Apartment Merlot · Tuscany · Chianti

Name: Apartment Merlot · Tuscany · Chianti
Address: Il Navico, Castellina in Chianti, 53011, IT
Telephone: +393209407264

Casa
Italia
Castellina in Chianti
Apartment Merlot · Tuscany · Chianti

Welcome to Tuscany · Chianti - the art of dolce far niente. Golden light, stone walls, the scent of vineyards and warm earth. Your Tuscan story starts here.

Time moves slower here - between the pool, the vines and endless evenings. We’re waiting for you!

26/02/2026

Olive Oil -The Green Gold of Tuscany

In Tuscany, olive oil is the foundation of everything. It’s used for frying, for sauces, for salads even for dolci. When you have a good olive oil at home, you can create a meal almost out of nothing. Just drizzle it over a slice of crusty, even slightly stale bread, or over freshly cooked pasta with basil and ripe tomatoes and it becomes something truly special.

We believe in its extraordinary power not only in flavor, but also in its health benefits. That’s why we don’t buy small bottles. Most often, we choose three- or five-liter tins, stored in a dark place, away from light and air.

In Italy, we have as many as 542 olive varieties, around 200 of them in Tuscany alone. It’s a heritage that is unique in the world.

The highest-quality extra virgin olive oil has character. Its flavor evolves depending on the harvest time it can be delicate, or more robust and dry, sometimes even peppery and bold. And that is exactly why it can completely transform a dish.

It’s a taste that, once understood, captures the heart.
Coming soon more stories and little secrets about our green treasure: olive oil.

And yes… our apartment is surrounded by an olive grove (on the photo) :)

17/02/2026

Tuscany - how to travel so you can truly feel it (my tips, part 2)
SR222 Chiantigiana - It’s not about the destination. It’s about the Drive.

SR222 Chiantigiana connects Florence with Siena, running straight through the heart of Chianti Classico.

This isn’t just a road from point A to point B.
It’s a scenic route that winds through postcard-perfect landscapes, rolling hills, endless vineyards, slender cypress trees, and stone villages clinging to hilltops.

Why choose SR222 instead of the highway?

The Florence-Siena highway is faster.
SR222 is more beautiful.

Driving the Chiantigiana:
- you pass through small towns, not around them,
- you can stop literally anywhere,
- the views change every few minutes,
- your pace naturally slows down.
- It’s a road that teaches you mindfulness.

Castellina in Chianti is the perfect starting point.
From Castellina you can: head north toward Panzano and on to Florence or drive south toward Radda in Chianti and continue to Siena.

Both directions are spectacular.

Personally, I love early mornings and sunsets most - when driving toward Florence, the light falls beautifully across the hills. Tuscany at golden hour is a story of its own.

My tips:

- The best views are often just a few meters off the main road.
Simply turn onto a narrow side road leading to a vineyard. Even if you’re not planning a wine tasting, the landscape alone will reward you.
- Don’t plan this as a “transfer between attractions.”
- If you’re driving from Castellina to Florence, leave an hour earlier and choose SR222 instead of the highway. Even if it takes a little longer.

In Tuscany, it’s always better to choose beautiful over fast

13/02/2026

Your comfort is my priority and your happiness my greatest reward.
I want you to feel at home - from the very first moment.
Discover what our Guests say about Merlot.

09/02/2026

Cycling in Chianti 🚲🚲

Rolling hills, olive groves, medieval villages and views that make you stop.

Cycling in Chianti is pure pleasure even if the long climbs and legendary strade bianche can really test your legs.

This is where cycling legends were born: Gino Bartali, Mario Cipollini and Fiorenzo Magni.

Today, Chianti attracts both ambitious riders and those who prefer a slower pace and time to absorb the landscape. The region offers many bike rental options, including e-bikes, which are a perfect solution for longer climbs.

It’s no coincidence that the iconic L’Eroica race follows these roads its routes also pass near Castellina in Chianti, exactly where white gravel roads, vineyards and cypress trees create the most classic Tuscan scenery.

Remember in Chianti, it’s the journey that matters, not the speed 😊

Bike Rentals in Chianti

📍 Bicilettaio
📍 Italy Bike S.r.l. (provides guided bike tours in the Chianti area)
📍 Tuscany ebike rental (provides guided bike tours in the Chianti area)
📍 Chianti Bicycles – Castelnuovo Berardenga (provides guided bike tours in the Chianti area)

04/02/2026

Tuscany - how to travel so you can truly feel it (my tips, part 1) 😊

Tuscany is best explored by car 🚘.
Without one, many special places are out of reach - getting there can be difficult, time-consuming, or simply impossible.
Driving here feels calm, often slower than in other regions.
A car gives you freedom: to turn onto a small side road, stop on a hill for a breathtaking view, or wander into a tiny village that wasn’t on your plan. In Tuscany, it’s worth trusting your intuition and allowing yourself to go off route.

A few things that are easy to forget:
📍In smaller towns, gas stations aren’t open all day; after hours you can only use a self-service machine and you’ll need a credit card (debit cards often don’t work).
📍Many towns have ZTL zones (Zona Traffico Limitato). In some places they apply 24/7, in others only at certain hours. If you see “ZTL attiva”, only cars with a special permit may enter -cameras will record your plate and a fine will follow.
📍The easiest solution is to use parking lots and garages (even in the city center) - as their customers, you’re allowed to enter the zone.
📍In Florence, it’s smart to book garages in advance, because the city is busy all year round.
📍 A very convenient option when visiting Florence is Villa Costanza Park & Ride (right by the highway). From Merlot Apartment in Castellina in Chianti it takes about 45 minutes by car to get there. You leave your car safely at the parking lot and take the T1 tram, which goes directly to the historic center of Florence in about 20 minutes. Stress-free, easy, and no ZTL worries at all - this is my favorite way to visit Florence.

