Tuscany With Kids: Our Family Villa Stay in Greve in Chianti

Our family has returned more than once to this peaceful corner of Tuscany, where we rented a farmhouse with a pool near the tiny medieval village of Montefioralle.

Tuscany is one of our favorite places for a family vacation. Rather than moving from hotel to hotel, we rented a restored farmhouse near Montefioralle and settled into life in the Chianti countryside. We spent our days swimming, cooking with ingredients from the local markets, visiting nearby villages, and taking easy day trips around Tuscany.

Montefioralle is a tiny medieval village in the hills above Greve in Chianti, about halfway between Florence and Siena. It feels wonderfully removed from Tuscany’s busiest tourist areas, yet it’s close enough to restaurants, wineries, markets, and some of the region’s most beautiful towns.

We loved the area—and this particular Tuscany farmhouse rental—so much that we returned for another stay. Here’s a look at where we stayed, what we ate, and our favorite things to do around Montefioralle and Greve in Chianti.

Montefioralle, Italy: A Medieval Village in Chianti

Montefioralle is a tiny hilltop village just outside Greve in Chianti. Enclosed by its original circular stone walls, the village is largely car-free and wonderfully quiet. We loved wandering its narrow cobblestone streets, where nearly every doorway was framed by flowers, climbing vines, or old terracotta pots.

There are only a few places to eat and drink within the village, but that is part of its charm. We stopped at the little café for cappuccinos and gelato and took our time exploring on foot. Montefioralle feels worlds away from Tuscany’s more crowded destinations, even though Florence, Siena, and many of Chianti’s wineries and villages are within easy reach.

The village has only one restaurant and one cafe. We stopped in the little cafe a couple of times for cappuccino and gelati. I loved this cappuccino cup with a picture of the Florence Duomo.

One of the charming stone homes within Montefioralle’s medieval walls. 

Where We Stayed: A Farmhouse Rental in Tuscany

Just outside Montefioralle, we rented a restored 16th-century farmhouse surrounded by vineyards and rolling Chianti hills. The location felt secluded and peaceful, but we were only a short drive from the shops, restaurants, and Saturday market in Greve in Chianti.

The farmhouse gave us the space to slow down and experience Tuscany differently. Instead of sightseeing every day, we settled into a comfortable routine of grocery shopping, cooking, swimming, and eating outside. Even hanging laundry on the clothesline felt lovely with the warm Tuscan breeze and vineyard views.

We spent many afternoons in the pool, floating on inner tubes while I worked nearby. Having a kitchen, outdoor space, and room for everyone made the farmhouse especially practical for a longer family stay. You can view the Tuscany farmhouse we rented here.

Where to Eat Near Montefioralle: La Cantinetta di Rignana

A few miles into the hills outside Montefioralle, we discovered what became our favorite restaurant in the area—and possibly all of Tuscany. We loved La Cantinetta di Rignana so much that we returned for dinner three times.

The restaurant is set in an old stone building surrounded by vineyards, with sweeping views across the Chianti countryside. It feels special without being overly formal, and the beautiful setting matches the food.

We enjoyed white bean bruschetta, grilled artichokes, fresh pasta, local wine, and plenty of truffles. My favorite dish was the potato ravioli topped with spinach and incredibly flavorful tomatoes. They also had several delicious vegetarian options, which made it an easy choice for our family. If you stay near Greve in Chianti or Montefioralle, this is a restaurant I wouldn’t miss.

Most every restaurant had delicious vegetarian options, but this potato ravioli topped with fresh spinach and insanely good tomatoes was my favorite. We also had white bean bruschetta, grilled artichokes, truffle everything, estate-grown vino, and more.

Wine Tasting Near Montefioralle

Although our farmhouse felt wonderfully secluded, one of our closest neighbors was Altiero Winery, a small family-run wine and olive oil estate. Visiting the winery was one of the highlights of our stay, even with children.

The Baldini family made us feel completely welcome, and our girls loved meeting their daughter and seeing the animals around the property. It was the kind of personal experience that made staying in the countryside feel so much more memorable than simply passing through on a day trip.

More Things to Do Around Montefioralle

• Take a Tuscan cooking class and learn to make fresh pasta using local ingredients.
• Walk through Montefioralle and stop for a cappuccino or gelato inside the village.
• Visit the wineries and olive oil estates scattered throughout the surrounding hills.
• Rent a bicycle in Greve and explore the nearby Chianti villages. My husband rented a bike from Officina Ramuzzi and kept it for the week, riding to a different town each morning. The hills are steep, so this is best for experienced cyclists; casual riders may be more comfortable with an e-bike or guided tour.

