• AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND
• Administrator
• 09.09.2023

TOP 4 TRUFFLE HUNTING NEAR SIENA

Amongst the wide choices of experiences that Siena offers, there is the Truffle Hunting. Siena boasts a variety of restaurants that offer dishes with truffles. Siena and its surroundings also often host truffle festivals, where you can find and taste truffles at a reasonable price. These festivals show local truffle varieties, culinary delights, and cultural events. For instance, the town of San Giovanni d'Asso, located near Siena, hosts an annual White Truffle Festival in November. This festival is a great opportunity to taste dishes prepared with truffles and learn about truffle hunting. In Siena finding a truffle hunt experience it’s super easy! These activities always include truffle hunters that will guide and tour you through the experience. You will be able to walk into the woods not fare from the town with an expericed hunter and his trained dogs that are super smart and adorable. You will learn tips and the techniques of truffle hunting. Afterwards many programs also offer a cooking lab where you can learn how to prepare many  traditional dishes of our region and  how to spice them up with truffles Remember that truffle availability depends on the season and local conditions, so it's a good idea to plan your visit during the truffle season. Borgo Grondaie staff is happy to share with you some of the best truffle hunting experience near Siena:   VILLA TALOSA Villa Talosa is a unique Tuscan residence recently restyled. The property is nestled among the vineyards owned by Fattoria della Talosa where it is produced in famous Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. At Villa Talosa you can experience real truffle hunting with expert truffle hunters and their dogs . It’s a great opportunity to better understand how truffles are born and what they are. Check this amazing place on their website to get your experience with a super reasonable price: talosavilla.it   TRUFFLE HUNT WITH ANTONELLA Antonella is a Tourist Guide of Siena and Province. She’s an enthusiast for wine tasting and oil tasting and she loves sharing moments of discovery with new people everyday. Between the many activities she offers for you there is also the truffle hunt. You will enter near Montisi, in the municipality of Montalcino, inside the woods in search of truffles together with an expert truffle hunter and his adorable dogs. The walk takes about a couple of hours and if lucky, you will find something. During the walk, you will learn all the secrets of the Tuscan truffle, its characteristics, properties, differences, how to store and use them to empower your dishes. Check Antonella’s website to know her better: antonellapiredda.com   ITALIA DELIGHT Enjoy the wonder of truffle hunting with an expert and his dogs. Near Poggibonsi between Florence, Siena and Chianti, you will find a guide that will tour you inside a beautiful and unforgettable experience. The truffle hunt will take place in the woods where the truffle grows and grows wild, in the townships of Colle di Val d'Elsa, San Gimignano, Poggibonsi, Barberino Tavarnelle and San Donato in Poggio depending on the type of truffle. An expert truffle hunter will be waiting for you; who from an early age hunted truffles with his grandfather and then his father. Over the years, he has refined truffle hunting techniques and personally trained his dogs. Check it out! Link here: italiadelight   TENUTA SANTO PIETRO Tenuta Santo Pietro is the beating heart of an agricultural property built in the mid-1400s and designed by Pope Pius II. It covers about 30 hectares in the beautiful Val D'Orcia. Today it is an independent farm with 6 hectares of vineyards and 6 of olive groves. Here you can lose yourself for hours in the splendor of the enchanting landscapes surrounded by silence and nature. Here you can book many experiences to do. One of these is truffle hunting. In this case you will discover the beauty of Val D’Orcia and many tips on how to search, look and use truffles.tenutasantopietro.com  Joining a truffle adventure will be a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the culinary and cultural traditions of the region while enjoying the amazing landscapes of Tuscany. After your journey you will be tired and you’ll need a relaxing shower and some space to rest and recharge your energies and we have the solution for you! Come to Borgo Grondaie to enjoy a wonderful stay in Siena with all its experiences Visit our website to get the best price: hotelsienaborgogrondaie.com

• AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND
• Administrator
• 18.05.2023

