Casa Lavanda

Just 2 km away from the village of Panzano in Chianti, the warm and friendly hospitality of Casa Lavanda, will welcome you to the tuscan countryside idyllic frame, in an intimate setting rich in history and in the sign of authenticity.
The house is on the first floor( 10 steps), in the caractheristic Sala village, an authentic country Borgo made of ancient farm houses, and nestled among the romantic Chianti wineyards, 38km away from Florence and 39km from Siena, both reachable with private or pubblic transportation.
This beautiful house with private garden is on the first floor of a stone made farmhouse and enjoys a breathtaking view upon the surrounding hills.
It’s a calm, welcoming and relaxing corner where peace and silence dominate, and it’s the perfect base to explore the beauties of the tuscan art towns famous all over the world as Siena and Florence, the numberless villages dotting the sweet Chianti hills and the surrounding farms, and then go back o relax far from the urban chaos and indulge in a nice glass of wine or a nice dinner comfortably seated in the cool of the equipped patio and garden.
Recently renewed, it is tastly decorated with special care, preserving the typical features of Tuscan style, with stone and bricks walls, wooden beamed ceilings and a pietra serena fireplace.
The careful selection of valuable materials and particular furnishing typical of the past, expertly restored and brought back to life, coexist with the efficiency of modern comforts and with design modern forniture.
For those who wish to plunge in the peace and in the bucolic atmosphere offered by the beautiful Tuscan countryside and hills, this apartment is the perfect choice: ideal for family with children, who can safely play and enjoy outside, among friends or for a romantic couple gateaway.
The house can comfortably accomodate up to 6 persons.
The apartment is accessed through a wrought-iron and glass door and a Impruneta cotto-made stair (10steps).
On the right opens the wide and bright living room, where there’s a big masonry fireplace that bring you back to atmospheres of the rural past. The living area, heart of conviviality, is also furnished with crystal table, chairs and 2 comfortable sofas for your relaxing moments. A big door-window, from which you can enjoy a stunning view on the sorroundings hills, makes the living room very bright.
From there you can access two wide double bedrooms, both with big wardrobe and desk for those who need to work, and the equipped kitchen with all you need to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner any time you wish (oven, boiler, dishwasher, moka etc).
On the left of the entrance stair there’s a third bedroom furnished with comfortable double sofabed,wardrobe and en-suite bathroom with shower.
A second bathroom with shower and washing machine completes the house.
Our guests can enjoy the private garden equipped with barbecue, deckchairs, table and chairs to relax in the cool breeze of the summer nights and stare at the charming view on the tuscan hills drawn by wineyards and olive groves.
Wi-Fi, mosquito-nets and free parking lot are at our guests’ disposal.

THE AREA
The house is settled in an amazing natural oasis in the bucolic tuscan countryside: the little borgo di Sala, that is perched among the wineyards and olive groves which sourround the pittoresque village of Panzano in Chianti, which is 2,5km away.
In Panzano, that is located halfway between Firenze e Siena, you can breathe the hill peaceful atmosphere, you can visit the medieval village, where time seems to stand still, and capture charming immages.
We are in the heart of the area called Chianti Classico, an area of ​​excellence in the production of the namesake wine, famous all over the world, characterized by the image of the Black rooster since the fourteenth century, reproduced also by Vasari on the ceiling of the “Salone dei Cinquecento” in Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.
A few minutes driving from the city of Panzano there are several farms and estates, such as Vignamaggio and Uzzano Castle, il Palagio di Panzano and Il Borgo di Lamole where you can taste extraordinary wines, among which the classic Chianti.
We are in a “doc area” not only for wines, but also for those who like food.
The main square hosted, over time, more and more open-air restaurants and bars, where you breathe the typical atmosphere of a tuscan “borgo”, rich in appetizing scents and aromas.
If a substantial meal is what you are looking for, you need to go to the Macelleria Cecchini, where 8 butchers generations delight-from years- both residents and tourists with their special meats and their contagious friendliness.
But not only, the sourroundings are pointed by farms producing delightful and typical pecorini (cheese).

Historically, Panzano is situated in the middle of the territories under the influence of the two rivals in constant conflict- Siena e Firenze passing through the centuries under the control first of Florence, then of Siena and so on and through many distructions.
Developed at the foot of a castle it offers charming medieval buildings, churches and old Pievi. The village is spilt into 2 parts: the historical center is high and from there you can enjoy an amazing view, and the modern part of the town at the bottom, with restaurants, butcheries and other shops that sell excellent food and wine products.
The borgo offers gorgeous views and a breathtaking panorama.
What remains of the original medieval historic center is nowadays built-in the bell tower of the Panzano-Alto church.
The castle is the highest and oldest part of Panzano: the biggest part of the original walls is still visible and, even though their bad conditions, they represent a walk that’s worth doing, because from here you have an amazing view on the sorrounding countryside.
Close to Panzano, you’ll find the romanic Pieve of san Leolino, of the XXI century: it’s just a1 km away from Panzano and it’s the best example of romanic architecture in the Chianti area.
Every sunday till 1pm open-air market is held, and you can buy flowers and plants, fruits vegetables, cheese and meat and various kitchen items.
Absolutely to visit are of course Panzano in Chiantii, reachable by car in just 5 minutes (2km), where you will also find the main services such as banks and supermarkets, Greve in Chianti (9km), Radda (14 km), Gaiole (25 km), Castellina ( 15 km), Siena (39 km) and of course Florence (38km).
From Casa Iris wonderful trekking or mountain bike trails starts.
We can provide you with any information about it or organize local guides on request. Traveling by bicycle or walking in Chianti is an extraordinary experience that leaves the pleasant taste of a return to the past, of pleasant and characteristic encounters, and glimpses of immaculate landscapes: vineyards, ancient castles, abbeys, monasteries and above all the dense network of white roads that cross hills and small villages of incredible charm between Florence and Siena.
Panzano is right in the middle of the big tour between Siena and Florence and is in fact an excellent base for tours in all directions. From Panzano in fact beautiful hiking and mountain bike trails start.