Le notti dell'archeologia

Le notti nel Chiostro: un approfondimento di grande interesse .

Nella splendida cornice del chiostro di San Lodovico a Montevarchi sarà proiettato un filmato sui misteri della piramide di Cheope che ci riporterà indietro nel tempo per scoprire i segreti e i misteri delle costruzioni egizie.

Organizzazione e informazioni:
Accademia Valdarnese del Poggio – Centro Studi e Documentazione del Valdarno Superiore
Via Poggio Bracciolini, 36-40
52025 Montevarchi (AR)
Tel 055-981812 centro@accademiadelpoggio.it, info@accademiadelpoggio.it
www.accademiadelpoggio.it

The Contini Bonacossi Collection . Free Visits to the Contini Bonacossi Collection

Until 31 July 2010 free visits to the Contini Bonacossi Collection will be organised on Thursdays. This is an exceptional opportunity to admire the masterpieces of this extraordinary collection, which has been made possible by the collaboration of the security guards of the Uffizi Gallery and the help of the Amici degli Uffizi. The collection of Alessandro Contini Bonacossi is numbered among the most important art collections of the twentieth century. In 1969 the State was able to purchase a part of it, which was destined to the Uffizi Gallery. This consists of about fifty works which are displayed in rooms specially appointed for the purpose situated between Via Lambertesca and Chiasso Baroncelli, where we can admire furnishings, ceramics, sculptures and masterpieces of European painting dating from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century, comprising works by Andrea del Castagno, Giovanni Bellini, Girolamo Savoldo, El Greco and Zurbaran.

TIMES
Thursdays at 14.00 and 16.15

BOOKING:
Booking is obligatory for the visits, with a maximum number of 20 persons per group.
The visits can be booked from Tuesday to Saturday (10.00 to 17.00) at the Info Point of the Uffizi Gallery, by phoning 055 2388809

MEETING POINT
The meeting point for visitors is at the first door on the long side of the Loggiato degli Uffizi, 15 minutes before the visit.

OPEN GARDENS… WITH POGGITAZZI

Sunday July 18th 2010 at Fattoria di Poggitazzi.

On the wonderful terrace overlooking at the breathless scenery of the Balze, antique crafts, wine tasting, nature trails and live music. 5.45 pm: walking trail “Le Balze between Malva e Poggitazzi”; Departure: Fattoria di Poggitazzi; 9.30 pm: Big Band J.H. Orchestra .

Info: Punto Informazioni turistiche 055/97.38.828

Booking on line http://www.terraospitale.it/;

ETRURIA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA MOZART FESTIVAL 2010 CONCERT

Monday July 19th 2010
9.15 pm Oratorio S. Benedetto Terranuova Bracciolini
Roberto Pasquini, flauto e direzione musicale; Alessandro Perpich, violino; Gianluca Dioni, oboe

Johann Sebastian Bach, Ouverture in si minore No.2, BWV 1067
Free of charge
info: Istituzione Le Fornaci tel. +39 055. 919 4722

The Poggitazzi Olive Press

The entire production chain for Poggitazzi's extra-virgin olive oil is carried out internally: the olives are harvested by hand using small rakes, and they are then taken to the press on the very same day to be processed.

Once they reach the press, the olives have their leaves removed and are washed before being ground into a paste by the millstone. The olive paste is not heated at all, except for the heat that is necessarily generated by the pressure that the paste is subjected to when it is pressed to extract the oil. The paste is spread out in a 3cm layer above the jute discs that, along with the steel discs, form the stack that is put under pressure by the hydraulic press. As the pressure is increased, the liquid -formed by oil and vegetation water - is collected in the container below.

The final stage involves the separation of the oil from the vegetation water using a separator, which divides the two liquids via centrifugal force alone. The end result is Poggitazzi's wonderful extra-virgin olive oil.