VINTAGE SHOPS IN SIENA

You find you are in the heart of Siena during your magical stay. The city with its ancient walls and medieval beauty takes you back in time. Siena is a unique city exactly because the years pass but its beauty is preserved, pure andunchanging. As you wander through the historic streets, there is an air of ancient memories, a treasurechest of memories and memories that echo in the air of the city. If you’re thinking on what to do in Siena during your stay, a perfect activity for an afternoonin the city, if you want to browse the streets and do something a little more extemporaneousthan the classic sights to visit is to go in search of vintage and antique stores. Siena as a city with strong ties to the past offers a wide selection of small shops, ateliersand markets where you can buy clothes, gifts, books, vinyls etc. If you are a passionate collector of antique collectibles, unique and unobtainable clothingitems Siena is the city for you! We at Borgo Grondaie want to help you in your search with some suggestions. Cose senza tempo by Fabrizio Filoni Cose senza Tempo is a store of collectibles. It is located at 106 Via Pantaneto, one of the main streets in the city of Siena known for its youthful atmosphere and many bars where cocktails and aperitifs can be enjoyed. Pantaneto has always been a multicultural and avant-garde area; from nightlife for young people to ethnic food restaurants and antique & second-hand stores. You can find all kinds of collectibles; tea sets, history texts, books, vinyls and CDs etc. at Cose Senza Tempo. Just 5 minutes from Piazza del Campo, stopping even just to have a look is mandatory!!! "My business Cose senza Tempo started in November 2011 from my passion for collecting. In the store you can find collectibles of various genres. Such as vinyl records, comic books, toys, advertising gadgets, signs and tin boxes, vintage postcards, medals, coins and everything about Siena Palio and Contrade." Fabrizio Filoni Galleria Novecento by Emanuele Pianigiani For collectors and art lovers Galleria Novecento is absolutely not to be missed; jewelry,glass and ceramics, unique furniture pieces and paintings in an elegant and beautiful store. It is worth even just looking out for the beauty of the store that almost looks like anexhibition. Galleria Novecento is also located at 63 Pantaneto Street in the historic center. If you’re searching for where to buy paintings and furniture pieces in Siena, other thanvarious vintage collectibles, this place is perfect for your needs! Aloe&Wolf. Vintage since 2004 A true milestone of vintage fashion in Siena. Aloe & Wolf by Alessandra Aloe is a true fashion archive from the dawn of the 1900s until today. Inside the store, located in a side street of Piazza del Campo in Via del Porrione 23, so in the beating heart of Siena you can find unique pieces in the history of fashion. Very important signatures from Courrèges to Yamamoto, Schiaparelli and Prada. A true Sienese excellence in the world of vintage fashion is increasingly important nowadays to rediscover the colors of the past and buy in a conscious and sustainable way. The brand in addition to having a strategic store for its location in the heart of Siena is known and famous abroad precisely for its research and passion for unique high fashion garments. An unmissable stop if you are looking for unobtainable vintage garments and accessories. Atelier second-hand store Moving just outside the walls we are at Via Don Giovanni Minzoni 55, the street leading to the Siena train station. At the intersection with traffic lights that connects Via don Giovanni Minzoni with Ravacciano, Porta Ovile and Via Giuseppe Garibaldi there is a Gelateria; the "Gelateria di Siena," next to it you will find a gate, entering you will find the Atelier; a real hidden gem of clothes, accessories and furnishing treasures all to be discovered. The Atelier is spread over two floors, shoes, handbags, furnishing pieces and unique garments, ceremonial, but also traditional African, Chinese garments, kimonos with unique patterns etc. A beautiful journey into the past, the Atelier is located next to one of the city's historic ice cream parlors. After doing some healthy shopping, dedicate yourself a moment of sweetness to Siena's Gelateria.   After your afternoon spent strolling through the past we at Borgo Grondaie await you for some well-deserved relaxation! Book your stay on the site to secure the best rate! HTTPS://HOTELSIENABORGOGRONDAIE.COM  

• AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND
• Administrator
• 29.04.2023

