Agriturismo Bramasole

The ancient farmhouse is on the hills of Montopoli Val d'Arno. Equally distant from the most famous towns of the region Tuscany (15-50' far by car). We offer 3 holiday flats of 95-110sq.mt./each, with a large park of about 10 hectars and in a friendly atmosphere. 

A panoramic swimming pool, well fenced off and surrounded by olive trees, cypresses and other plants and flowers is available in the park from early May till late October. We have several pets (two goats, two donkey, a she-dog, 3 cats) who will be more than happy to entertain your children (and you!).

We are always available to guests. Possibility of taking advantage of art history and music courses in the professional recording studio!

The farmhouse dates back to the eighteenth century: the farm estate Podere La Ginestra dates back to 1760, while the name Bramasole was only added in the late 1800, further to the merge with another close farm and the consequent enlargement of the house.

A panoramic swimming pool (11 x 5 x max. 1.40 mt.) is available in the park from early May to late October. The farmhouse, with its agricultural out-buildings and the ancient and still well kept and working wood-oven (late ‘700), is surrounded by olive trees, cypresses, acacia trees and mulberry trees, which maintain a fresh and aired environment even during the hot summer months. The farm extends on a hilltop for about 10 hectares and consists of two organic olive-yards, a wood and a plain down the valley. We have created signaled naturalistic paths with information in Italian and English about the existing flora - perfect for relaxing and interesting walks in the typical nature of Tuscany.

A further witness of the ancient origin of the farm is given by the “Burraia”, an Etruscan tomb (other tombs can be found there around) completely excavated in a tufaceous soil, covered with bricks in 1819 and presently still used as a natural refrigerator. All around the farmhouse, the wide park of about 6,000 sq.mt., is available to the guests and it also offers a park with outdoor games for children. We have two little friendly dogs (Spino and Susi), two donkeys (Beppino and Giuditta), a tibetan goat (Ringo) six cats, a she-goose and some other poultry, all of them definitively jolly, affectionate and friendly.

Inside the farmhouse there are only three holiday apartments with a large garden in order to offer our guests a relaxing and quiet holiday, while the remaining part of the farm is occupied by the family. The very large apartments (95-110 sq.mt./ each) have been carefully furnished to offer a warm welcome, according the local tradition. The apartments are all independent, each one equipped with television set, Dvd player and central heating. At their inside, each space of the living area (dining room, kitchen room and entrance room, all together are about 50 sq.mt.) has been separated through large archs. The furnishings are all as per traditional local style, the floorings are made of the local “cotto” (bricks), the wooden roofs with beams (at the ground floor) and the thick walls make the flat fresh and welcoming.

The apartment L'Alloro (the “Laurel”) is at the first floor and it consists of three double rooms (2+1 beds in each), a wide kitchen room, a large living room and a bathroom with shower.

The apartment La Quercia (The “Oak”) is situated at the ground floor and it consists of two double rooms (2+1 beds in each), a large kitchen room and a wide living room with the traditional fire-place, a lumber room and a bathroom with bathtub and shower (16 sq.mt.). On request, the big fire-place can be used in the living room.

The first floor apartment L'Acacia (95 sqm, beside L'Alloro apartment) is the last one we renovated. It has two large sleeping rooms (2+1 beds in each) and a big bathroom (with shower + bidet), a fournished wide kitchen and a small living room. As well as the others, the apartment has independent entrance and services, panoramic view over the hills which surround the farmhouse, traditional tuscan style forniture, a 'Cotto' floor in every room, and Sat TV.

The ancient barn, in front of the house, has been adapted for our guests' relaxation, who may also use the existing barbecue and the other three gazeboes with tables and chairs. Wi-fi free in the garden.

The Agriturismo Bramasole e Ginestra is situated half way between Pisa and Florence (and it is also in central position amongst the other famous Tuscan cities, like Siena, Volterra, Lucca, San Gimignano) and within the medieval frame of the village called Montopoli Val d'Arno.
In Montopoli you have a museum with ancient etruscan artworks, the ancient Parish Church of Santo Stefano, the Pian della Rocca, as well as the Renaissance Oratory of S. Maria del Soccorso and the walking path down the town walls, are well worth to be visited. Furthermore, in the village you may find two banks (each with ATM), a post office, two bars, 3 restaurants, grouceries, bakeries, farmacy, and so on.

Thanks to the speedway (superstrada FI-PI-LI) down in the valley, 3,5 kilometers far from our hilly farmhouse, you will be able to easily reach almost all Tuscan cities within one hour drive (except Grosseto and Arezzo, where it takes about 2 hours to get).

By the same way, or through countryside itineraries, less than twenty minutes time are enough to reach “minor” but equally interesting places from the point of view of landscape suggestions and cultural and artistic resources: San Miniato al Tedesco, with its Diocesan Museum, the white truffle, the Tower of Frederic and the Bacino di Roffia, which often houses national boat-racing; the Padùle of Fucecchio, one of the most beautiful protected inland swamp areas; Vinci, with its Museo Leonardiano; Montelupo Fiorentino , which houses an important museum of Renaissance ceramics works; Empoli; Artimino, with its Medici villas.

Travelling towards Pisa: the wonderful Certosa of Calci; the Lari Castle; the ancient village Palaia and the now almost “ghosty” village Toiano alle Brota, a surreal environment suspended over clayey chasms (called calanchi), into the perhaps quietest hilly countryside of Tuscany, from which one can see and easily reach the city of Volterra.

Other possible itineraries: along the Via Francigena (on its way to San Gimignano), at about twenty kilometers from our Agriturismo, we meet the extraordinary “Jerusalem” in San Vivaldo: immersed in a hilly wood, in the early sixteenth century the Franciscan Friars built about twenty large chapels all around their convent, together with a series of large terracottas showing the most important sacred events, with the intention of reproducing the main places of the Holy City: a true jewel, from an urbanistic point of view as well as from the Renaissance artistic one.

This territory has been continuously inhabited since the Etruscan time: almost all villages of the surrounding hills, which we consider medieval ones, practically already existed in more ancient times and it is not a rare event, therefore, to come to find Etruscan tombs, small necropolis and archeological excavations accessible for visiting.
Further information: supermarkets, the railway station and other useful main shops and services can be easily reached at about 6 Kms. from the Agriturismo.