It’s 05:50 AM. The moon plays the role of the sun for a while, its incandescent light casting a pale hue over the slumbering mythological heart of Chianti Classico, a region that has drawn foreigners, particularly the English, who have so famously settled here that it’s been nicknamed “Chiantishire.” Here, in Greve in Chianti, the fleeting early morning breeze carries the sweet whip of lavender—a scent as timeless as the history it overlooks. In the distance, bells ring a song from a neighbouring village, and a train whistles on its way to Florence.
Then comes the crow of a rooster (perhaps a descendant of the legendary gallo nero whose call, eight centuries past, started the knights’ race that forged these borders) and a rustling from the ancient olive grove—perhaps it’s a cinghiale (wild boar), or perhaps it is the echo of those long-ago riders, still chasing the dawn. And to think that this villa, Villa Poggio alle Corti, has stood witness through it all: the medieval clashes of Florence and Siena, the plagues and prosperities, and the enduring peace that eventually took root. If only these Albanese stone walls could talk…but perhaps they do, and we just need to look closer.
These farmhouse chalkstone bricks, slathered together: flat, round, red, white, almost in an arch of necessity, tell a story of making do, and doing more with less with what the land is capable of providing. A love of the functional. A profound sense of place. A genius loci, that is immediately perceived upon entering the villa. The same spirit that called Canadian/American entrepreneur, Kevin Anderson, together with his wife Jamie and their four children to purchase the property and become stewards of its history and share it with discerning travellers in search of refuge from the uproar of modern life, looking for equilibrium, independence, inspiration or just a hideaway from the noise in the land of Chianti wine, Pecorino Toscano, and Vin Santo: The “holy wine” of Tuscany.
For Kevin, the pull was the culmination of a life fabric was natural. His passion for agriculture, the power of story, and the pursuit of knowledge, are now channeled into his stewardship of Poggio alle Corti. The historic estate, which dates back to the 11th century, spans 14 hectares (35 acres) and includes 830sqm (9,000 square feet) of living space, generously accommodating up to 18 guests across 9 elegant and unique bedrooms. Built in circa 1000 AD, the villa merges seamlessly into the Chianti hills.
Be advised, that getting there is your first soiree into authentic Tuscan agritourism living. The final approach to the villa is via a classic, unpaved Tuscan road, or strada sterrata. The bumpy, winding ascent is a trade-off—a brief, jostling journey that effectively separates the modern world from the profound seclusion that awaits atop the hill. It’s a consideration for those with sports cars or mobility concerns, but one that makes the eventual arrival feel all the more like discovering a hidden world.
Villa Poggio alle Corti was the last of thirty properties the Andersons looked at, and it immediately stood out. “It checked all the boxes,” Kevin recounts. The most profound box was its palpable history. “It’s ancient. A thousand years old… and it still has some of the original stonework.” Its stone walls mounted with San Francesco, a putto, (Tuscan cherub), hints playfully at the centuries of life contained within—a continuity that resonates deeply with a historian’s soul.
The renovation was a delicate act of preservation. “We really wanted to retain as much of the historic elements as possible,” Kevin emphasizes. The master bedroom terrace commands a vista that has inspired a millennium of inhabitants. Kevin often contemplates this continuity, “I love thinking about the impermanence of humanity… to think that people for a thousand years have enjoyed those floors and those beams and enjoyed that view over the valley.”
This deep connection to the environment is a special rapport that harks back to his roots. The estate is a self-sufficient ecosystem, producing its own Chianti Classico and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. “We really wanted a place with a vineyard and olive grove,” he says.
This represents a return to the soil he knew as a boy, albeit transposed to a sun-drenched Italian realm. The home’s interior tells a story of thoughtful contrast. The generously proportioned kitchen, where fabulous meals are created for alfresco lunches under the pergola, is anchored by the Tuscan kitchen’s professional appliances, a masterful fusion of functionality and bold, crafted design that perfectly mirrors the villa’s own blend of rustic charm and modern luxury.
The act of cooking here is transformed from a chore into a sensory ritual, a collaboration with history itself. In this generously proportioned kitchen, you are not merely preparing a meal; you are engaging with tradition. Under the watchful gaze of ancient, chestnutwood beams—each one hand-hewn and dark with the patina of a thousand fires and countless shared conversations—the modern kitchen’s functionality feels both a privilege and a natural progression.
Your ingredients rest on a cool, expansive slab of Carrara marble, its elegant veining a stark, beautiful contrast to the ruggedness of the timber above. Beneath your feet, the original stone floor, worn by a millennium of footsteps, grounds you in a continuous line of inhabitants who have cooked, feasted, and survived in this very spot.
This is the story of Poggio alle Corti: the solidity of the ancient floor, the grandeur of the wooden architecture, the elegance of the marble, and the thriving garden vista just beyond the glass. Together, they conspire to make the simple act of slicing a sun-warmed tomato or whisking olive oil into a dressing feel less like a task and more like a profound joy, a small but meaningful participation in the timeless flow of Tuscan life.
For the Andersons, the villa is more than a private retreat; it is a place to be shared. The magic of Poggio alle Corti is ultimately found in the immersive experience it offers—an antidote to modern life. “It’s vitally essential for anyone from a highly industrialized society to have the opportunity to spend time in a place like this, preferably not connected to their technology,” Kevin observes. “The villa and this region offer the best of modern comforts and dining, a rich cultural heritage, and an earthy, agricultural feel.” For the Andersons, Poggio alle Corti is the heart’s home. It is an invitation to slow down and immerse yourself in the sublime beauty that is the result of age-long intervention by humanity.