Live music in Siena

In spite of being a bombshell of art and culture, Siena claims prestigious music academies and live music clubs that offer a year-round calendar full of events. If you are reading this post it is probably because you are looking for where to enjoy live music in Siena. We at Borgo Grondaie have come up with the following options. And All That Jazz The Association known in the area as Siena Jazz is a cultural institution, whose founding members are the City and Province of Siena and the Siena Jazz Association, committed to the promotion, dissemination and teaching of jazz music and its many contemporary derivations. Siena is home to one of the most influential jazz schools in Italy and Europe, bringing jazz musicians and young students from all over the world to the city. Siena Jazz's home is located inside a majestic building in Siena's Fortezza Medicea. Founded as an association in 1977, it was the first non-state musical institution in Italy to be authorized by the MIUR (Ministry of Education and Merit) to issue High Artistic and Musical Education degrees for the achievement of the First Level Academic Diploma, i.e., courses with legal value, equivalent to the first level university degree and therefore legally expendable in the same way, recognized in Italy and throughout the European Union. The school is a member of I.A.S.J. (International Association of Schools of Jazz), an association based in the Netherlands (The Hague) that includes the most important jazz schools in the world. In addition to promoting jazz music in Siena, the association is involved in teaching, research and production, equipped with a vast archive of textual and audiovisual sources in the jazz scene. Every year in the summer during the academy's summer seminars the city's squares buzz with Jazz with concerts in every corner! Walking through the Medici Fortress where the Academy is based, the background for breathtaking sunsets is never lacking! From the large windows overlooking the Medici fortress walls it is likely to hear young musicians at work. The calendar of summer seminars in July and August, which take place in the heart of the city in the most atmospheric locations during the summer months, can be found online at the following link: https://www.sienajazz.it/ Chigiana Music Academy Another important foundation in the Sienese and international music scene is the Chigiana Music Academy with its seat in Palazzo Chigi Saracini, a stone's throw from Siena Cathedral in the beating heart of the city. The origins of the ancient residence date back to the middle of the 13th century. In 1770 the palace was acquired by the Saracini family, which carried out extension work. The last heir of the family was Guido Chigi Saracini in 1906. The Accademia Musicale Chigiana officially opened its master classes in 1932. From 1932 to the present, their concert activity covers the entire year, both in the Concert Hall in the Palace and in picturesque locations in and around Siena. Information on master classes and concerts open to the public can be found at the link below: https://www.chigiana.org/miv_2022-2023/ Un Tubo Jazz Club In the heart of the historic center a few steps from Piazza del Campo behind a narrow alley you will find a wonderful place that hosts many artists every night! "Un Tubo" Jazz Club offers Jazz concerts and more throughout the week with a rich and varied programming, accompanied by the bar that offers an excellent selection of Cocktails and drinks. Link: http://www.untubo.com/ Bottega Roots Still two minutes from Piazza del Campo, walking down Via di Pantaneto, one of the liveliest streets of restaurants, bars and clubs you will find Bottega Roots; bistro offering a selection of food and drinks in the company of live music events of all kinds. Link: https://www.instagram.com/bottegaroots/ Italian Opera Siena To Opera lovers we propose Italian Opera Siena, which offers concerts featuring the most famous arias from the best-known Italian Operas at the Auditorium Santo Stefano alla Lizza in Piazza La Lizza, 1 in Siena from April to October every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. A special atmosphere created by the professionals who take turns at each concert. Each performance begins at 9:15 p.m. and ends more or less before midnight. An appetizer will be served during the intermission. More information can be found at the following link: https://www.italianoperasiena.com/   These are just a few of the live music experiences offered in town. At Borgo Grondaie you can get updates on the shows featured in Siena during the dates of your stay that you can book directly from our website to ensure you get the best offer https://hotelsienaborgogrondaie.com

• AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND
• Administrator
• 06.03.2023

