Palaia
You will be surprised, and will want to come back
Palaia or Palaja as it was called during ancient times, is a medieval town on top of a long hill that runs along the old borders between three historical Tuscan provinces, Pisa in the west, looking towards the Ligurian sea, Florence in the north, looking towards the Appennini mountains and Volterra in the south, facing Chianti.
Palaia was a social and political hub during the Middle Ages. Build in red Tuscan bricks, cotto-tiles and heavy stones, this fortified town, is full of beautiful memories of its Etruscan past. At its heights point, 240 meters above sea level there used to be a castle that was recorded since 986 under the name “Montemagnifridum“. Very few traces of the stone castle as well as of the fortress are still visible, but its location with a view across the Tuscan hills give a distinct impression of an independent and proud place that is filled with mysteries of past tales, stories and legends rooted in the history of old Tuscan folklore.
Surrounded by majestic forests and ancient oak woods the encompassing landscapes, the sceneries and the sunsets are of a rare and untamed beauty that invite you to walk and bike rides.
Today, Palaia is a buzzing and lively place, filled with a good mix of locals and visiting travelers, with a bar, a pub, a takeaway and five restaurants, offering a variety of options, in walking distance from Casa Conte Martini. There are three grocery shops, a butcher shop specialized in Tuscan sausages, prosciutto and salami, four shops with a range of choices of ceramic, artisanal produce and Italian clothes and gifts and a pharmacy. There is nothing you cannot find in Palaia.
A DAY IN PALAIA
Imagine you wake up in the morning and look out of the window to indulge in the beauty of an exceptional view. You take a coffee on the terrace and then scroll to the Chicca bar for a cornetto. You take the bike and go for a ride in the forest. Upon your return you visit the church Pieve di San Martino (1200 AC) located just outside the village walls of Palaia, the Church of Sant’Andrea, the Clock Tower and the Church of Santa Maria in the center.
The pool offers a welcome cool down before heading to lunch in one of the restaurants nearby. In the evening you book a tasting in the Cantina Conte Martini where you have the choice to taste local olive oil, wine, and other delicacies of the area, such as prosciutto, local cheeses and the famous Tuscan dragon chili. And for dinner you can have a barbeque on the terrace overlooking the hills or go for dinner in Palaia or another village nearby.
Visits to the surrounding cities
Florence
Distance: 65 km
Short Description why some one should visit florence
Pisa
Distance: 45 km
Short Description why some one should visit florence
San Gimignano
Distance: 40 km
Short Description why some one should visit florence
Siena
Distance 85 km
Short Description why some one should visit florence