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Local Guide

Having had a great deal of family and friends stay at Casalberna, we have listed the most popular activities, restaurants, wineries and areas which all seem to have enjoyed and left with some great memories.

Activities

ACTIVITIES

Walks/Hiking:

  • several routes are available from Casalberna including walking in to the local town of San Casciano dei Bagni.  This walk is 2km and takes an average of 15-20 minutes

eBike Hire:

  • Ebikes are a great way to explore our local towns.  Bikes can be booked with Niccolo from Val d’Orcia ebikes.  Niccolo is a true local having been born in the area and knows all the off the beaten tracks and the more pedalled roads.  He can take you on a private guided trip or he can just drop the bikes to our villa for one or several days hire. https://www.valdorciaebike.com/en/valdorcia-e-bike/

Golf:

  • The Lamborghini golf course is a nine hole golf course set in the Umbrian countryside a 40 minute drive from Casalberna.  There is a restaurant where you can have drinks after your game or a bite to eat. https://www.tenutalamborghini.com/golf

Thermal Baths:

  • Our local thermal baths, known as the ‘Bagni Grandi’ are located next to a ‘live’ archaeological site where they discovered 20 Etruscan bronze statues recently. These Roman baths are found in a modest area of the town and a short walk from the centre.  They are free to the public and are open 24/7 and are a great way to relax and recover in the thermal 41°C mineral waters

 

  • The five star wellness retreat Fonteverde in town offers a day spa experience where you can soak in their large thermal baths and have treatments at the resort. https://www.fonteverdespa.com/en/

Local Restaurants

LOCAL RESTAURANTS

SAN CASCIANO DEI BAGNI

RISTORANTE DANIELA

This restaurant is located in the old stables of the towns castle.  It has beautiful stone vaulted ceilings and offers seasonal and typical dishes of the Tuscan area.  The proprietor Daniela owns the restaurant, Bar Centrale next door and the boutique hotel, Sette Querce, down the road. www.settequerce.it/en/

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LA FONTANELLA

This restaurant is part of a small hotel which offers the finest pork from our local and prized ‘cinta senese’ along with the prized beef from the ‘Chianina’ cow.  It has a lovely outdoor terrace open in the warmer months.  Nila who owns the restaurant and hotel cooks in the kitchen and it’s a favourite with the locals. www.albergolafontanella.com/

 

LOCANDA QUATTRO VESTA

Our local farm restaurant located in a beautiful garden setting part of a B&B serving ingredients from their kitchen garden or sourced from local farmers.  The outdoor setting is quaint and picturesque. www.locandaquattrovesta.it/

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RESTAURANT CASTELLO DI FIGHINI

(Fighini is above San Casciano dei Bagni & a 15 minute drive up the hill)

Set up high and part of the 11C castle town of Fighini, this upmarket restaurant has a Michelin star.  The resident chef is Francesco Nunziata and is overseen by the well known Heinz Beck.  We would recommend having an aperitivo on their wisteria covered terrace first.  The journey on the dirt road to Fighini is an adventure in itself!

www.fighine.it/

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PIZZERIA LA VOLPE

The latest eatery to open in town and mainly offering ‘pizza al taglio/pizza by the slice’ to take away. Some limited seating is available.

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BAR CENTRALE

The bar next to Ristorante Daniela offers a limited menu for lunch and dinner.  Sit at the tables out the front and overlook the piazza with a view of the Val d’Orcia and watch the world go by.

