Rob & Kim
Tuscany · July 2027
You're invited
Monday, 12 July 2027
Panzano · Chianti · Tuscany
Villa reserved 10 – 17 July.
A week in the hills of Chianti,
with the people we love most.
The Celebration
The villa is ours from Saturday to Saturday. Come, unwind, and celebrate with us across the hills of Chianti.
Saturday
10 July
Arrivals
Settle in, unwind, and join us for dinner at the villa as everyone arrives.
Sunday
11 July
Pizza Night
A relaxed evening together — pizza, wine and good times.
Monday
12 July
Ceremony & Reception
The day. Keep it light and stylish (think Italian chic), come ready to celebrate, and leave the rest to us.
Tuesday
13 July
Recovery Day
A slow, easy day. A time to reflect and catch up with our guests.
Wed – Sat
14–17 July
Explore & Unwind
The villa is yours to enjoy. Take this opportunity to explore what Tuscany offers. It's truly magical.
⤢ view
⤢ view
⤢ view
⤢ view
Where We're Staying
The deposit is paid and the week is secured. Here's what you're coming to — and what we need from you to hold it.
Our home for the week is a restored villa in the Tuscan countryside, a couple of kilometres from Panzano in Chianti. It's air-conditioned throughout, every bedroom has its own bathroom, and the interiors are properly Tuscan — timber beams across high ceilings, French doors opening onto garden terraces, warm terracotta floors, original brick arches and vaulted ceilings.
Most of your week will be spent outside. A panoramic terrace runs the length of the villa, with shaded seating nooks and sofas. Just below it, the dining terrace looks out over the valley — a long banquet table beneath festoon lights. A third, quieter terrace sits off to one side. Further down is the 14-metre pool, with ample sun loungers, shaded corners, a poolside bar, and a children's play area tucked discreetly into the herb gardens. Cypresses line the grounds, and vineyards run off in every direction.
On the lower ground floor there's a private spa — a heated indoor pool, a sauna, and a rainfall shower room. Hot stone massages, reflexology, private yoga, sound baths and personal training can all be arranged if you'd like them.
A dedicated team looks after the villa. Breakfast can be prepared each morning and served overlooking the hills, and the on-site concierge can handle restaurant bookings, vineyard visits, in-villa tastings and spa sessions — so ask rather than plan around it. A short stroll brings you to a local bar, a winery and a restaurant, and Panzano's weekly farmers' market is worth the trip for seasonal produce, cheeses and Chianti Classico straight from the source.
$375 per room, per night. All rooms have similar features and a private bathroom. Rooms will be assigned nearer the time based on what you need — queen bed, twin beds, space for a cot — so tell us and we'll match you up.
We'd appreciate 50% of your share by 31 October 2026, with the remaining 50% by 15 March 2027 — our own final payment to the villa falls due that month. We'll email you your total and the payment details; please wait to hear from us before sending anything.
Italy charges a municipal tourist tax (tassa di soggiorno) of €2 per person, per night. It's paid in cash at the villa on the day you arrive, directly by you. It isn't included in the room rate and isn't part of what you send us.
Breakfast can be prepared each morning by the villa's chef and staff, at an additional cost. We're covering dinner on the evenings of 10, 11 and 12 July. The rest of the week's meals are yours to plan — there's plenty of information in the Explore section below. We'll send a short survey nearer the time to gather everyone's dietary needs and preferences.
If you'd like a private transfer from Florence airport or the train station, let us know and we'll help arrange it with the villa's concierge.
You're invited
Kindly reply by 1 September 2026
Travel
Panzano in Chianti sits between Florence and Siena in the heart of Tuscany. Here's everything you need to get here smoothly.
Fly direct to Rome Fiumicino (FCO) or Milan Malpensa (MXP) on Delta, United, American, or ITA Airways. From there, the high-speed Frecciarossa train reaches Florence in 90 min from Rome, or ~2.5 hrs from Milan.
Smaller airport, 4 km from the city centre. No direct US flights — connect via London, Paris, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt. Great if you're spending time in Florence first.
Larger airport with more European connections. A quick shuttle (PisaMover) connects to Pisa Centrale for onward trains. ~1 hr to Florence by train.
British Airways flies direct from Bermuda (BDA) to London Heathrow (LHR), then onward to Florence (FLR) or Rome (FCO). Heathrow connections to Italy are excellent and this is often the most seamless single-airline routing. BA's Bermuda service typically runs daily in summer.
Alternatively, connect through NYC (JFK or EWR) or Boston (BOS) for the transatlantic leg to Rome or Milan — useful if you prefer Delta, United, or American.
