Casa Isabella at San Sano, San Sano - Gaiole in Chianti - Siena

San Sano, an idyllic medieval village sitting high above the Val d’Arbia in the heart of the Chianti vineyards, has been known to travelers for generations and remains a haven of Tuscan tranquility. One recent traveler wrote: ‘San Sano is contemplative…a lovely place for a cappuccino in the late afternoon. In the centre is a dribbling frog fountain surrounded by leafy green trees and a neat cluster of village homes. The glass sparkles, the varnish shines and the geraniums stand like boutonnieres beside the doorways. Like my other favourite Chianti towns, Sano Sano is a place I need to see slowly and repeatedly'.

This apartment, in the beautifully restored 17th century Casa Isabella, has a west-facing garden where guests can watch the sunset over an early-evening glass of wine. There are also superb views of the surrounding hills and vineyards.

A central feature of the apartment, which has been restored in traditional style, is the original vaulted ceiling of Tuscan stone. There are also glazed terracotta floor tiles throughout.

Entry to the garden, which is furnished with a table and six chairs, is gained either from the roadside gate or from the stone pathway leading to the swimming pool. The front door opens into the lounge and dining area where there is a double sofa bed, dining table with six chairs, television and DVD player.

The fully-fitted kitchen has a dual-fuel oven, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine/dryer and toaster with ample kitchen and dining utensils. From the lounge, a hallway leads firstly to the main bathroom with shower and then to the second bedroom containing a wardrobe, chest of drawers with mirror and two single day beds, each of which has a second bed stowed beneath for conversion into a double bed.

At the end of the hallway is the master bedroom which has an iron-framed double bed, two bedside tables, a wardrobe, and chest of drawers with mirror. There is a large en-suite bathroom with a deep roll-top bath.

Opposite the apartment is a small shop and delightful family-run restaurant.
Brick BBQ in garden.

Savour the historic richness of San Sano while enjoying a relaxing day by the pool situated within the property’s private vineyards. Staying in the pristine village is a unique journey back into time when life was slow and passionate; and neighbours sat in their yards and sipped wine while watching the sunset.

The village of San Sano is a step back into thousands of years of history. With less than 100 residents, San Sano is nestled among the vineyard-covered rolling hills of Tuscany. Within the small village, is the property once owned by a local winemaker, and now fully restored into individual villas with every detail carefully monitored to ensure the structures remain authentic and untainted.

San Sano has one restaurant, a small grocery store, and an intimate church with Sunday morning services at 10. This medieval village is surrounded by walking paths, which are ideal for early morning walks and bike rides. The large pool is on the edge of the villas, adjacent to the vineyards. The pool, accessed by ladders, is 14 meters by 7 meters and has comfortable sunbeds in which to relax while catching up on reading. The pool is open from Easter through November.

San Sano has a rich history – just ask any local! They’ll tell you about the “boozy frog” fountain in the small park where neighbors gather throughout the day. Many years ago, a resident of San Sano was a contestant on a game show and told an outrageous tale about how the frogs in his village got drunk from drinking Chianti wine from the bottle. It was such a wild story that he won the contest and with his prize money, he bought the fountain for the community to enjoy.

The villas in San Sano are ideal for traveling couples who want to split their holiday time between wine tastings, relaxing around the pool, walks in the surrounding areas and taking day trips to other villages, and dining in all the great Tuscan local restaurants. One couple may want to explore, while the other couple stays at the villa.

San Sano is a short drive to dozens of charming villages, and the larger communities of Gaiole in Chianti, Radda and Siena. It has everything anyone could imagine to capture the true Tuscan experience.
A parking area is available for guests use.
Approach road – paved road

The large pool is situated on the edge of the hamlet, adjacent to the vineyards.  The pool is accessed by a ladder into the shallow end.  The paved surround is furnished with sun loungers and tables.

Surrounded by Mediterranean trees and shrubs the pool measures 14 metres by 7 metres and overlooks rows of vines in the surrounding vineyard, it has a depth of 1.50 metres. The pool is open from Easter until November.