 

CETONA (30 minute drive from San Casciano dei Bagni):

RISTORANTE DA NILO

Traditional restaurant with a typical Tuscan interior with an outdoor dining area facing the piazza.  Delicious food. www.tripadvisor.it/Restaurant_Review-g1009281-d1734657-Reviews-Ristorante_da_Nilo-Cetona_Tuscany.html

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OSTERIA DEL MERLO

This osteria is located in a medieval tower and offers a great menu including fish dishes.  It is located at the far end of the piazza and it also has an outdoor dining terrace. www.osteriadelmerlo.it/

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ENOTECA DEL MERLOT (WINE BAR)

The enoteca is a wine bar which serves a limited selection of small dishes.  It is owned by the couple who have Osteria del Merlot.  It has tables spilling out on to the piazza and has a great selection of wine from all over Italy.  Bookings can be made through the restaurant. www.osteriadelmerlo.it/

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LA FRASCA

Walk up through the old town and you’ll come across the characteristic La Frasca with stone vaulted ceilings and an old cellar familiarity. Have a simple antipasto meal with wine. www.cantinalafrasca.it

 

LE PIAZZE (10 minute drive from San Casciano dei Bagni):

LOCANDA TOSCANINI

Located on the road that forks to San Casciano dei Bagni or Cetona.  This small boutique B&B also has a small outdoor area where you can have panini or a plate of local pasta. Super casual. www.locandatoscanini.it/

 

CITTA DELLA PIEVE (20 minute drive from San Casciano dei Bagni):

BISTRO DEL DUCA

Small characterful bistro set in the beautiful medieval town of Citta della Pieve and owned by the chef Christiano. www.bistrotdelduca.it/

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TRATTORIA BRUNO COPPETTA

A favourite. Always crowded and full of atmosphere.  Offers both Tuscan and Umbrian cuisine and specialises in offering grilled meats from the unique Tuscan indoor BBQ.  Ask for a table on the ground floor. www.trattoriabrunocoppetta.com/

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ENOTECA COPPETTA (across the road from the Trattoria)

Across the road from the restaurant is the newly opened Enoteca Coppetta which offers a selection of light dishes and a great wine cellar.  Check out the cork stools.  Book through the restaurant. www.trattoriabrunocoppetta.com/

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RISTORANTE SILVANA

They say that this is the best restaurant specialising in the Tuscan BBQ in the area.  It is high on the recommendation list of Colin Firth’s ex wife Livia Firth who now lives back in Citta della Pieve. www.ristorante-silvana.com/

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ZAFFERANO RESTAURANT AT HOTEL VANUCCI

The restaurant is part of the exterior and garden of the hotel.  Both of which are beautiful. Only eat here at an outdoor table in the warmer months otherwise it can lack atmosphere. www.hotel-vannucci.com/

 

PANICALE (40 minute drive from San Casciano dei Bagni)

IL RASTRELLO

Located on the Umbrian/Tuscan border, this little town is picture perfect. A handful of bars and restaurants bring life to the village and piazza including Il Rastrello, a restaurant with a contemporary feel however incorporating all the interior materials we love like terracotta, rendered walls & large wood beams.  Have a drink on the terrace before you go for dinner. https://rastrello.com/restaurant/

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LILLO TATINI

A long time favourite of locals and visitors.  This small intimate restaurant is owned by Vittorio and Patrizia.  Patrizia is the chef in the kitchen and Vittorio works on the restaurant floor with his ex-lawyer daughter Bianca.  For the Australians, their son worked in Sydney for a long time and has now opened his own restaurant in Amstedam, The Netherlands.  We really enjoy eating here and soaking in the piazza’s social scene.  www.lillotatini.it/en/umbrian-restaurant-lillotatini_2.html

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MASOLINO

Eat in the vaulted ceiling restaurant or on the small terrace which enjoys views over the valley and over to Lake Trasimeno.  This restaurant offers typical Umbrian dishes. www.masolino.it/

 

CASTIGLIONCELLO DEL TRINORO (above the town of Sarteano and a 30 minute drive from San Casciano dei Bagni):

MONTEVERDE (open for lunch only to non-hotel guests)

This entire 12th-century hilltop village was purchased by the American/Italian Michael Cioffi.  Incorporating the whole towm he has created the most beautiful boutique hotel with restaurants and bars overlooking the famous Val d’Orcia. https://monteverdituscany.com/

