| | 
Profile
|
 The Holiday-House "Poggio alle Forche" is part of the historical agricultural estate Tenuta di Vignale and it has been completely restored as a first step of a large renovating program aiming to improve the tourist and agricultural potentiality of the estate itself. The Castle of Vignale has a very old history dating back to 711 A.D. when it was given as a donation to the Bishops of Lucca. In about 1000 d.C., Vignale became a "Capitanìa", a sort of logistic and administrative centre under marine jurisdiction and after that, in 1265, thanks to the Count Ugolino della Gherardesca, it was upgraded to the status of "Comune". According to the local history, in 1365 the Castle of Vignale was destroyed by people living in Piombino themselves. |
 The present village of Vignale, rebuilt and restored in different stages during the centuries, has always been of great importance for the local agricultural economy and the name itself clearly tells that since the beginning this land was perfect for the cultivation of vineyards and olive trees, due to the ideal soil and climate of the smooth hills of Maremma. Poggio alle Forche sits on a gentle hill leaning down towards the blue sea of the gulf of Follonica, while at the back it faces huge olive groves, D.O.C. Val di Cornia vineyards, together with typical mediterranean bush hills. A stunning panorama looks at Elba and Montecristo islands, Punta Ala as well as at the rocks of Cerboli and Palmaiola. |
 Poggio alle Forche consists of twenty apartments, all completely restored with great accuracy in order to preserve the original character of the typical comfortable old tuscan farmhouse: vaults, ceiling and floor terracotta tiles, stones and beams are genuine together with an outdoor wood oven which can be used by all guests.
The farmhouse is located in a very useful geographical area, being so close to the most interesting historical sites of Tuscan Maremma: Populonia (7 km), Suvereto (8 km), Massa Marittima (18 km), Bolgheri-Castagneto Carducci (23 km), as well as to other towns that can be easily reached by car or train : Volterra (one hour by car), Pisa (one hour), San Gimignano, Siena and Florence (two hours). Nearby Poggio alle Forche it is possible to visit the five Val di Cornia Parks : San Silvestro (archaelogical-mineral), Baratti and Populonia (archaelogical), Sterpaia, Montioni and Rimigliano (natural parks). In the neighbourhood you can find also a very interesting WWF oasis (Orti del Bottagone - 4 km) and the naturalistic park of Uccellina 75 km far. |
 Not far from Poggio alle Forche there are the Caldana hot thermal springs where trough the whole year healthy outdoor baths can be taken.
Guests of Poggio alle Forche can enjoy, during the hot season, the beach and the services offered by the touristic village of Torre Mozza (2 km).
Nearby Poggio alle Forche there are two 18-hole golf courses: Punta Ala (27 km) and Il Pelagone (28 km). In the next future (summer 2002) a beautiful new 18-hole golf course will be started in Val degli Olmi-Follonica (2,5 km). In the close village of Riotorto (2 km) guests will find everything they need (bank, post office, chemist, medical assistance, foodmarket, etc.), while the towns of Follonica (7 km south) and Venturina (9 km north) offer wider shopping opportunities. |
| |
|