Authentic Poggitazzi produce

Cereals, vines and olives - all typically Tuscan produce - are cultivated on the farm.
The respect for time-honoured traditions and the fact that the entire production process is in-house together ensure the high quality of the produce, which includes extra-virgin olive oil and DOCG wines that are sold directly to customers.

The Poggitazzi Olive Groves

The olive groves stretch along the path of the Via Cassia Vetus and face mostly westward, on hilly terrain that is ideal for the Leccino, Moraiolo and Frantoio cultivars. The groves extend across 40 hectares and include 7,000 plants at an altitude of between 350 and 450 metres above sea level. The climate and humidity are perfect for high-quality production. The olives are cultivated on these terraced soils in the traditional fashion, with particular care dedicated to the pruning stage, which takes place in spring and is essential to guarantee the vegetative equilibrium of the plant and to maintain the quality of the product. Each plant must be pruned each year and the soil enriched not with fertilisers but exclusively with the mineral salts that the plant has absorbed.

The harvesting of the olives is carried out by hand, starting in early November, at the moment of perfect ripeness, thus ensuring the high quality of the oil. The just-harvested olives have their leaves removed and are then washed. In next to no time, the production process comes to an end with the traditional cold-pressing of the olives at the farm's in-house olive press. The extra-virgin olive oil thus produced has very low acidity, as confirmed by the chemical analysis that is strictly applied to the entire batch. The oil is then stored in stainless-steel vacuum tanks to guarantee its freshness. Like every other part of the production process, bottling takes place on the farm.

The oil is available in three varieties - Frantoio, Leccino and Moraiolo - in a number of different-sized bottles: 0.100 litres, 0.250 litres, 0.500 litres and 0.750 litres.

The Poggitazzi Vineyards

The Poggitazzi estate plays host to 15 hectares of mostly south-facing vineyards, where the four classic grape types that compose Chianti DOCG are cultivated - i.e. Sangiovese (minimum 75%), Canaiolo Nero (up to 10%), Trebbiano and Malvasia (individually or jointly up to 10%).

The hilly terrain used for the production of Chianti has predominantly sandstone-based soil with clayey and sandy schists. The cultivation is carried out in strict accordance with Tuscan winemaking traditions in terms of plant spacing, training and pruning.

During harvesting, only the finest bunches are selected, as set out in the relevant legislation. The average annual production is 1500 quintals.

Recently, alongside the production of Chianti, the vineyards have also been used to produce small quantities of high-quality white table wine, monovarietal Chardonnay and barrique-aged Rosso Palagina.

Poggitazzi Farm

Poggitazzi Farm extends across a total of 430 hectares and encompasses cultivated fields, woodland, vineyards and olive groves. The fields on the plain are used for the cultivation of cereals (on rotation) but wine and olives are the mainstays of the farm. The wildlife reserve, managed by a 10-member consortium, takes up a large part of the farm. The hunting reserve concentrates on the repopulation of hares, and from September to January it is possible to engage in the programmed culling of pheasants and hoofed animals.

At Poggitazzi you never get bored

The stay in the farm house is absolutely relaxing, in the silence of the country side, but not isolated. The gardens, the lawns, the secular holm oaks wood provide wide spaces for walking and for your favorite sport activities as swimming in the pool, playing tennis, ping pong, but also are the starting point for tours and excursion, also with a guide, to the beautiful territory.

Tastings
Tuscany is a land where, a part from the excellence of its typical cultivations of oil and wine, the ancient traditions made of products of unique quality are deeply rooted. Chianti wine, extra-virgin oil, "pecorino" cheese, typical tuscan cold cuts, dishes from the tradition of Florence are all products that guests can discover through our "tasting sessions" arranged in the farmhouse, during the visits to the Wine cellar or the Olive press, the theme dinners, or the wine and gastronomic itineraries that we can suggest.

