Casa Gedeone - Grand Canyon of Tuscany - Castelfranco Piandiscò

In the historical centre of Castelfranco di Sopra we find 'Casa Gedeone' so called in memory of the Florentine ancestor of the family that has owned it for five generations. The present house is part of a larger palace, divided and restored over the centuries. Castelfranco, awarded as one of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in Italy' thanks to its particular urban and architectural structure designed by Arnolfo di Cambio according to the scheme of the Roman castrum, is located in the upper part of Valdarno, on a plateau bordered by the Pratomagno mountains and the valley of the Arno river. The village is surrounded by the typical Tuscan hilly landscape with olive groves and vineyards. What makes it unique is that it is built above 'le Balze', natural reliefs composed of sand, clay, pebbles and gravel that create a unique natural setting. The result is a natural spectacle that fascinates every traveller. The landscape is constantly changing and the combinations of colours that occur throughout the day, in every season, are infinite. A fairy landscape, which Leonardo da Vinci reproduced in the background of the Madonna of the Rocks and, it is thought, the Mona Lisa.
Castelfranco is a small town located along the ancient Etruscan route that connected Arezzo to Fiesole, which was later paved by the Romans and became part of the Cassia Vetus consular road and the town centre began to develop. Over the centuries there is evidence, from some structures found outside the centre of the village, of the passage of the Longobards, but the greatest importance the village will have was under the Republic of Florence, which in 1299 decided to transform the village into a military outpost and as a commercial hub for the routes that connected the territory of the Republic to Arezzo.
Casa Gedeone is located in one of the main streets of the village and supermarkets, pizzerias, shops, banks and all the main services are within walking distance. Walking (trekking and hiking), cycling or horseback riding are the best ways to discover places and panoramic views around the village. The Balze Natural Area (with paths starting just outside the village), the via Setteponti, and the hamlets upstream from the village are the main destinations in which to venture and be enchanted by the landscape. Castelfranco di Sopra is located in the centre of Tuscany, in a strategic position between Florence, Arezzo and Siena. From here, it is possible to reach by car: Pian di sco' 4 km, Figline Valdarno with railway station, San Giovanni and Loro Ciuffenna village that is one of the "Borghi più belli d'Italia" 10 km, Incisa Valdarno with motorway exit 14 km, Montevarchi with Prada outlet and Terranuova Bracciolini 15 km, Leccio with its outlet where you can find the most famous brands of clothes 19 km. It is possible to visit the famous hills and villages of the Chianti 'Black Rooster' such as Greve in Chianti 28 km, Gaiole in Chianti 29 km, Radda in Chianti 33 km, Panzano in Chianti 36 km, Castellina in Chianti 43 km. What is special about these towns is that you will be able to taste the finest wines and sample typical Tuscan products, visit museums but above all be fascinated by the splendid views that characterise these areas. Of no less importance are the most important cities in Tuscany such as Florence, a city known the world over for its monuments, its "open air" museums and its good food and located 41 km away, Arezzo where the "Giostra del Saracino", an important medieval re-enactment, takes place twice a year (the penultimate Saturday of June, at night and the first Sunday of September, during the day) 44 km, Siena the city of the "Palio" (2 July and 16 August) 68 km away.
To be paid on booking: €20 per day for heating from 08 November to 07 April.
The property has free wifi. A damage deposit of 1000EUR has to be paid locally for groups under 21.