A stay in Chianti, between history and contemporaneity

The structure is the result of careful conservative restoration work completed in just over a year by the Florentine studio Pierattelli Architetture (we told the story of this studio, here: Architetti come una volta)

The complex is made up of three buildings dating back to the 12th century which extend over 2,000 m2 and is surrounded by 40 hectares of olive groves.

It is the traditional architectural layout of the Tuscan farmhouse, including a small 10th century parish church still consecrated today and owned by the Curia of Fiesole (FI).

Of the three renovated residences, in which the 22 rooms of the boutique hotel have been created, the main building adjacent to the church, called "la Pieve", has been restricted by the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape. Here, the capillary intervention of the architects has maintained and restored the original internal wall decorations which decorate the walls of the main floor.

“We decided to preserve the external facades as much as possible - explains Claudio Pierattelli - obviously excluding the windows and doors, to maintain the poetry of the place.

In fact, we have added very few windows and some skylights as well as closing the loggia to allow a protected passage between one building and another.

In respect of the nature of the place, we have also kept the terracing of the land, creating pedestrian paths between the different areas of the structure: parking, reception and swimming pool".

Each room is different from the other, both for the particular conformation of the structure and for a precise choice on the style of the interiors, once again based on respect for the original, therefore on a specific view or on a particular solution of the ceiling beams.

The colors are soft, a soft beige for the lime masonry and terracotta for the floor.

The latter solution is characterized by the production of the historic Cotto Manetti furnace which makes terracotta with the insertion of iron and magnesium oxides so as to obtain unprecedented nuances.

The need of the property, in fact, was to create a structure in perfect dialogue with the territory, but capable of addressing a contemporary public, thus excluding a mere imitation of the rustic character of the farmhouses.

The offers of Pieve Aldina continue with the restaurant Le Rondini under the guidance of chef Flavio Faedi, already with experience in Relais & Châteaux: “we offer menus using biodynamic vegetables, not so frequent in Chianti, because in addition to Tuscany, we like to offer fresh and pure dishes.

An idea of kitchen sharing is always part of the Pieve Aldina concept, to be shared, with a view to familiarity and spontaneity".

Finally, the word goes to the director manager of the hotel, Fabio Serafino, who recounts how even the search for personnel has been concentrated locally, always with a view to the most possible authentication with the territory.

“We offer a series of services designed to make the experience in Pieve Aldina unique: a picnic among the olive trees, a cooking class to learn how to make pici all'aglione, tastings of local wines and liqueurs, specialized guides for walking , by electric bike or rented Vespa and outdoor yoga classes overlooking the hills.

The presence of the parish church also makes the hotel a special place for organizing weddings”.