin beds. In all rooms, you will find antique furniture and paintings from the 18th century, fine fabrics and carpets, and pieces of art.

There is a fully equipped kitchen, even though, for food, you may prefer to enjoy Tuscan cuisine in one of the many nearby “trattorias”. The apartment has air conditioning in each room, TV in the living room and Wi-Fi internet connection. There is a cloakroom where to store luggage, an all-in-one washer dryer,
A doorman is present in the building from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 1pm, and from 3 to 7pm, and on Saturday from 8 am to 11am.

You will find in the apartment all needed information to help you make the most out of your stay in Florence.

For those who want to discover Tuscany’s countryside, you might wish Villa le Barone, in the heart of Chianti, also owned by the Larderel’s.

For more information you can contact 00 39 055 85 26 21 or write to info@villalebarone.com

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Quality has a price! Services have a price!

Chianti Villa le Barone An infinity heated pool with a view

Whenever we purchase a good or a service we all have an eye on the sales price. Normal! Hotel reservations are no exception to this, but we believe that sometimes things are getting out of hand!

We are seeing more and more often hotel offers from Online Tourism Agencies (OTA’s) highlighting just the price per day or the discount rate rather than comfort, amenities, location, services rendered, food quality, … to the point that we are asking ourselves: are potential Guests buying price or are they buying what makes for a successful holiday, that is quality and services?

At Villa le Barone we have chosen a conservatively clear view: do not make compromises with “quality, beauty and comfort” and establish prices which will enable us to carry on investing for continued “quality, beauty and comfort” over the years! Do we need a special communication strategy? Do we need branding effort? Do we need strategic planning? Should we go OTA crazy? … what we need, really, is to continue making our Guests happy by welcoming them in a warm, authentic Tuscan atmosphere, offering them modern comfort in a beauteous internal and external setting and surrounding them with an attentive, not over present service.

Villa le Barone Chianti an historic Villa

Should we remind that all rooms are different, with period furniture and fresh fabrics from renowned manufacturers and that they are equipped with mini bar, air conditioning, Wi Fi and internet connection, safe, SAT TV (on free of charge request)?

Should we repeat that we are surrounded by several acres of land and rose and olive tree planted gardens where a heated, salt water, infinity pool in travertine marble as well as a smaller one to sunbathe in are a continuous temptation?

Tennis court, ping pong table, fitness centre and fitness trail are there just in case you might want to work up a very special appetite for evening dinner where three courses of different Tuscan specialties, often cooked with our own staple products, are served every night together with local Chianti wines.

Need a soft drink while at the pool? Need a whiskey before dinner? Need a Grappa after dinner? … two honor bars make you feel really at home while you pour yourself what makes you happy.

Would you really rather have a 47.79$ discount … or all of the above packaged with the friendly smile of the ladies at the Reception?
It’s for you to choose!