Holiday apartment in Toiano: castle, villa and green hills

Toiano lies among green hills in a landscape that appears unchanged over time. Scattered, well-restored farmhouses are just as much a part of the local character as distinctive complexes with towers, walls and courtyards. Those who choose a holiday apartment in Toiano will find a place where landscape and architectural heritage meet within a small area.

Holiday apartment in Toiano between village character and history

The Villa di Toiano is part of the local context: it lies on the boundary between the municipality of Siena and the municipality of Sovicille, to which it belongs. This location brings together two municipal affiliations without diminishing Toiano’s independent character. When planning your trip, you can therefore focus on different aspects – from the village and its hilly landscape to individual historic buildings.

Castello Poggiarello and Palazzaccio di Toiano

Castello Poggiarello was later transformed from a fortress built to defend the surrounding land and store the harvest into an aristocratic residence. Its defensive architecture can be seen in a crenellated tower with a sloping base and in a lower, also crenellated section of the building with several preserved embrasures. The castle stands along the road connecting Caldana with San Giusto a Balli.

Palazzaccio di Toiano has been documented since the 15th century, although some of its structural elements are considerably older. The complex includes a very tall stone tower with a sloping base, lower buildings and sections of wall enclosing a courtyard. Particularly striking is a large square portico supported in the centre by a substantial brick pillar and opening onto four brick cross vaults.

Villa Chigi, frescoes and a chapel

The Villa Chigi in Toiano also brings together different periods. It was built in the 17th century and preserves frescoes from 1707 inside. In the garden of Castello Poggiarello there is also a chapel dedicated to Saint Augustine, built in 1558. Details like these make the village interesting for visitors who want to discover not only the landscape during their stay, but also architectural forms and preserved interiors.

Cycling route between Caldana and Toiano

The route “In bicicletta tra pievi, ville e castelli” includes an almost entirely traffic-free circular route in the area between Caldana and Toiano. From the outset, the route connects several of the themes that define Toiano: rural surroundings, historic buildings and movement through the hilly landscape. When planning your day, the circular route can be treated as a focus in its own right alongside sightseeing and exploring the village.

Tastings and personal trip planning

For tastings, Fattoria Poggiarello offers the option to register at its estate in Poggiarello di Toiano. This adds a culinary element to the historical and landscape impressions. When choosing your holiday apartment or accommodation, you can use these different interests as personal criteria: Should your days focus primarily on architecture, a cycling tour, the hilly landscape or a tasting? Toiano offers several clearly identifiable themes without requiring them to be combined into a single programme.

You can find more places for planning your trip at Fonterutoli, Siena, Sinalunga, Monteriggioni, Radicondoli, San Gimignano, Anqua and La Fratta.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Siena.