About Spannocchia

Run by the Spannocchia Foundation, its main emphasis has been to continue the traditions of sustainable organic agriculture and Tuscan culture.

Castello di Spannocchia provides room, accommodations, as well as meals featuring their own delicious olive oil, organic produce and wine for all program participants.

Each evening, guests are invited to meet on the veranda to chat, drink

wine, and take in the sunset.

After wine, traditional Italian four-course dinner is served family-style for all guests in a lively and warm atmosphere.

Our summer retreat gives you the opportunity to feel perfectly at home in this terrific example of balance and integration between sustainable agriculture and artistic and educational enrichment. You may participate in as many additional activities as you would like. Or, you may choose to devote your time solely to your writing. This retreat is about you.

Additional Activities Available at Spannocchia

Morning Yoga and Breathwork

Every morning, Jade will lead powerful, transformative yoga classes on Spannocchia’s lawn (open to our participants only). Jade is trained in Pranakriya Tantra Hatha Yoga and a variety of fitness yoga traditions. She combines pranayama (breath work) and ancient yoga traditions with modern alignment and fitness expertise. The class will accommodate your needs, whether you are brand new to yoga or already skilled. Jade focuses on her participants and gives each of them support and attention. The classes will lengthen and strengthen your muscles, increase your body awareness and tranquility, calm your mind and raise your energy. You will be smiling and heartfelt, feeling expanded and full of life at the beginning of each day.

Historical Tour

As a host guides you through the numerous areas of the Castello including

the Villa, Tower and Fattoria you will learn about the architecture of the Castello, the histories of the Cinelli and Spannocchi families, the mezzadria sharecropping system, by which Spannocchia operated for centuries, and past and present agricultural activities in the property. The tour will also visit Spannocchia’s own Catholic Chapel which was once used as the community church for the estate and the museum, which houses ancient Etruscan archaeological artifacts from multiple Tuscan sites. Lastly, climb Spannocchia’s medieval tower for a breath-taking view of the 1100 acres of rolling hills and farmland surrounding the Castello.

Time: The morning after arrival

Price: Included

Traditional Tuscan Cooking Class

The cooking class begins at 9 am with a tour through the vegetable garden at Spannocchia with the garden manager, who will describe the cycle of the various crops through the year and her methods for providing the kitchen with fresh, flavorful products. Then to the kitchen, where with Loredana you will prepare a three course Tuscan meal utilizing food products from the estate.

The first course might be handmade pasta such as tagliatelle, ravioli, or gnocchi,or perhaps the typical “ribollita” Tuscan soup, or in summer a simple but delicious bread salad called “panzanella.” For our second course we may choose between our own farm-raised pork, beef, lamb, or chicken, or perhaps even wild game, and this will be accompanied by fresh vegetables direct from the garden. We finish with a traditional dessert such as cantucci cookies with Spannocchia vin santo, pinenut cake, tiramisu, or our renowned chocolate salame.

A vegetarian menu is also available, and we will try to fill requests for specific recipes as long as they fall within the traditions of this local region. Each lesson concludes with lunch, tasting all the dishes created during the morning class, accompanied by Spannocchia wine and spring water.

Loredana Betti grew up on Spannocchia in the 1950’s when her family was tenant farmers here. As a young girl she learned how to prepare the traditional fare of the region and eventually developed a talent notable even in this area where every housewife seems capable of culinary magic. For nearly twenty years, Loredana cooked for the Cinelli family and Spannocchia’s students and guests, until her retirement five years ago to spend more time with her three grandchildren. She still loves to produce wonderful meals for friends and family, and enjoys staying involved at Spannocchia with her weekly classes in the kitchen she knows so well.

Time: 9:00-2:30 pm weekdays, includes lunch

Price: 60 Euro per person (minimum of 6 people)

Bees & Honey

Agronomist Andrea Battino introduces participants to the wonderful world of bees! Andrea explains bee dances, bee keeping history and honey production. He concludes by leading the group through a honey tasting of several different varieties. The class lasts approximately 2 hours.

Time: Weekdays, flexible

Price: 75 Euro per group

Olives and Olive Oil

Have you ever wanted to know the whole story about olive oil and why it is such a prized product? Did you know olive oil is like wine, with different blends, and that there is a correct way of tasting it (and it isn’t on bread!)? Spannocchia Education Director Katie talks about the history of olives, and explains how olive oil is produced, complete with a slide show of Spannocchia’s olive harvest and trip to the olive press. The class concludes with a guided tasting of several Tuscan oils–including our own award winning Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Optional walk to see some of our 700 olive trees available upon request. Lasts approximately 2 hours.

Time: Weekdays, flexible

Price: 50 Euro per group

Cinta Senese Tour & Tasting

Do you know what a Cinta Senese is? Do you know how prosciutto is made? Spannocchia Education Director Carrie offers a close up look at our Noah’s Ark rare breed animals, our organic artisan meat production and the typical salumi (salt-cured meats) that we create. The tour includes a walk up Pig Hill to see our pigs (and maybe even some piglets if you’re lucky) a glimpse into our seasoning/curing room, and finishes with a guided tasting of our salumi products such as salame, prosciutto, capocollo, guancia, etc. The tour and tasting lasts around 2 hours.