Greve in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Greve in Chianti was the closest larger town to our farmhouse, and we went there for groceries, restaurants, shopping, and the weekly market. Its main piazza is surrounded by cafés, small shops, and historic buildings, making it an easy place to spend a morning or stop for lunch.

Shop and Visit the Greve Farmers Market

Greve’s town center is small and easy to explore on foot, with shops selling baskets, ceramics, wine, olive oil, and other Tuscan specialties. I wanted to bring home nearly everything we saw.

During our stay, the Saturday farmers market filled the piazza with produce, olives, nuts, spices, flowers, specialty foods, clothing, and household goods. Shopping here became one of my favorite parts of the week because we could bring everything back to the farmhouse and cook with it.

One farmer and I had a good laugh when I accidentally asked for five fish—cinque pesci—instead of five peaches—cinque pesche. Thankfully, he understood what I meant and gave me a quick Italian lesson. Moments like that are why I always try to use at least a little of the local language, even when I get it completely wrong.

A scoop of each, per favore!

Don’t touch! Normally in Italy, shoppers should never touch shop produce with bare hands. Fresh produce has usually already been washed, and they don’t want everyone touching it. The farmer at this particular stand handed me a bag and said it was okay.

Where to Eat in Greve in Chianti

La Cantina Pizzeria in the center of Greve was one of our favorite casual places for lunch, dinner, or takeaway pizza. The thin crust and fresh toppings were exactly what we wanted after a day of exploring, and I also noticed several gluten-free choices on the menu. It was an easy, family-friendly place to return to during our stay.

Radda in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Of all the nearby Chianti towns we visited, Radda in Chianti may have been my favorite. Its stone streets, valley views, little restaurants, and artisan shops make it an especially beautiful place to wander for a few hours. We visited for lunch and souvenir shopping, but I could easily have spent the entire day there.

Shopping in Radda in Chianti

Radda has several lovely artisan shops filled with handmade ceramics, linens, local foods, and gifts. I still wish I had brought home a couple of these little espresso cups. They would have been the perfect everyday reminder of our time in Chianti.

Lunch at Le Forchette del Chianti

A row of red Vespas against an old stone wall—could there be a more classic Italian scene?

We stopped at Le Forchette del Chianti for lunch. The traditional Tuscan restaurant is just outside the center of Radda and overlooks the green Chianti valley. The food was delicious, the view was beautiful, and I especially loved the Italian chickpea salad. It was the kind of simple, fresh dish that inspired me to recreate it at home.

Cooking at Our Tuscany Farmhouse

One of my favorite parts of renting a farmhouse in Tuscany was shopping at the local markets and cooking with whatever looked best that day. A full kitchen let us slow down, eat outside, and enjoy ordinary family routines in an extraordinary setting. 

We found fresh pasta, vegetables, herbs, and truffles throughout the area. One evening, we made a simple risotto with spinach and shaved truffles—a meal that felt especially luxurious even though it came together easily in the farmhouse kitchen.

Tomato bruschetta became another staple during our stay. With ripe Tuscan tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and good olive oil, it hardly needs a recipe, but you can find my authentic tomato bruschetta recipe here.

The long summer evenings were made for eating outside. We poured an Aperol spritz, prepared dinner, and watched the light change over the surrounding hills. These quiet evenings at the farmhouse were some of my favorite moments of the entire trip.

One night, I stuffed zucchini blossoms from the Greve farmers market with a mixture of white beans, garlic, and basil. I never wrote down the exact recipe, but they were delicious—and a good reminder that some of the best vacation meals are the ones made without much of a plan.

Is Renting a Farmhouse in Tuscany Worth It?

For our family, renting a farmhouse was the perfect way to experience Tuscany. We had space to spread out, a pool for relaxed afternoons, a kitchen for cooking market finds, and an excellent home base for exploring Montefioralle, Greve, Radda, and the surrounding Chianti countryside.

If you prefer slow travel to a packed sightseeing schedule, I can’t recommend this area enough. You can check availability for the Tuscany farmhouse we rented here.

Have you visited Tuscany or stayed in an Italian farmhouse? I’d love to hear about your favorite places in the comments.