CASTELLO GINORI DI QUERCETO, AN ENCHANTING HAMLET IN THE HEART OF THE VAL DI CECINA AREA

Castello Ginori di Querceto stands perched on a hill in the heart of the Val di Cecina between Volterra and the Etruscan Coast. This historical residence is an enchanting medieval village whose rich and lengthy history has been inextricably intertwined for over three centuries with the equally eventful story of the family of the Marquises Ginori Lisci, who are renowned worldwide for their exquisite Ginori porcelain. The hamlet is encircled by the family estate, with 1,300 hectares of unspoilt woodland, 700 hectares of arable land and 16 hectares of vineyards. This magical place, ideal for nature lovers and those seeking a truly relaxing holiday, has a special and truly unique and atmosphere, offering absolute peace and tranquillity to its visitors, who can enjoy countryside walks, mountain bike rides and, on fine days, visits to the seaside, which is about 25 minutes away. It is also perfectly positioned for visiting the well-known – and the less well-known – cultural and artistic sites of Tuscany, such as Pisa, Florence, Siena, Volterra, San Gimignano, Massa Marittima, Bolgheri and the many other charming villages in the Val di Cecina valley.

There are 10 holiday apartments dotted around the hamlet and Ginori Castle, providing sleeping accommodation for 2 to 8 guests, which can be rented weekly or for a minimum of 3 nights between Easter and October. The apartments at Castello Ginori di Querceto have been fully restored, with the aim of preserving the cosy, welcoming style of a country house, that is prevalent in the holiday agritourism farmhouses in the Tuscan region. The most distinctive feature of this ancient hamlet is its total authenticity, as seen in the stone used to construct the ancient houses, the smiles of the local Quercetani residents, the small piazzas and the pristine natural landscape all around. It is as though time has stood still in this alluring spot, far removed from the frenzy of modern life, a world of forgotten scents and sounds, of sunsets and astoundingly beautiful views, which can be admired from the windows of our holiday homes. The ‘La Locanda del Sole’ restaurant in the picturesque village square offers delicious typical dishes from the local area and, weather permitting, it is possible to dine outdoors. Just below the village, in a field surrounded by olive trees, guests have a lovely 18 m x 6 m swimming pool at their disposal.

Inside the hamlet, it is possible to visit the wine cellars of the 'Marchesi Ginori Lisci' family winery and taste their top-quality wines and excellent extra virgin olive oil at the ‘Dispensa del Castello’ castle shop. During the summer months, the village of Querceto hosts exhibitions, concerts, open-air performances and courses in painting, yoga and cooking.

THE HISTORY OF CASTELLO GINORI DI QUERCETO

Castello Ginori di Querceto is an ancient fortified village in the Volterra area, nestled on the slopes of Monte Aneo, at the heart of the extensive farm estate that bears the same name. The origins of the hamlet date back to the year 1000, when it belonged to the church of Massa Marittima. At the end of the 12th century, the Bishop of Massa surrendered his rights over the village to the Abbot of San Pietro in Palazzuolo in Monteverdi. In 1208, Querceto was ceded to the Municipality of Volterra, along with other castles in the Val di Cecina area, including Canneto, Micciano, Libbiano, La Sassa, Serrazzano and Monterufoli. At that time, Querceto held considerable importance both for its military power and for its abundant subterranean natural resources: primarily 'moie', natural springs or sources of water that contained a significant amount of dissolved salt, but also various minerals such as silver, copper and mercury, along with vitriol and alum, which were highly sought-after commodities on the international markets in the Middle Ages. After two centuries marked by armed conflicts and uprisings in the Volterra area, the Castle was occupied in 1430 and sacked by the troops of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan.

Subsequently, in 1447, Querceto was conquered by the troops of Alfonso of Aragon, the King of Naples, who had gone to war against Florence. The 16th century was marked by Florentine domination; in fact, following the conquest of Volterra by the Florentines, the inhabitants of Querceto swore allegiance to the Signoria lords of Florence. During this period, 1543 to be precise, the noble Lisci family of Volterra made their home in Querceto. In 1786, the last descendant of the Lisci family, Francesca, married Marquis Lorenzo Ginori. The arrival of the Ginori family marked the end of a bleak period for Querceto, which had previously been marked by famine, poverty and the misgovernment of the decadent Medici dynasty. In 1814, Carlo Leopoldo inherited the Querceto estate from his mother Francesca; the land and Castle have remained in the Ginori family ever since. Carlo implemented numerous innovations in terms of the farming systems and increasing the yield of the land. He was particularly committed to promoting livestock farming and to improving the quality of the breeds they raised. In 1834, he had a bridge built over the Cecina River in the locality of Tegolaia, in the village of recent construction which is now known as Ponteginori, connecting the Querceto estate with the Val di Cecina road.

In the 20th century, Lorenzo and his son Leonardo further boosted agricultural development, helping to transform the Querceto estate into a model and highly renowned agricultural farm. In recent years, the hamlet has been progressively restored, seeking to preserve the original structure as much as possible. During the renovation, several apartments with simple yet characteristic styles have also been created, which are available for holiday rentals.

FACILITIES AND SERVICES AT CASTELLO GINORI DI QUERCETO

Amenities at Castello Ginori di Querceto include:

• Swimming pool (16m x 8m)
• Guided tour of the village and our wine cellar - by appointment
• Tour of the Castle hall - by appointment
• Tasting of our wines and olive oil at our ‘enoteca’ shop
• Cooking classes
• Painting classes offered at certain times of the year
• Restaurant serving Tuscan cuisine
• Small grocery shop selling basic provisions.

Art exhibitions, concerts, and open-air shows are organised during the summer.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN THE VICINITY

Volterra, Pisa, Siena, Bolgheri, Massa Marittima, Larderello, Populonia, Casale Marittimo, Suvereto.