Villa Saletta in the rolling Tuscany hills is a tranquil luxury haven that will captivate your senses. It is a vast estate comprising a Borgo, vineyards, wine production, agriculture and luxury rental villas.
Arriving at Villa Fagnana, you see the image of a key on the building wall, the symbol of the Pope, the Medici family and their Bankers, the Riccardi family. The Riccardi family owned the estate of Villa Saletta in the 15th century, and as friends of the powerful Medici, you could find yourself walking where the great Leonardo da Vinci strode.
The land has hardly changed since the 15th century apart from the agriculture and increase in wine production that the present owners established.
Fagnana is one Villa within the Villa Saletta estate and is a restored 19th-century farmhouse with an annexe and gorgeous private pool amongst the colourful garden. Fagnana can easily accommodate fourteen people with various-sized bedrooms and the Lemonry annexe.
The views are glorious; any time of the year, you will see wildlife, including deer, porcupines and plenty of birds.
The luxury mentioned is not so much tangible but somewhat spiritual. It is time and peace, surrounded by nature and people you love.
You are encapsulated in the moment, the day and the time you are on the Villa Saletta estate. You are Lord or Lady of the Manor during your stay; the setting and building make you feel special; there are only you and the others with you, enjoying the tranquillity, space, nature, wildlife and much more.
Fagnana has a lovely open-plan downstairs lounge area with an open fire, entertainment appliances, books and more, and plenty of access to the outside through great period-looking doors. On the ground floor, there is a formal dining area where you can take your meals, but a lot of your holiday will be spent outdoors, including eating on the terrace area.
Fagnana has a large kitchen with everything required to prepare and cook wonderful meals. You can buy wine and supplies in advance for when you arrive or get provisions supplied by the Villa Manager Daria daily if that is what you wish.
Daria can arrange for Chefs to cook for your entire stay so you have more of a hotel service experience. It is about how you want to stay in the glorious countryside where birdsong fills the air. You choose to do as much or little as you wish.
The first floor has a smaller lounge area with a TV, comfy sofas and chairs. It means that parties can separate and use both lounges without interfering with each other. Ideal if you have children on the trip. Off this lounge are the bedrooms and bathrooms behind thick doors, so nobody in the lounge disturbs others.
Winemaking
Villa Saletta is an expanding and well-recognised winemaker with distinguished Head Winemaker and estate General Manager David Landini at the helm.
David previously worked for prestige Winemakers and is an established Vintner. He was asked to head wine production for Villa Saletta in 2005 and has not looked back. The estate makes seven wines and plans to open a new Distillery and massively increase the number of hectares of vines.
Landini insists the quality of the wine will still be the most important aspect over the number of bottles produced. Villa Saletta produces five Reds, one Rose and one Sparkling Spumante Rose.
Things to do near Villa Saletta
Wine tasting
At the Villa Saletta Wine Distillery a few miles down the road from Fagnana, you can sample the excellent wines, tour the site and purchase some bottles as you will be sure to want to.
A vastly larger facility with a fine dining establishment will be built in the not-too-decent future.
Truffle Hunting
Villa Saletta will soon be offering the opportunity to truffle hunt on estate land with its own Truffle Hound under the guidance of David, who is currently training the dog. You will venture into the woods and follow the hound to where it sniffs out the gastronomic nuggets, but be quick, or he will eat the delights.
You will hear how Truffles grow and get your hands dirty, getting them out of the ground. It is a thoroughly engaging activity and fun.
Olive Harvesting and Oil Making
The Villa Saletta estate harvests Olives from the thousands of Olive trees adorning its land. The fruit is harvested and turned into oil which can be purchased from several places within the estate. You can learn all about processing and sample the oil.
You may wish to spend all your time at your villa, but plenty of towns and cities are within a short drive if you want to explore.
Pisa
A forty-minute drive from Fagnana, Pisa is famous for the Leaning Tower but offers much more. It is on the coast, with a port and a river running through the city—a beautiful place to explore, shop, eat or take in a coffee and people-watch.
Florence
Florence was a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era. It is considered by many to have been the birthplace of the Renaissance, becoming a major artistic, cultural, commercial, political, economic and financial centre. Lots for you to do in the city and art is all around you.
The city also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti, and still influences art, culture and politics. Florence’s artistic and architectural heritage led Forbes to rank it as the most beautiful city in the world in 2010.
Future Plans
Villa Saletta has a bright future, with the owners planning to develop more of the estate in many ways. A seven-star hotel will be created within the existing structures, which are currently derelict.
The owners are painstakingly ensuring that the developments keep the current building style but will offer the highest modern standards. They will also use sustainable and recycled materials and be low-impact. The Medieval Borgo will be at the heart of the estate once more, with plans to sympathetically return the buildings into accommodation, dining establishments and Spa. The new facilities are due to open in 2028.
Villas
On the Villa Saletta estate, there are two other villas to rent.
Villa Valle (main image and above) on the estate is similar to Fagnana but located in the Valley. A converted farmhouse luxuriously decorated and furnished immediately feels like a home from home.
Valle can sleep up to thirteen in the seven bedrooms it has. In addition to the multitude of bedrooms, you get a vast outdoor pool, hydro massage pool, and an annexe with a kitchen and rooms, ideal if travelling with a Nanny, Au Pair, or a family that may want a bit of space.
Villa Casolare is a three-floor building located on the site of a working farm. It is smaller than the other two villas and sleeps six people across three double rooms. You get a swimming pool, barbeque area, terrace and much more, but staying here is about the location and what it provides.
You get a lot with your Villa rental, including Villa Saletta Wine Estate Welcome, a bottle of wine when you arrive, a Villa Saletta Gourmet Welcome Hamper and a hamper containing local products from local artisans. A chocolate cuddle also awaits you beside your bed. Then you get maid service daily and pool cleaning daily. The toiletries are luxurious Occitane products that smell wonderful and feel fab.
No need to travel with towels or bedding as it is included as is so much more. Daria, David and the team will be at hand to help with any requests.
All three Villas provide the luxuries of privacy, relaxation and a tranquil location. You and the other guests have space to spread out and not be on top of each other. The costs divided by the number of potential occupants work out less expensive than a hotel, and you have the entire property, seclusion, serenity and a sanctuary away from everyday life—a superb option for an unforgettable holiday.
This August has availability which is fantastic for British and American visitors in their summer holiday season and when many Italians are elsewhere. If you would like more information on the estate and its villas, please visit https://villasaletta.com.
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