Things To Do

Take a hands-on cooking class with Tuscan-Chef, Alessandro Piccinini, at the little kitchen in nearby Montisi or at our Villa apartment. Chef Allesandro's cuisine is based on fresh ingredients and utilizes typical Italian cooking techniques. The Tuscan-Chef also offers truffle hunting and week-long cooking classes. If you prefer to skip the cooking class, the Tuscan-Chef [...]

Located in nearby Montisi, Il Barrino Di Zadi Cristina, is a wonderful family-owned restaurant located upstairs above Il Barrino, a local coffee shop/bar. They use fresh local ingredients and have an extensive wine and champagne list. The owner, Gianluca speaks English and is knowledgeable about wine pairings and the food. Free parking is available down the […]

Palio is a medieval-style horse race held twice a year in July and August in Siena. Horses and their jockeys ride bareback, dressed in appropriate colors to represent ten of the seventeen neighborhoods in Siena. The race itself circles the main Piazza, which is filled with a layer of dirt, and runs for a few laps. There […]

Located in nearby San Giovanni d’Asso, Ristorante del Castello is worth the splurge. The restaurant is located in a 16th Century Castle and was recognized by a Michelin Plate (Michelin Guide 2018) for “good cooking and fresh ingredients.” The restaurant is seasonal and generally opens at Easter, so check the website to ensure that the restaurant is open. […]

Visit the quaint town of Pienza, which is famous for Pecorino cheese. Pienza is approximately 15 km/9 mi from Villa Ampella La Torre. It is relatively flat with fabulous views overlooking the Val d’Orcia and many wonderful local shops and restaurants.

Unleash your creative side and take a watercolor class with Landscape Artist Elizabeth Cochrane. Elizabeth is an established artist who moved to Tuscany in 1997 because she found Tuscany to be “a perfect painting environment.” She loves sharing her artistic knowledge and skill and teaches painting classes to people of all ages and abilities in Montisi. 

Christa Fonfara is Jo (our caretaker's) wife. Christa paints portraits, abstracts, landscapes, and much, much more. Visit her nearby studio, buy a painting, commission a painting, or just look around and enjoy a real working artist's studio. Jo is a talented musician and he and Christa also offer afternoons or evenings with Wine & Tuscan [...]

There is a large grocery store, called the COOP, located in Sinalunga, which sells everything you need to live like a local at Villa Ampella La Torre, including Tuscan wines. The COOP is easily accessible and located at Via Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1/R, SINALUNGA (SI), Tel. 0577 679708. (A one Euro coin is needed to access a shopping […]

The Museo del Tartufo is located nearby in San Giovanni d’Asso, in the cellars of the 14th-century Castello di San Giovanni. The museum explores the history of the truffle, (including the legend that it originated from a lightning bolt as well as the actual scientific explanation), and also explores truffle hunting techniques, and various  cooking methods. Parking is […]

Spend the day in Siena, which is a fabulous hill town that is approximately 43Km/27 miles from Villa Ampella La Torre. Siena is filled with a variety of shops, restaurants, and historical sites. For parking follow signs to the Stadio (stadium) and follow the soccer ball signs, which take you to the stadium lot (Parcheggio […]

A family owned winery in Montalcino that is committed to their ancient roots, yet uses modern winemaking techniques. Gianluca Teruzuoli, whose family owns the winery, lives at the vineyard with his wife and young children. The winery tour is informative. The wine tasting includes wines, cheeses, and meats that Gianluca’s wife and father make. Santa Guilia […]

Casato Prime Donne is run by women and produces top rated Brunello wines according to Wine Spectator and others. Located down a drivable dirt road in Montalcino (Località Casato 17 – 53024 Montalcino (SI) – Italy, GPS coordinates: 43.088196° N 11.464319° E), Casato Prime Donne is a little off the beaten path, but worth the trip. Contact the winery to […]