What to do in Chianti: 12 hours at Villa Le Corti

A journey through cuisine, vineyards, and gardens in the heart of Chianti Classico

What to do in Chianti? We asked our American guest Liam, who stayed with us in June 2025, and he shared his experience at Villa Le Corti, where he spent 12 hours enjoying a variety of activities:

a visit to the Villa’s Gardens restored to their former glory after an extensive renovation;
guided tours of the historic cellars;
Chianti Classico tastings;
a cooking class using zero-kilometer products harvested from the estate’s garden;
aperitif and dinner at Osteria Le Corti

Let yourself be inspired by his story and book your own unique visit in Chianti Classico, as a guest of the Corsini family in San Casciano in Val di Pesa.

From Florence to Villa Le Corti – 10:00 AM

During my stay in Florence, I was also very curious about the surrounding countryside and wondered what I could see in the Chianti region. After doing some research, I discovered Villa Le Corti, owned by the Corsini family—the same name as the street where I’m staying in Florence.
What made me choose it? I love Tuscan cuisine and was eager to take a cooking class with authentic dishes, prepared using ingredients from the estate’s garden and local products.

As soon as I left Florence, in less than half an hour I was already immersed in the countryside of San Casciano in Val di Pesa. Upon arriving in front of the estate’s wine shop, I treated myself to an excellent coffee while waiting for the other participants. Since I had a bit of time, I browsed the shop’s shelves: wine, olive oil, handcrafted goods… it was impossible to leave empty-handed!
Shortly after, Chef Eduardo Perrone arrived, ready to guide us through an experience that already smelled delicious.

Winery & Olive Mill Tour – 10:15 AM

Our first stop is the estate’s winery, a fascinating network of underground rooms spread across three levels. This is where the passion and craftsmanship behind Chianti Classico Principe Corsini wines come to life.

Next is the old olive mill, complete with a traditional “orciaia” press for crushing Chianti olives. The most poetic space? The vinsantaia, where grape bunches hang to dry into Vin Santo Sant’Andrea Corsini.

Kitchen Garden & Italian Garden – 10:45 AM

Continuing our tour, we stride through a corridor that opens unexpectedly onto an elegant Italian garden—geometric box hedges and all. We pass through a rustic wood gate into the kitchen garden, where we gather tomatoes, zucchinis, eggplants, and the crispest lettuce for our cooking lesson. Surrounding us are wild herbs—dandelion, borage—marigolds, and an aromatic ecosystem that reconnects me to nature’s small wonders.

I also discover they practice electro‑culture here—an ancient technique using spirals and pyramids to channel earth’s energy. Clare and her husband Mirko, who tend this biodiversity haven, tell us more. I mentally note to return for one of their workshops.

We pick basil, mint, sage—and even lavender and roses from the Italian garden to decorate and scent the table. The villa’s façade, majestic before us, completes the scene.

Cooking Class in Historic Kitchens – 11:00 AM

Crossing the courtyard and passing beneath a stone‑carved Corsini crest, we descend into the historic kitchens. What a spectacle: a marble sink the size of a bathtub, a fireplace with a Leonardo da Vinci–inspired rotisserie (really!), a wood-fired oven, and flour sifters. Everything feels authentic.

We dive right in: hand‑rolling fresh herb & ricotta ravioli, making pasta with sausage and cherry tomatoes, and finally, a zucchini‑mint risotto.

The mood is convivial and relaxed—yet serious about the cooking. At the end, Chef Eduardo gifts us a small cookbook with all the recipes. Lovely to know I can recreate these dishes at home.

Lunch with Wine & Oil – 1:30 PM

Our hard work pays off: lunch in the same kitchen where we cooked, adorned with fragrant flowers harvested in the morning. Paired with Principe Corsini wines and olive oils, it’s divine. I’m pretty sure I’ll buy a few bottles at the wine shop before I leave!

There are ten of us—maximum for the cooking class. We share our impressions over the dishes we prepared. Simple, honest, delicious.

Monumental Garden Tour – 3:00 PM

After lunch, I say goodbye to the cooking class’ group and take some time for myself. I’ve booked the tour of Villa Le Corti’s gardens, recently reopened after extensive restoration. With a map and audio-guide in hand, I listen to Clotilde Corsini as she tells the estate’s story—her family’s home.

The lawn is vast—11,000 m²—and hides the three‑level cellars underneath. Architect‑painter Santi di Tito designed it. The villa, symmetrically perfect, seems to watch over everything with noble grandeur.

From here, the views stretch east–west across the Pesa and Greve valleys, south to Chianti’s olive groves and vineyards, and north toward San Casciano. I feel like I’m in a waking dream.

Return to the Italian Garden – 3:30 PM

Back in the formal garden, this time through the wrought‑iron gate. I’m drawn to roses, meticulously pruned box hedges, and flowerbeds divided into four quadrants. At each center stands a different tree: apple, olive, persimmon.

Bees hum around lavender; the air is summer‑sweet. I sit on a stone step, doing nothing but basking in sun, nature, and beauty. Clotilde’s voice still whispers in my ears, about how these spaces welcome her family and beloved Maremma sheepdogs daily.

Romantic Gardens Stroll – 4:00 PM

Armed with a good book, I wander gravel paths into the Romantic Gardens—separated from the majestic cypress avenue designed in 1697 by Giovan Battista Foggini. I enter Don Tommaso’s garden, once a bird‑hunting “ragnia,” now an English‑style, flower‑filled wild garden. Restoration based on Corsini archive plans brought the original winding paths back.

I continue down the path to Donna Anna Barberini’s garden, find a shaded bench, sit down, open my book—and let only the cicadas’ song accompany me.

Chianti Classico Aperitif – 6:00 PM

I return to the wine shop for an outdoor aperitif, seated comfortably with sweeping views of the rolling Chianti hills. I order a glass of Principe Corsini Sparkling wine Rosé—sparkling Sangiovese by the Charmat method: fresh, elegant, perfect for sunset.

On the side, a small “coccino” of bread‑and‑herb meatballs. I’d love a cheese & charcuterie board, but I want to save room for dinner—the menu looks too tempting.

Dinner in the Osteria – 7:30 PM

A sudden summer storm drives us to the cellar mezzanine, offering natural cool and atmosphere. The menu is irresistible and the choice tough—but I land on three standout dishes: Chard tartlet with pecorino fondue, Ricotta‑and‑pine‑nut tulip blossoms with fresh tomatoes, Brick‑roasted chicken breast with salad and marinated zucchini. Each paired with a glass of Le Corti Chianti Classico.

The perfect end to a day filled with flavors that made me feel truly at home in this wonderful Chianti estate. If you’re dreaming of a day that blends culinary immersion, garden beauty, and authentic Tuscan hospitality, Villa Le Corti is the place to be.