My tip:
Don’t plan too many stops in one day. Distances on the map look harmless, but winding roads, viewpoints, and “just one quick stop” moments add up. In Tuscany, always leave yourself a little extra time.

Save this for your Tuscany trip ⬆️

02/02/2026

From Apartment Merlot in Castellina in Chianti to Siena it’s only about 32 km drive - the perfect distance for a calm, one-day visit to a city that rewards those who move slowly and attentively.

Siena has always followed its own path.
For centuries, it was a powerful rival to Florence, growing wealthy through banking and trade.

Its heart is Piazza del Campo, shaped like a shell, where the city comes together twice a year for the legendary Palio di Siena, held on July 2nd and August 16th.
The Palio is more than a horse race it is passion, rivalry and memory passed down through generations.
Time in Siena seems to move more slowly, as if the Middle Ages never fully left its stone walls.

For me, Siena is a place for wandering without a plan.
I love arriving early, when the streets are still quiet and the light is soft.
I enjoy getting lost in narrow alleys, letting the city choose the way.
Siena does not like to be rushed ♥️

28/01/2026

Castellina in Chianti - where the history of Chianti comes together ♥️

Apartment Merlot is located in Castellina in Chianti. From here, it takes just a 15-minute drive to reach the heart of Chianti, in the historic hill town of Castellina in Chianti - a place that has shaped the identity of the region for centuries.

Over time, Castellina played a strategic role between Florence and Siena from a Roman settlement, through a Florentine fortress, to one of the three pillars of the Chianti League, alongside Radda and Gaiole. This is where the symbol of the black rooster originates, now associated with the entire Chianti Classico area 🐓

The historic centre has preserved its medieval layout almost unchanged. Via delle Volte, a covered street running beneath the old defensive walls, explains the town’s military character and feels like a passage through history. La Rocca, today the town hall and home to a small archaeological museum, offers a broader perspective on Castellina’s past. From the walls, the view opens onto the rolling Chianti hills - a landscape that makes the strategic importance of this place immediately clear. There is a moment when you stop by the walls, look out over the countryside, and feel that there is nowhere else you need to go.

Castellina is small, but it provides essential context for understanding the region and why wine became part of local identity rather than just a product ☺️

Today, Castellina is defined less by its walls and more by its atmosphere.

It is a place for unhurried exploration, walks between vineyards, and discovering Chianti without rushing or ticking off “must-see” lists for travellers who value understanding where they are, and why it matters….

15/01/2026

Florence within easy reach...

Florence is closer than you might think.
From Apartment Merlot, it’s just 42 kilometres - the perfect distance for a relaxed day trip that doesn’t feel rushed or exhausting.

The most comfortable way to reach the city is also the simplest. We recommend leaving your car at Villa Costanza parking, right by the A1 motorway, and continuing into Florence by tram T1.
It takes you smoothly and stress-free straight to the historic centre-no traffic, no searching for parking, no risk of entering the ZTL restricted zone. It’s exactly how we do it.

In the next posts, I’ll be sharing Florence beyond the main tourist path. Quiet corners, thoughtful routes, places where you can slow down and truly feel the city, all perfect for a one-day escape from the Tuscan countryside, returning in the evening to silence, wine and warm light.

📌 Save this post for later if you’re planning a visit to Florence during your stay at Apartment Merlot.

14/01/2026

During the Christmas season, Tuscany has a truly special charm. It feels as if a time machine is at work here - everything slows down, and the atmosphere takes us back to simpler joys and old traditions. Cities glow with festive lights and the sound of carols, while in the countryside fire takes the lead in fireplaces, torches, and bonfires that give our stone villages a fairytale glow.

Christmas markets add even more magic to this time of year (my absolute favorite is the one in Arezzo, filled with lights, scents, and genuine festive warmth).

As you already know, there are so many reasons to visit us not only in summer. If you feel like experiencing this calm, heartfelt Christmas magic, you are warmly welcome ♥️♥️

13/01/2026

Christmas Time in Tuscany 🎄

During the Christmas season, Tuscany has a truly special charm. It feels as if a time machine is at work here - everything slows down, and the atmosphere takes us back to simpler joys and old traditions. Cities glow with festive lights and the sound of carols, while in the countryside fire takes the lead in fireplaces, torches, and bonfires that give our stone villages a fairytale glow.

Christmas markets add even more magic to this time of year (my absolute favorite is the one in Arezzo, filled with lights, scents, and genuine festive warmth).

As you already know, there are so many reasons to visit us not only in summer. If you feel like experiencing this calm, heartfelt Christmas magic, you are warmly welcome ♥️♥️

11/01/2026

Rolling hills wrapped in mist, bare vineyards resting under the soft winter light, olive trees standing still in the cold air.
No crowds, no rush - just nature, silence, and the feeling of Tuscany breathing slowly.
This is the season to truly feel the land.

11/01/2026

Winter in Chianti has its own quiet magic ❄️…

Rolling hills wrapped in mist, bare vineyards resting under the soft winter light, olive trees standing still in the cold air.
No crowds, no rush - just nature, silence, and the feeling of Tuscany breathing slowly.
This is the season to truly feel the land.

Indirizzo

Il Navico
Castellina In Chianti
53011

Telefono

+393209407264

Sito Web

https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/44101706?source_impression_id=p3_1766869439_P3SvF4sd086Q-Y-m

Notifiche

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