Agriturismo 'Le Pianore' - Monte Amiata, Tuscany, Italia

Set in the  heart of Tuscany, cradled between medieval hilltop towns and surrounded  by woodlands, vineyards, olive groves and mountain streams. A private  haven ideally suited to creative exploration and spiritual practice:  with its spectacular views and untouched landscapes, it imparts a real  sense of freedom.

The  estate is an IMC certified organic farmstead with more than 80% of it's  energy coming from renewable sources (solar panels and sustainable  managed wood) and all the water comes directly from the mountain spring. 

The  property offers a variety of rooming options, mostly with private bathrooms, and beautiful, spacious indoor and outdoor yoga facilities.
 

The wonderful Elena and the Basile family, originally from Napoli, will be our hosts and will welcome you with the warmest of Italian hospitality, making sure that your Tuscan vacation is just "fantastic, fantastic, fantastic...!".

Your flight should arrive into Florence ANYTIME on Friday 07 September and depart from Florence ANYTIME on Sunday 16 September. You will make your own arrangements for transport from the airport to the group hotel in Florence. A taxi will take about 20 minutes and will cost around €20-25.

HOTEL IN FLORENCE:
Name: Hotel Horto Convento
Address: Viale Ludovico Ariosto, 13, 50124 Florence FI, Italy
Phone: +39 055 223529
http://www.hortoconvento.com

Our hotel is located in Florence’s Oltrarno district, right next to Piazza del Carmine, on the less touristy side of the river, but just a 10 minute walk from 'Ponte Vecchio' and the main sights. The hotel is a mix of  contemporary and traditional architecture with its own private city garden.

We  will depart the following morning, after breakfast (included) at 10:00am from the lobby, in 9 seater rental vehicles, on a 3 hour scenic coastal drive, to our 'agriturismo', grabbing some lunch along the way.

We will leave 'Le Pianore', after breakfast, at 10.00am on Saturday 15 September and head back to Florence, where we  will spend another night in our hotel and be ready to depart for home the following  day (Sunday 16 Sept)

PASSPORTS & TRAVEL INSURANCE:
At this point, we would like to remind you to check that your passports are valid for travel and have at least 3 months left on them from time of departure for Europe. We would also like to remind you to purchase a travel insurance, which will cover you in case of any cancellation, loss or theft of belongings and medical emergency. This can either be done through your credit card company, airline or travel agent. You can also purchase a travel insurance here during checkout. Please note that Chirriposa will be available to assist you, but will not be responsible for any cancellation fees, lost or stolen items or medical expenses incurred during the trip. You will also be required to sign a ‘Liability Waiver’ and accept our 'Cancellation and refund Policy'  upon checkout.   

WEATHER: 

After the hot summer months of July and August, things begin to cool down in Tuscany in September, when the autumn season is just beginning. During this month, the average temperature starts off at 23°C (73°F), created by highs of 29°C (84°F) during the daytime and lows of 17°C (63°F) after dark.

WHAT TO WEAR: 

Pack light summer clothes and also don’t forget your swimsuits for the pool and visiting the hot springs. Also remember to pack a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. However, you should also be prepared for cooler days and nights and perhaps even some rain and wind. For those of you who want to go hiking, cycling or horseback riding, we suggest you bring suitable footwear. A pair of running shoes would be highly recommended.  

WATER: 

In Florence, we cannot vouch for the quality of the tap water and, therefore, we recommend buying bottled water for drinking. However, at the retreat center, the water in the villa comes directly from a natural spring and is excellent drinking quality. It makes sense to bring your own water bottle and fill it for your daily use. 

ELECTRICITY: 

Electricity in Italy, as in the rest of Europe, comes out of the wall socket at 220 volts alternating at a 50 cycles per second. In the US, electricity comes out of the wall socket at 110 volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second. Not only the voltages and frequencies, but also the sockets themselves are different. You can get along with just a plug converter for many of today's small electrical devices designed to run on dual voltages. Devices like this include most laptops and recently produced battery chargers and many small electrical gadgets, especially those designed for world travel.

PHONE & INTERNET: 

There is free Wi-Fi in our hotel in Florence. There is limited cell phone signal on the property, but we will have free Wi-Fi access in the communal areas of the villa. However, please try to disconnect as much as possible.

 
YOGA MATS + PROPS: 

Yoga mats, blocks, straps and blankets are available at the yoga shala. However, you may prefer to travel with your own mat.

BUGS:  

September is not typically a bad time of year for mosquitoes. Most bites occur during sunset/sunrise or in shady places in the forest. It is best that you bring a good insect repellent with you. You might also like to wear long pants in the evenings.    

SHEETS AND TOWELS:  

All your rooms will have fresh sheets and towels provided. Your rooms will be cleaned mid week and new towels and linens provided on request. You should bring a towel for the pool or for visiting the hot springs. Otherwise a sarong will also work well and be much lighter to pack.

MONEY: 

The currency in Italy is the Euro (€). €1.00 equals around $1.25  $1.00 equals €0.8 You can pay us directly for any optional tours, activities, bodywork and beverages together at the end of the week in cash ($ or €). You will be able to take money out of the ATM using your debit and credit cards. We may also receive payment via Paypal, but you will be charged a 5% service and Paypal fee.

FOOD: 

We will offer a range of traditional vegetarian and non vegetarian Italian meals, incorporating organic vegetables that are grown on the property and local produce from nearby villages and markets. Please inform us of any dietary requirements or restrictions ahead of time and we will try our best to accommodate you. Also if you have any allergies, please let us know in advance.

ALCOHOL:  

Organic wine, produced on the property, and local liquors will be served with meals. Outside of mealtimes, we will operate an honesty system, where you can write down what you consume and settle up at the end of the week.

SECURITY: 

There is not much need for strict security measures at the retreat center, however, there are keys for all the rooms and we can also lock away your passports etc. for you in the main safe. NB. Please be extra careful of your valuables and belongings in Florence, especially on the public transport, as there are a lot of pickpockets around. 

· Wine tasting & tour, alpaca farm, thermal baths, hot springs, horse riding, hiking, porcini mushrooms
· Excursions and day trips to Montepulciano, Pienza, Bagno Vignoni, Pitigliano, Saturnia, Monte Amiata
· Bodywork - reflexology, deep tissue massage, hot rocks, spa treatments
· Lots of cute little furry animals (cats, dog, horses, donkeys, pigs, chickens, ducks...) to cuddle!