Tour and Tasting
By appointment it is possible to partake in guided tasting of our homemaded extravirgin olive oil. Tastings are for preformed groups of minimum 4 people. Guests can also enjoy the opportunity to visit the ancient olive press which are still used to press hundert of olives every year, the famous italianstyle garden, the 11 century Villa and the romanik Chirch which goes back to the 14 century.

Outside activities
You can discover the beauty of tuscan nature with mountain bike, following the typical and evocative trails and "white roads". A suggesting route brings you to the discovery of the romanic parish churches, from Reggello to Loro Ciuffenna, on the route of the antique Cassia Vetus road, full of art and architecture treasures. For the trekking lovers there are trails through the typical Balze region, gullies formations where if your lucky you may also discover fossils.
You can play Golf to the Casentino's Golf Club in Poppi and Golf Club dell'Ugolino in Florence.

Cities of art
Are near and easily reachable also with public service vehicles. Florence, Arezzo, Siena with their patrimony of culture and art, churches, museums, exhibitions, concerts, and their beautiful landscapes, famous worlwide. Also smaller but not less evocative cities are near, as San Gimignano, Certaldo, Cortona, Sansepolcro, Pienza, Montalcino, all the Chianti villages.

Cooking courses
All the guests can take part to the cooking courses where typical dishes of the Tuscan tradition will be cooked: as panzanella, ribollita, beans, beefsteak and will learn how to cook the handmadepasta casalinga and pizza.

Shopping
Distant only 20 Km there's a new shopping center with outlets and boutiques of all the most prestigious high fashion trademarks, where buying Italian Style clothing and leatherwear.

Our Apartments

The agritourism includes rooms of various sizes sleeping between 2 and 6 guests. All of the rooms are different but all feature rustic Tuscan decor, with cotto floor tiles, hand-made furniture and wrought-iron accessories.

There are two-room and three-room apartments of various sizes, some of which have two bathrooms. In addition, there is the option to host larger groups in adjacent apartments, with their own private entrances.

Each apartment has air conditioning and includes a TV, a safety deposit box and a lounge with a fully equipped kitchenette. The apartments come complete with bed linen and bath linen. The accommodation is on a self-catering basis, but the following additional services are available on request: breakfast, change of linen, daily tidying, domestic help, babysitting.

The Rooms

The agritourism includes both rooms and apartments. The rooms have been painstakingly decorated in typical Tuscan style, retaining a sense of tradition while offering every imaginable comfort. All of the rooms include a TV, a minibar, air conditioning, a safety deposit box and a bathroom with shower. Each room is different from the others, with hand-crafted furnishings and fire-proof upholstery.

The sober decor fits in perfectly with the rural surroundings, creating a warm, welcoming ambience in which peace and tranquillity are the order of the day. Accommodation in the rooms is available on a hotel-style basis (i.e. with daily cleaning and breakfast) and guests can use all of the agritourism's shared services.

Meetings and Events

The historic villa plays host to rooms of various dimensions, which can be reserved for corporate events, workshops, conferences and courses for groups both large and small. All of the rooms are fully equipped with every imaginable modern comfort and, moreover, they all benefit from enchanting panoramic views over typically Tuscan countryside embellished by olive trees, vineyards and age-old woods, with many of the rooms looking out over the gardens. The buffet services - made available for coffee breaks, lunches or gala dinners - are organised by a staff of specialists who have what it takes to give guests exactly what they want by selecting suitable wines and decorations and preparing specific menus with dishes made from local products. The Tuscan culinary tradition offers an immense range of authentic regional dishes that make the most of the local produce. The availability of extensive indoor and outdoor spaces affords the possibility of staging customised events. Alongside conference venues, the complex also includes an agritourism in the form of the restored apartments in the farmhouse close to the villa - the perfect place to relax.

Services on offer
The rooms, all of which can be reserved for private use, can be fully customised and can include reception desks and technical equipment such as wi-fi connectivity and PA systems. Options range from the traditional auditorium layout with a central speakers' table to layouts based on separate workstations with adjacent exhibition spaces. The rooms can seat between 20 and 120 delegates and it is even possible to modify the internal and external spaces in order to stage team-building exercises, role-playing games, exhibitions or catwalks. On reservation, catering services can be made available for all types of events.

