Casalecascina Rustica Palaia

Among the rolling hills of the province of Pisa, along historical routes connecting the Valdera and Valdarno valleys, lie San Miniato and Palaia: two geographically contiguous villages, yet each endowed with a distinct soul.

San Miniato, perched along the path of the ancient Via Francigena, welcomes visitors with monumental elegance and a skyline dominated by the famous Tower of Frederick II. It is a town rich in history, period buildings, and world-class gastronomic traditions, renowned globally as the capital of the white truffle.

A very short distance away, the landscape changes its rhythm and opens up to the more intimate and wild dimension of Palaia. Immersed in pristine nature made of gullies, lush woods, and panoramic views as far as the eye can see, this village preserves the authentic charm of rural Tuscany intact. Here, history can be read in the simplicity of the Romanesque parish church of San Martino and in the small country villages that surround it, where time seems to have stood still.

Together, San Miniato and Palaia offer a complementary and fascinating itinerary: on one hand, the historical grandeur, art, and culinary refinement of a strategic medieval center; on the other, the peace, breathtaking landscapes, and genuineness of the Tuscan peasant tradition.

This spacious farmhouse is located in a central position between the two ancient villages and is reached by a short dirt road that crosses a lush forest, the same one that also surrounds the house, shading the garden and the pool with its high canopy.

Once through the entrance gate, it is the harmony of the facade with its Tuscan pink plaster and the openings, whose frames are embellished with pietra serena, that immediately capture our gaze, enchanted by the plastic example of a balance expressed in forms rarely found elsewhere.

The residence is located in the center of a beautiful, fully fenced wooded park of about 1,500 square meters, which includes a swimming pool of about 20 square meters and a loggia of about 40 square meters with a height of approximately 4 meters. There is also the possibility of purchasing up to 8 hectares of additional land (partly wooded), which could enhance the property, already endowed with remarkable privacy.

The residence is spread over two floors above ground, covering an area of about 250 square meters, and from the entrance, it communicates its happy balance between admirable elements of Tuscan tradition, such as terracotta arches and vaults, which meet the boldness of the gray marble staircase with its most refined contemporary design.

Continuing on, we find the large double living room of 60 square meters, with a large arched fireplace set against the entire back wall. Further on is the eat-in kitchen of about 30 square meters with a second masonry fireplace and wood-burning oven, from which there is access to a 15-square-meter loggia. The ground floor is completed by a bathroom, a technical room, and a storage room of about 30 square meters.

Ascending the grand staircase, we have the sensation of immersing ourselves in a gallery of antique pink Tuscan encaustic, which lends importance to the second floor where the sleeping area consists of four bedrooms, including two large doubles with en-suite bathrooms and two bedrooms served by a third bathroom.

The renovation, which took place between the 80s and 90s, created a balanced mix of typical Tuscan architectural elements, such as arches, small vaulted ceilings, exposed brick walls, and modern details such as encaustic bathrooms, teak parquet in the bedrooms, the modern stone staircase, etc.