Podere Palazzone, built over two centuries ago by the mastery and age-old wisdom of Tuscan farmers who, before laying the foundation of any podere, considered at length the seasonal influences of breezes, availability of water, the passage of the sun and the fertility of the land. Located on a ridge separating the Val d’Orcia from the Val di Chiana, both central Tuscany and Umbria are easily and quickly accessibile.

Thus, Podere Palazzone has a unique alternance of sun and shade. The Eastern Terrace, warmed by the morning sun, becomes welcoming shade during the hot hours of the afternoon in summer. Natural cooling, due to the passage of the day-long breeze that caresses the podere, makes modern air-conditioning unnecessary.

The podere had been abandoned for over 35 years, and after a complete and sympathetic restoration to preserve its original heritage, the interiors have come to life again in with modern and elegant comfort. The spacious entrance leads to the courtyard, surrounded by skyward reaching arches on all sides. A glass roof covers what was once an open atrium, preserving the luminous and airy sensation. A clay “Ziro,”  in times passed, used to conserve Tuscan olive oil, now pours water to refresh the soul with its rhythmic, cascading water.

Podere Palazzone offers a spacious kitchen in Carrara marble with modern electrical appliances and an internal BBQ fireplace. An informal sitting room, off the courtyard, leads to the Eastern Terrace, where alfresco dining can be enjoyed with the glimmering night lights of Montepulciano.

A formal sitting room on the western side of the podere leads to a generous internal dining room. Just outside, covered the Southern Terrace, complete with a seating area, is ideal for lazy afternoons in the breeze. But come the evening, the spectacle of a red-hot sunset over Montalcino and the Sienese countryside, will take your breath away – the perfect spot for aperitifs and cocktails.

The internal stone steps leading to the first floor tell the story of time. On the first floor, the en-suite master bedroom is accompanied by three other spacious en-suite bedrooms, accommodating eight of the twelve guests.

The extension on the ground floor that was once used to house tractor garages, stores and a workshop, offers a separate, self-contained apartment. It accommodates four guests in two en-suite double rooms as well as a sitting/dining room, kitchen and private terrace.

Surrounded by nearly 100 hectares of olive groves, farmland and forests, isolation and quiet is guaranteed but close enough to shops, supermarkets, and pharmacies. The land around Podere Palazzone has been organic farmland for over a decade. The only fertilizer we use is crop rotation, herbicides and pesticides are strictly forbidden.

Wide-life is abundant. Dainty Red Deer can be seen from the pool terrace grazing in the lower fields, and you may hear wild boar or “cinghiali” grunting at night in the distance. Palazzone’s perimeter is totally fenced, thus keeping our guests safely in, rather than the animals out.

Relaxation is guaranteed by the swimming pool and jacuzzi at all times of the day. Paved in local travertino, the infinity pool offers magnificent views of Montepulciano nestled on top of the hill at 600 meters above sea level. The Tempio di San Biagio (1545), a masterpiece of Antonio da San Gallo il Vecchio, adorns its lower slopes creating the most breathtaking and romantic view.