Local Wineries

LOCAL WINERIES

 

PALAZZONE (15 minute drive from San Casciano dei Bagni)

PODERNUOVO

This winery was created by Giovanni Bulgari of the Bulgari jewellery family.  Known as the black sheep of the family, Giovanni decided to opt out of the jewellery business once Bulgari was sold to LVMH and live a country life and start a winery.  Highly recommend bookings are made for a tour of the winery followed by a light lunch paired with their wines.  The booking contact is Letizia.  Her email is letizia@podernuovoapalazzone.it.  www.podernuovoapalazzone.com/?lang=en

 

 

PIAZZE (10 minute drive from San Casciano dei Bagni)

RAVAZZI

Ravazzi is a family owned winery.  Today Alberto and his wife Roberta (English speaking) run the winery and offer casual wine tastings.  It makes a great range of reds including a Chianti Reserva.  Our area is the last in Tuscany that can call it’s wines ‘Chianti’. The booking contact is Roberta at roberta@ravazzi.it. www.ravazzi.it/GB/home

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EXAMPLE ITINERARY

Saturday arrival

  • 3pm: Settle in, relax and familiarise yourselves with the property and its facilities

  • Lunch: Antipasto board and ingredients. Choose fresh salad ingredients from the Kitchen Garden and help yourselves to your fridge filled with mozzarella, cold meats, cheeses and fresh focaccia and bread

  • Sunset aperitivi

  • Dinner: Catered

Sunday

  • Morning: walk from Casalberna in to San Casciano dei Bagni and have a pastry and coffee at Bar Centrale.  Look around the old town & shop at Daniele the butcher, Fema alimentari, Orto Bottega and buy a whole crostata jam tart from Bar Centrale

  • Relax by the pool

  • Sunset aperitivi  

  • Dinner: Ristorante Daniela in San Casciano dei Bagni. www.settequerce.it/en/

Monday

  • Drive to one of our local towns approximately 1 hour away (Montepulciano, Pienza, Panicale) and wine or cheese taste and have lunch

  • Afternoon: relax

  • Sunset aperitivi  

  • Dinner: BBQ cooked by yourselves or the caterer (with meat from Daniele the butcher and fresh ingredients from the Kitchen Garden and zucchini and eggplant you can place on the grill)

Tuesday

  • eBike hire, Niccolo - www.valdorciaebike.com/en/valdorcia-e-bike/

  • 10am departure: eBike trip to Radicofani self guided or guided by Niccolo

  • Coffee or an apertitive at Pane e Companatico in Piazzetta del Teatro

  • Followed by lunch at an outside table in the piazza at Al Tocco

  • Cycle or walk up the hill to the fort area

  • Keep eBikes overnight

  • Sunset aperitivi

  • Dinner: in San Casciano dei Bagni. www.locandaquattrovesta.it

Wednesday

  • Morning: eBike in to San Casciano dei Bagni for breakfast & coffee at Bar Centrale  

  • Lunch 1pm: English speaking cellar tour followed by a light lunch and wine tasting at Giovanni Bulgari’s winery Podernuovo in Palazzone (15 minute drive). www.podernuovoapalazzone.com/?lang=en

  • Sunset aperitivi  

  • Dinner: take away pizza from La Volpe in San Casciano dei Bagni

Thursday

  • relax by the pool

  • Lunch: antipasto board and fresh ingredients from the Kitchen Garden

  • Late afternoon: visit the town of Citta della Pieve

  • Early Evening: have an aperitivo at followed by dinner at Trattoria Bruno Coppetta(request a downstairs table as there is more atmosphere). www.trattoriabrunocoppetta.com/

Friday

Saturday Departure

  • Morning: walk from Casalberna in to San Casciano dei Bagni and have your farewell pastry and coffee at Bar Centrale

  • 11am: Check out

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