TENUTA BOSSI IN PONTASSIEVE

Tenuta Bossi is the most important estate of the noble Florentine Gondi family, of whom there are records dating back to the 13th century. It was acquired by the family in 1592 and spans 315 hectares, of which 19 are vineyards and 32 comprise olive groves, woodland and cereal crops. It is located in the heart of Chianti Rùfina, a renowned wine-growing area that has been in existence since the Renaissance period, 18 km away from Florence.

In the second half of the 18th century, Niccolò Antonino Gondi enlarged the Villa and embellished it with Baroque decorations. The small pre-existing chapel was transformed into a fully-fledged church featuring three altars. In the mid-1800s, Villa Bossi was restored by Maria De Labruguière Gondi, a French noblewoman who moved to the countryside with her two children after becoming a widow. In addition to having the central hall built, she had the Villa raised by one floor and expanded the cellars by constructing a large room beneath the garden which was then equipped for winemaking. This room can be accessed via a staircase leading from the ageing rooms. She also created a vast park with Lebanese cedars.

The ground floor of the Villa, together with the park where the Lebanese cedars stand, is an ideal venue for corporate events, weddings, meetings, conferences, fashion shows and film sets. We organise guided tours of the centuries-old wine cellar and the olive oil mill. Visitors can taste and purchase the wines and olive oil.

The estate also offers farmhouse accommodation, consisting of 7 finely renovated apartments containing a range of 2 to 12 beds (46 beds in total). All the apartments are equipped with Wi-Fi, a private garden, barbecue facilities and parking.

THE HISTORY OF TENUTA BOSSI

Villa Bossi in Pontassieve, which has been in their possession since 1592, is one of the Gondi family’s most important estates. Originally belonging to the Tolomei family, the residence was purchased by Bartolomeo di Bernardo Gondi for the princely sum of 7,500 lire. In the second half of the 18th century, under Niccolò Antonino Gondi, the Bossi Villa was extensively rebuilt, expanded and enriched with sumptuous Baroque decorations. The small pre-existing chapel was converted into a bona fide church featuring three altars, with a large working organ operated by bellows, lateral choir stalls – one for the family and one for the servants – and a large sacristy at the back of the church. This holy place is the burial ground of all the Gondi family members who have lived in the Villa since that time. The general appearance of the grand residence has been handed down for posterity in a drawing made by Raffaello Paganelli (1744-1810).

The two projecting wings of the villa enclosed a central courtyard opening towards the valley, which was later converted into a large hall. A double-flight staircase, which no longer exists, used to lead to the main elevated ‘piano nobile’ floor upstairs.

Villa Bossi then took on a more important role in family life, when during the mid-19th century it was restored and transformed, closing off the central courtyard opening towards the valley, by Francesco Gondi’s young widow, Maria De Labruguière, a French noblewoman who had not adapted very well to living in the city of Florence at the time and who preferred to spend most of her time in the country villa, together with her two sons. In addition to having the central hall built, Maria had the Villa raised by one floor and expanded the cellars by constructing a large room beneath the garden which was then equipped for winemaking. This room was accessed via a long staircase branching off the ageing rooms. She had the entire cellar partially sunk underground to maintain a more stable temperature during both the winter and summer months and created a large park, planting Lebanese cedar trees and a large number of holly oaks, as well as an Italianate-style garden at the front of the villa.

The Villa and Estate now belong to Bernardo and his sister Donatella, and together with Bernardo's children, the family continues to produce wine and olive oil, and to organise private events, weddings and guided tours.

FACILITIES AND SERVICES: FARMHOUSE ACCOMMODATION, WEDDINGS AND PRIVATE EVENTS IN THE CHIANTI REGION

Tenuta Bossi provides:

Guided tours of the historic cellars

Wine and olive oil tastings from our own production

Accommodation in our 7 ‘agritourism’ farmhouse apartments

Private events

All prices for these services to be agreed with the owners.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN THE VICINITY

Tenuta Bossi is located in the heart of Chianti Rùfina, just 18 km from the centre of Florence, where it is possible to visit a wealth of Renaissance treasures. It is also about 10 km from Fiesole, which is famous for its Roman theatre. The entire Val di Sieve valley is well worth visiting, however, as it abounds in castles, villas and churches from many different eras. Notable landmarks include Castello del Trebbio, the Church of the Madonna del Sasso and the Vallombrosa Benedictine Abbey.