Weddings in Tuscany

The historic villa located at the centre of the property is the ideal location for holding a wedding reception. The extensive outdoor and indoor spaces offer a plethora of options to match the season and the number of guests. the borgo plays host to evocative gardens and backdrops that provide unique settings for the various phases of the reception. The rooms inside the villa feature air conditioning and come complete with every imaginable comfort. The painstaking restoration process has brought out the sober yet elegant style of this ancient aristocratic residence.

Services on offer
The property plays host to an 18th-century church in which you have the possibility to stage the religious ceremony, whereas your reception can be held in a lush outdoor location surrounded by age-old trees, in direct contact with nature, with a wonderful panorama over the valley below. Moreover, you will have access to a unique villa with the sort of warm, charming atmosphere that only those places characterised by history, tradition and culture can offer. The villa affords a wealth of outdoor options for receptions and ceremonies, including the courtyard, the Italianate garden, and the square in front of the Church, where banquets for up to 600 can be held. Moreover, internally, the villa's main room can accommodate up to 250 guests, with additional rooms increasing the capacity to 450.
For your wedding at the villa, you can choose your own caterers or leave everything to us and our highly professional staff. All of the following are available on request: photographer, floral displays, musical accompaniment for the ceremony and the reception; hostess service; and any other services you may require.

The History of Poggitazzi

The antique Poggitazzi farm is located in a dominant position in the typical Balze region, along an Etruscan trail that goes through the Valdarno. The first settlements go back to the age of the Longobardi and were used as military defense. The antique ghibelline fortification belonged to the Pazzi family until 1288, when Uberto de’ Pazzi gave it to the Guelphic part of Florence which rebuilt and enlarged it before giving it to Maffeo di Francesco da Sommaja, notary of Florence. From him comes the family name "de’ Libri" (of Books) and the gentilitial coat of arms (tre libri rilegati e chiodati in campo chiaro).

Since 1300 the Libri family makes enlargements and restructurations and finishes the chapel dedicated to S. Antonio Abate on the square located to the south of the settlement. The Libri family passed on the ownership and management of the "Poggitazzi House and Palace", as the mannor was called in 1500, leaving with its members a deep trail in the cultural and administrative life of Florence. Today, the core of the estate is composed of three main buildings connected inside through undergrounds, and outside through courtyards and hallways, which also delimitate the two gardens: one of them large and antique, restored with original materials, and the other one from the nineteenth-century. The north-western part of the factory has probably been restructured around the first years of the eighteenth-century, on the typology of the Tuscan Villa in such age. Further enlargements and embellishments, as coffer ceilings and frescoes, were added during the second half of the nineteenth-century, when the ownership of Poggitazzi became the wedding gift from Melania Libri Graziani to Giovanni Magherini. During this period the agricultural activity is reorganized and promoted, specially for production of wine and oil.

Holidays and Relax in Tuscany

At the centre of the complex, around 150 metres from the villa and the farmstead, there is an agritourism, which was created through the renovation of a large farmhouse built in 1911 called La Fabbrica ('The Factory'). The name derives from its initial use as the site for the processing of all the products made on the farm, which included tobacco, linen, silk, wheat and corn. La Fabbrica was used for this purpose for as long as the farm was managed on a sharecropping basis, and it has now been lovingly renovated and split into a number of rooms and apartments.
The agritourism benefits from a discreet yet welcoming atmosphere, with large indoor and outdoor spaces, immersed in lush landscapes with a wonderful panorama over the valley below.
The apartments have been painstakingly decorated in typical Tuscan style, retaining a sense of tradition while offering every imaginable comfort. Moreover, the agritourism offers large, well-equipped landscaped areas, an outdoor swimming pool, mountain bikes, a barbecue and a ping-pong table.