Restored 14th Century Convent in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Recently restored 14th century convent located in Pieve di San Leolino, a short walk from Panzano in Chianti, Italy. Known for its excellent organic wines and olive oil, Panzano is a charming medieval village with shops, wineries and restaurants, and, most famously Dario Checchini, The Butcher of Chianti.

The villa was completely renovated in 2019 by an American family who fell in love with the area in 2016. They bought the villa and began complete renovations to make a family home in the Chianti hills. Focusing on casual comfort, style and the natural beauty of its situation looking towards the hills of Lamole and Volpaia, they brought the villa up to a high standard befitting a demanding clientele.

The interiors have been designed and furnished with a mix of contemporary and antique furniture, in keeping with the style of the restoration. There are 6 large air-conditioned bedrooms, each with its own fully renovated bathroom with large walk-in rain showers (3 have bathtubs as well). All bedrooms have sitting areas for quiet rests or simply relaxing and curling up with a book. The living room is comfortably furnished with plenty of soft cushy sofas for resting out of the sun, there is a media room with a large sofa and theatre seats, and a large sun filled chef’s kitchen for cooking classes or pizza parties.There is also a fully equipped air-conditioned gym. A beautiful courtyard with an ancient fountain provides a lovely space for candlelit, lemon scented al fresco dining.

The estate has extensive olive groves and a vineyard for gentle walks. The villa has been designed around a desire for indulging in the natural beauty of the villa and its surroundings, with naturalistic planting schemes, an abundance of fresh herbs and lavender filling the air with their scent. An infinity swimming pool and cedar hot tub overlook the olive grove (the oil is served throughout the week, and available to purchase); orchards, vegetable gardens and fresh eggs from the chickens are available for your pleasure. We invite you to let the villa embrace you in its heavenly scents and intoxicating charm.

Meals and Produce

Guests are welcome to prepare their own meals at the villa. Should they require additional assistance, housekeeping support is available at €25 per hour, with a minimum of two hours. To ensure a smooth start to each day, the villa kindly asks that the kitchen is left clean and ready for the breakfast team each morning.

The villa produces its own wine from organically grown grapes, as well as delicious extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), which guests are welcome to enjoy and use in their cooking.

The organic honey comes from the villa’s ten beehives, which are carefully tended by the resident beekeepers. Guests are warmly invited to visit the bee area with the beekeepers and observe the fascinating honey-making process up close. For safety, guests are provided with protective suits, making this both an enjoyable and educational experience.

The villa also produces a selection of herbal teas in-house, using herbs grown in the medicinal gardens.

The flourishing vegetable garden and free-range chickens provide fresh, organic produce and delicious organic eggs each day. These seasonal ingredients are expertly prepared by the in-house chefs, creating an authentic farm-to-table culinary experience that celebrates the flavours and produce of the villa.