FROM SIENA TO VAL DI MERSE BETWEEN ALPACAS, VILLAGES AND HOT SPRINGS BATH

Siena is a little gem of art and culture located among the magnificent Tuscan hills. As you move away from the historic center, you will encounter natural wonders, breathtaking views, villages to be discovered, green trails for hiking or biking, natural hot springs and even trekking with Alpacas. Did you know. That's why we have come up with an itinerary tailored just for you to do in one day starting from Siena. ALPACA TREKKING NEAR SIENA Just a few kilometers from the historic center of Siena you will find the Fattoria Pernici Di Pernici Virginia farm. The first educational farm to offer activities with Alpacas in a young, familiar and unique setting. To welcome you there will be Virginia, a very young girl who with her own hands has created a fun and magical space suitable for young and old! The Alpaca trekking trails that the Farm offers are experiential workshops aimed at respecting natural ecosystems. Walking with Alpacas will allow you to slow down your rhythm and enjoy the natural landscape in a different way, to stop often to get in tune with the animal and the surrounding landscape, generating a kind of itinerant therapy. How to get to Pernici Farm: From Borgo Grondaie just take the Florence-Siena freeway link road in the direction of SS73 to Siena. Take the Siena Ovest exit from SS674, Continue on SS73. Take Str. Grossetana in the direction of Str. di Fogliano in La Bicocca (Estimated time 20 min.) Reservation Required Contact Address: Strada di Fogliano 34, Siena Tel: +39 3404053952 Email: FATTORIAPERNICI@GMAIL.COM Site: https://fattoriapernici.it/ TASTY LUNCH BREAK IN VAL DI MERSE After your hike with these lovely friends and before continuing your excursion among the wonders of Tuscany, we offer you a lunch break. For a quick break continue on the SS223 state road toward Grosseto and you will arrive at "Il Doccio," a real must on the road. Il Doccio is a service area that has become famous for the bar that has boasted historicity and fame for years. The business takes its name from the ancient and namesake "Osteria del Doccio." It was founded by the Petrini brothers, Alfiero and Mauro, in the late 1960s. Here you can enjoy sandwiches stuffed with the best Tuscan cold cuts and cheeses; in particular, the Bar Restaurant and Pizzeria section of the service area is known for the renowned "Porchetta del Doccio" cooked in a wood-fired oven, to be enjoyed with fresh bread and a good glass of wine, beer or a nice iced tea. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a real Restaurant in a charming location in the countryside we suggest "L'Ocio Giulivo Agri Ristorante ed Enoteca di Vini Naturali Toscani" just 5 minutes from Fattoria Pernici. The Restaurant offers a cuisine made of revisited traditional dishes, goose meat, fresh pastas and traditional soups linked to the tasting of selected natural wines. After your lunch break you are ready for the second part of the trip! Take the highway again, or for the locals of Siena "the road to the sea," and choose one of our suggestions, or both! (Read all the way through this post and you'll see why) DISCOVER AN ETRUSCAN BEAUTY: MURLO From Doccio, turning slightly back on the state road you will find a fork in the road, taking the exit for Fontazzi on Provincial Road 33 in 15 minutes you will arrive in Murlo, a treasure trove of nature and Etruscan beauty. Once you arrive, you can visit the Castle of Murlo, the temporal power of the Curia Senese, surrounded by walls that are still visible. Inside you will find the Church of S. Fortunato and the Bishop's Palace of Murlo, home to the Etruscan Museum. The Antiquarium of Poggio Civitate (archaeological museum of Murlo) is housed inside the ancient Bishop's Palace; it is located in the center of the small village, a medieval castle overlooking the Crevole stream, a tributary of the Ombrone River. Murlo's archaeological museum houses unique evidence of Etruscan civilization from the surrounding area. Reservations are required for the visit, which can be made at: https://www.museisenesi.org/museo/antiquarium-di-poggio-civitate-museo-archeologico/#info The museum is open during the period from April to September. Vescovado di Murlo (SI) Photo by Barbara Geratz:  HTTPS://FLIC.KR/PS/YTWLE AFTERNOON HOT SPRINGS BATH IN THE LANS OF SIENA Returning to State Route 223 in the direction of Grosseto, you can enjoy a peaceful afternoon in the natural pools of Bagni di Petriolo. On the border between the provinces of Grosseto and Siena, Petriolo is one of the most important spa resorts in Tuscany. We are in the Ombrone Valley, along the course of the Farma River, between the towns of Civitella Paganico and Monticiano. You can choose between the Terme di Petriolo spa in Monticiano and the free Bagni di Petriolo spa along the river bank. A well-known destination throughout Italy, young people and families gather for Sunday barbecues, hiking and a hot bath. On weekends Bagni di Petriolo bustles so we recommend you go from early afternoon or late evening for a more relaxing atmosphere. You can often find stands offering Street Food, small craft vendors with organic products (jams, honey etc.) Photo by Christa Lohman: HTTPS://FLIC.KR/P/IZJ83E NATURAL HOT SPRINGS UNDER THE STARS If, on the other hand, you chose to spend the afternoon in Murlo, you can opt for an overnight visit to the Bagni di Petriolo free hot springs. That's why we said you could do both of our proposals-Murlo and the hot springs. You'll be ready to enjoy the steaming pools under a starry sky, a sweet, romantic-if you're in company-and a little wild in contact with nature. Very important is that you are equipped with a flashlight and sportswear and, we recommend, leave your belongings in the car except for the essentials.   At this point the trip has come to an end and it is time to return to Siena.We are sure you will return very satisfied to Borgo Grondaie.   We will be waiting for you! You can book your stay directly from our website to get the best price: WWW.HOTELSIENABORGOGRONDAIE.COM    

• AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND
• Administrator
• 22.03.2022

Biking Experience in Siena

Why Siena so famous in the world of international cycling? So let's take a Biking Experience in Siena Maybe it's for the most compelling race that opens the season the first weekend of March: the stradebianche or for the famous Eroica, first weekend of October, a unique competition with vintage bikes and Nostalgic atmospheres of cycling's great champions. The fact remains that in recent years they have become unmissable events for all bike lovers who, unlike many other competitions, have the chance to cycle the same routes throughout the year in Siena and in its surroundings. So, come on, you just have to organise a weekend of biking experience in Siena. Spring is definitely the best time of year, when the longer days combined with a not-too-hot temperature make an easy game. If we then add the beauty of the Crete Senesi and the Val d'Orcia in this season, even your pics will be amazing! The Hotel is the most important choice in order to optimise time.Borgo Grondaie Siena is strategically located just a few kilometres from both Chianti and the Crete Senesi. So you will cycle in the very heart of Tuscany, making easier reaching the most beautiful roads. Moreover you might have the chance to do different itineraries in several days without changing hotel. In addition to this, you won't need your car to get to Siena, because you can reach the city centre  on foot in just 20 minutes walk. Not all hotels are Bike Hotels. So choose the right one if your want to enjoy a biking experience in Siena Borgo Grondaie can offer  several services to cyclists in order to make their stay more comfortable. You will enjoy a closed garage where you can store your bike, a full equipment for small repairs, a bike washing area, spacious parking within the property and a self-service laundromat with washing machines and dryer. For groups of friends or families, we can offer Apartments that also include breakfast. Our Apartments can accommodate up to 5 people and are equipped with kitchenettes and the nearest supermarket is only 200 metres away.  At Borgo Grondaie it is also possible to rent Bianchi E-BIKES available for our guests for a full or half day. Anima Toscana is an agency in Siena specialised in Slow Travel which has been operating for years in the rental service and organisation of bike tours in Tuscany. For those who want to have fun without having to think about the organisational part, relying on an expert bike guide could be the ideal solution. Anima Toscana offers bike tours as well as rental bikes and a specialised assistance. That's a great idea for a biking Weekend in Tuscanu with no worries, isn't it? For the most adventurous who want to explore the surrounding of Siena, beyond the famous Eroica and Strade Bianche routes, we recommend visiting the Stradedisiena website.https://stradedisiena.it/en/tuscany-bike-routes/ This is a great help to make the most of your biking experience in Siena Many routes to discover the beauties of our region, some easier just outside the walls of Siena, others more challenging reserved to more experts bikers. Each itinerary is described in detail, with information on length, height difference, gradient and type of bike (road, gravel, mountain bike or downhill). Yes, because the best side of cycling on the roads of Siena is that you can challenge yourself on roads that are always different but surrounded by amazing views. Certainly the basis of such a beautiful and healthy sport there is a great passion for cycling and the satisfaction of saying, "I was there on the #stradebianche or #eroica roads" is priceless! We look forward to seeing you ride on the world's most beautiful roads here in #Tuscany! Don't forget to take a look at our very best offer www.hotelsienaborgogrondaie.com Hotel Borgo GrondaieBike Hotel Siena  

• AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND
• Administrator
• 12.07.2021

CHIANTI CASTLES TOUR

How about discovering amazing places in Tuscany?With Chianti Catles tour you will see the best of Chianti landscape as well as testing great wines. Siena is located in a strategic position to visit the castles, whichever route you want to choose (SP408 or SP222). We have created two possible Chianti Castles Tour itineraries, inspired by a collection made by the town of Gaiole in Chianti. ROUTE 1: STRADA CHIANTIGIANA SP408, admiring vineyards and castles. Leaving Siena towards Gaiole in Chianti, there are so many castles you can’t miss visiting. First and foremost, the fascinating Castello di Brolio, built by Langobards, then bought by the Ricasoli family in 1141. It is situated halfway between Siena and Florence, and it was one of the main places where their battles took place. Brolio can be visited through one of the many tours provided. Visiting the gardens does not require a reservation, but the other tours do. We suggest you do the “Sunset tour” which includes a guided tour of the gardens and the castle and a dinner at the local Osteria. Castello di Meleto : founded in 1200, it played a great role within the battles between Guelfs and Ghibellines. It is possible to visit the rooms decorated with wall paintings and an ancient “Teatrino” which dates back to 1700. Underneath the castle there’s the wine cellar, where you can do a wine tasting featuring a mix of local cold-cuts and cheese. Castello di Spaltenna: Nowadays this castle houses a five-star hotel and three restaurants. Il Pievano, Stella Michelin 2017, it is very elegant, where the visitors can do a proper wine and food tour. La Terrazza, on the other hand, it offers a breathtaking view on the gardens and the vineyards of the castle. L’Osteria, open at dinner only, it is a place where the elegance of the Pievano meets the traditional Tuscan cuisine. Badia a Coltibuono: You can spend a night in this charming castle and then try the menu of the famous  Ristorante di Badia a Coltibuono. Its menu being very influenced by the traditional Tuscan cuisine but with a creative spin. ROUTE 2: STRADA CHIANTIGIANA SP222, a taste of Chianti Classico. First stop: Castello di Fonterutoli, very close to Castellina in Chianti. Between 1202 and 1208 it was the place where many treaties were signed by the two rival towns. It is known for its historical importance, but also for its wine, the worldwide famous “Chianti Classico”. Moreover, Fonterutoli  is the place of birth of the DOP Extra Virgin Olive Oil Chianti Classico. Castello di Ama: this castle is located in one of the most charming zones of Chianti. It offers guided tours (booking compulsory) but wine tasting tours as well. Everyday but Tuesday you can enjoy your meal at “Ristoro di Ama”, wine bar which offers Tuscan dishes and Chianti Classico. Castello di Vertine: This castles is mentioned for the first time in an historical document in 1013. In 1202 it was bought by the Ricasoli family. Inside the walls you can visit the Torre di Vertine and the San Bartolomeo Church. Siena is in a perfect position for everyone who wants to visit the Chianti Castles, whether taking the SP222 or SP408.  Hotel Borgo Grondaie , located at just 1,5 km from the city center, is the best choice for visitors who travel by car, since they can use our parking lot for free. Check out our offers directly on our website www.hotelsenaborgogrondaie.com  Hope to meet you soon! Borgo Grondaie Staff