Description

Podere Montese is situated on the top of a hill, overlooking the towers of San Gimignano that is only 1 km away. It is a typical Tuscan farmhouse, entirely built in stone, where today is situated a bed and breakfast.
Podere Montese is run by the whole family, thus the guests can feel as part of it. There are 6 sober rooms at the guest's disposal, of which one triple room and 1 family room for 4 persons. About 100m underneath the house there is a small self-catering cottage for 2-4 people. At Podere Montese, the day starts with a rich breakfast, consisting of bread, butter, jam, honey (own production), ham, cheese and fresh eggs. Not to forget Davide's delicious creamy cappuccino, which, according to many regular guests, has become a legend.

According to the season and the weather, breakfast is served in the garden or on the terrace, both offering an enchanting view over the swimming pool, with the towers of San Gimignano in the background, and the vernaccia-hills. In case that the weather doesn't allow to have breakfast outside (also this might happen), the guests will have breakfast in the dining-room with vaulted ceiling and fireplace. During the colder season are often organized dinner parties in front of the heat of rustic fireplace with typical Tuscan specialities. Next to the dinner-room there is a kitchen for common use, where the guests can personally cook.

Furthermore there is a TV room (satellite TV), also with fireplace, table, chairs, sofa and an exposition of the farm products. The farm produces the white wine Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, two types of red wine (Colli Senesi DOC, Rosso di San Gimignano IGT), grappa, vinsanto and honey. During autumn (october/november) it is possible to participate in the grape and the olive harvesting. From the terrace are leading steps to the pool. The swimming pool and the well-kept garden are the favourite places to enjoy the picturesque panorama over San Gimignano or to read in peace a good book. San Gimignano, the next place is also called the Manhattan of the Middle Ages. It attracts every year thousands of tourists are attracted to see the residential towers of this characteristic and historic town.

At San Gimignano one finds everything necessary for the everyday life (supermarkets, bars, shops of every type). Historically, the town of San Gimignano arises from the end of the 9th century on. Within the course of the centuries, the harvesting and the international commerce of saffron let San Gimignano become always wealthier.
In 1227, the town had about 7,000 inhabitants, approximately the same number as today. The commerce was prospering and as a consequence of this, the inhabitants started to build numerous churches and buildings that we can still admire during a visit. Since space in this hill-town was limited, people started to build always higher houses. Merchants and artisans were practically living above their shops.

As the space was always becoming fewer, the town issued a law, imposing that the houses should not exceed a certain ground surface. The result was the building of "residence"-towers. The higher the tower was, the richer the family was. Of 72 towers of San Gimignano's peak-period, today there are only 13 left. One shouldn't miss to see the Torre del Podestà, from where it is possible to enjoy an unforgettable view over the town and the surrounding landscape. Also a must are the cathedral and the numerous museums of the town. Naturally, today the economy of San Gimignano doesn't live anymore of the saffron cultivation, but mainly of tourism and the white wine Vernaccia di San Gimignano. The origins of this phantastic wine are unknown, but it is presumed that already the Etruscans were using this vine for the wine production.

During the Renaissance, this white wine was considered to be one of the noblest wines, ideal to satisfy the palate of nobles, popes and other rich personalities. Anyway, in the course of the centuries, the vernaccia grape has perfectly adopted to the soil. In 1966, the Vernaccia di San Gimignano obtained the DOC-nomination (DOC=Denominazione di Origine Controllata, engl. Wine of controled origin).
In spite of the hilly position, San Gimignano is situated in the centre of the most important places of art and culture in Tuscany. Within a few minutes one reaches Poggibonsi and Colle Val d'Elsa and within half an hour Florence, Siena, Volterra, Monteriggioni and the area of the Chianti Classico.

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