Time: 10-12am weekdays

Price: 5 Euro per person (minimum 50 Euro)

Nature Walk

Discover the native Tuscan flora and fauna through a self-guided nature walk

on the Spannocchia grounds. The walk starts at our newly completed interactive museum Casetta del Bosco and continues through the Secret Garden, with examples of nearly every type of tree present in our surrounding forests. There is a good chance you will see or at least hear many birds on your walk, so bring binoculars if you have them!

Price: Included

Vegetable Garden Tour

Spannocchia’s Garden Manager introduces participants to Spannocchia’s organic vegetable gardens. She explains why we choose to be organic and the different aspects of organic gardening including: crop rotation, cover crops, the creation and use of compost, and our two greenhouses. As she guides participants through the different areas of the garden, she explains the different seasonal crops growing, pointing out heirloom varieties and typical Tuscan crops grown only in this area. She also includes details about crop storage and transformation into secondary products like tomato sauce and pesto.

Time: 9am weekdays

Price: 30 Euro per group (or is included in cooking class)

Italian Language Lessons

Learn the basics of the Italian language during your stay at Spannocchia! Instructor Valeria is available for private or group lessons. Lessons usually focus on basic grammar and vocabulary, and Valeria always encourages conversation in class! Learn how to order at restaurants, ask about bus schedules, and find out where the nearest bathroom might be. Valeria’s teaching style is flexible and she can accommodate all levels of proficiency and can tailor the class to your particular interest (art,cooking,history,farming,etc). Each class lasts one hour and Valeria will provide lesson materials.

Time: Monday through Friday, Flexible

Price: 25 Euro per hour

T’ai Chi

We can arrange for a local T’ai chi teacher to come to Spannocchia in the

mornings before or after breakfast to lead you through a series of stimulating and invigorating poses to get creative juices flowing.

Time: morning

Price: 25 Euro per lesson for a group of 3-6 people

Reflexology Treatment

The reflexologist works on pressure points on your feet or hands. Treatment sessions last between 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on your body’s needs. For your convenience, the Reflexologist speaks English.

Time: Flexible

Price: 35 Euro per treatment

Massage

Take a break from writing – we can arrange a Shiatsu full-body massage to massage away travel pains and provide a moment of pure relaxation. The message is done by a certified massage therapist and typically lasts one hour.

Time: Flexible

Price: 45 Euro per hour

Frequently Asked Questions about Spannocchia

What are the meals like?

Delicious four-course traditional Tuscan cuisine is served family-style for all guests, whether staying in the villa, the fattoria, or one of several cottages on the property. When weather permits (it usually does during Italian summers), we dine outside, enjoy the company and take in the lovely weather. The exquisite lunches and dinners will quickly become one of the most memorable aspects of the retreat.

Is it easy to get to Spannocchia?

Pick-up from the Florence airport and delivery to Spannocchia on June 25,2010 will be arranged for you. If this is your first visit to Tuscany, you won’t be certain you aren’t dreaming on the beautiful car ride to Spannocchia! If you need transportation from Spannocchia back to the Florence airport on July 7, it is also included.

Is it safe to drink the water?
The water is pure and drinkable. In fact, the well was blessed by San Bernardino. You may find that it tastes especially satiating. Don’t forget that there is a ready supply of wine also.

What are some nearby attractions?

Siena and San Galgano are within a half-hour’s drive. They are each

unforgettable and deserve be a part of each participants weekend travel plans. Within hiking distance are the strikingly beautiful 10th century Castle that Only God Knows and the abandoned monastery of Santa Lucia. Not far beyond the monastery is Ponte della Pia, a still-standing 1st century Roman bridge.

What else is there to do on this farm?

Besides writing and experiencing the richness of traditional Italian farm life, participants can lounge near the pool, listen to the birds and take in some Tuscan sun!

Is there electricity?

Yes, and there is a television and a computer with internet access. We can also rent a wi-fi connection for the group. Remember to bring your European travel adapter for your electronic devices.

How close is the nearest town?

Rosia is about ten to fifteen minute’s drive. There is a post office, and there are grocery and drug stores, should you need to pick up anything or mail postcards back home.

What else goes on at Spannocchia?

It is always buzzing with the rustic life of a beautifully-run farm. Every other Wednesday is Nosta Cena, a special and more formal dinner. We should also be so lucky as to witness Pizza Night, where traditional pizzas, including the legendary gorgonzola and pear, are cooked in the outdoor wooden oven. Interesting guests are always making their way in and out, and often during nice weather Spannocchia is home to traditional folk music and dancing.

What will the weather be like?

Temperatures can range in the 70s to low 100s F, with average

temperatures around high 80s. Late in the summer, the air is drier and the landscape takes on its famous golden Tuscan glow. The sun is deliciously bright.

Is there a swimming pool?

Yes, and it will be especially refreshing!

Is it true? Can I really drink local Sangiovese wine to my heart’s content?

We shall see! (Yes.)

What are the accommodations like ? Is this a clean farm?

Accommodations in the villa are wonderfully kept. While everyone is used to different lifestyles, be assured that Spannocchia is priceless and special. It is, of course, surrounded by agriculture. If you expect to bask in posh lodging, it would be better to either adjust or look elsewhere.

What shall we do on our weekends?

Travel to Italy’s hidden gems nearby! Everything is available to you. Rome and Venice are just a few hours away, as is the legendary island of Elba. At Spannocchia, we will get together as a group to finalize and coordinate weekend plans to see whether car-pooling is an option.