Agriturismo Vinci

Eleonora’s care and service leave nothing to be desired, and we’ll be back. The holiday homes are dreamy and the setting is completely peaceful. The natural lake sits among the Chianti forests, while Gaiole town center is a 25-minute walk away.

Agroturismo Vinci, Gaiole in Chianti 🌿🏡 is the sort of place that stays with you. We travel a lot around Europe, and Tuscany is especially dear to us. We know and love Val D'Orcia, Val D'Elsa, the areas around Monte Amiata, Lucca and Pisa, but this place in Chianti charmed us most. It felt like the essence of Tuscany in one spot. We came with our bikes and our dog, as we have for over a year, and this stay went beyond what we expected. There are five apartments among vineyards and olive groves, with several hectares of forest around them. A private lake is available to guests. Even with three apartments occupied, we had it to ourselves, with loungers and umbrellas waiting there. Our dog could play freely in the water, which was a big plus. The setting is just what I’d imagined: a stone house on a hill, a terrace edged with cypresses, vineyards stretching to the horizon, and a white gravel road, strada bianca, leading up to it. Eleonora, the hostess and good spirit of the place, is caring but discreet. If you need anything, message her on WhatsApp. She’s happy to help with Wi-Fi, a bike route or a dinner recommendation. Ela also makes sure the apartments are ready and have everything needed. Both ladies looked after us throughout our stay. Gaiole in Chianti is a 15-minute walk downhill. There are wine bars, restaurants and a Coop supermarket in town. It’s also known for the yearly L'Eroica event, a celebration of classic cycling that began in 1997 with a wish to preserve Tuscany’s historic routes. We always bring bikes, so that was interesting to know. A few practical things: the road up to the apartments is quite steep, but that’s Tuscany. Each apartment has a barbecue and places to relax on sun loungers, and there’s Wi-Fi inside. The lake is about 300 meters downhill, so the way back is uphill. There are two sunbathing areas by the lake with loungers and umbrellas, and swimming is allowed. The walk into town takes about 15 minutes downhill and 20 minutes back up. Bring a flashlight at night because part of the path isn’t lit. Agroturismo Vinci will stay in our hearts for a long time. I’m looking forward to the day we can return. 🌿

Eleonora’s wonderful service and the private lake really complete the stay. This is a special place with a lovely atmosphere, just right for recharging. It feels far from everything, though Tuscany’s hotspots are still quick to reach.

It’s lovely and peaceful to vacation here, with a lake of its own. The paths, if you can even call them roads, are in poor condition and very steep. Apart from that, it’s great.