The villa is outside Panzano on country roads with no public transport, so a rental car is strongly recommended. Book well in advance for July.
Pick-up or drop-off from Florence airport or the train station can be arranged if needed. And if you'd rather not rent a car but still want to visit other towns or join a wine tour, the villa can help arrange private transport at an additional cost.
From Florence airport: ~50 minutes. From Florence city centre: ~50 minutes on the scenic Chiantigiana (SR222) road through the vineyards. From Rome FCO: ~2.5 hours via A1 motorway.
Check your licence requirements with your rental car company. ZTL restricted zones in city centres — avoid driving into historic city cores. GPS/Google Maps is your friend on the country roads — make sure you have the offline version as data can be spotty in the Tuscan countryside.
Full villa address and coordinates will be shared with confirmed guests by email closer to the date.
💡 Our tip: Fly in a day or two early and spend time in Florence or Rome before heading to the villa. An opportunity to beat the jet lag, wander a piazza or two, and immerse yourself in pure history — then make the drive down the Chiantigiana to join us for arrivals night. That road through the vineyards deserves to be enjoyed at leisure, not rushed after a long flight. There is no rush — check in begins after 5pm.
Chianti & Beyond
The villa sits in the Conca d'Oro, the golden bowl of vineyards that made Panzano's name — so you're in the middle of Chianti Classico rather than a drive from it. Fontodi, Castello dei Rampolla, Monte Bernardi and Vallone di Cecione are all within a few kilometres, with Fattoria di Lamole, Caparsa, Colle Bereto and San Donatino a little further out. Barely 280 metres down the road there's a winery and a restaurant, and Panzano itself is home to Dario Cecchini, the butcher whose bistecca and sheer showmanship have turned the village into a pilgrimage for anyone who cares about food.
Radda, Greve and Castellina are ten to twenty minutes away. Florence and Siena are both under an hour. You can hire a bike or a scooter in Greve, ride out into the hills on horseback, or play a round of golf surrounded by olive trees — and still be back at the pool by afternoon. The balance of cultural discovery, culinary immersion and countryside quiet is the whole reason we chose this corner of Tuscany.
You have a week in one of the most beautiful regions on earth. Here's what we'd do with it.
Food & Wine
Must Do · Panzano
Panzano's legendary butcher-showman recites Dante while preparing the finest bistecca fiorentina you'll ever eat. Book Officina della Bistecca well in advance — it fills up months out.
Nearby Top 5
Wine Tastings
All require appointments; book ahead.
Chianti Wine Tours
Wineries Worth the Drive
Six estates worth building a day around — each brings something distinct to the Chianti experience.
Within 15 mins walk · Panzano
On Your Doorstep
These places are all a 15-minute or less walk from the villa.
On Your Doorstep · Panzano
Panzano Village
A short drive, bike ride, or walk from the villa. Pick up fresh produce, wine, and cheeses at local shops. There are several excellent restaurants and coffee shops.
Hands On · Chianti
Cooking & Pizza Classes
Fancy a cooking class or pizza-making experience? Learn to make fresh pasta, ribollita, and tiramisu with Chianti Cooking School, which runs classes in Greve and Panzano — a short drive from the villa. Several local estates also host pizza-making evenings, and a private class at the villa may be possible. More details to be provided.
Hands On · Chianti
Olive Oil Tastings
Chianti is olive country as much as wine country, and several of the estates on this page press their own oil alongside their wine — Badia a Coltibuono among them. A tasting is usually a short and generous affair: new oil on bread, a walk through how the harvest works, and a bottle to take home. We'll add specific recommendations here once we've confirmed them.
Experiences
Unforgettable · Countryside
Head into the Chianti woods with expert hunters and trained dogs, then sit down to a truffle-based Tuscan lunch. An experience you won't find at home. Sessions fill quickly — book ahead.
Unforgettable
Hot Air Balloon
Drift over the vineyards at sunrise, champagne in hand. Two established operators fly the Chianti hills: Balloon in Tuscany (flying since 1990, launches near Barberino Tavarnelle — approx. 20–25 min drive from Panzano) and Tuscany Ballooning (launches near San Casciano in Val di Pesa — approx. 20–25 min drive from Panzano). One thing to plan for: flights meet at dawn, before any public transport runs, so you'll need a rental car or a pre-arranged private transfer to reach the launch field. Book well in advance — and bring a very good camera.
Active · Self-Guided or Guided
E-Bikes & Scooters
No serious cycling experience needed.
Active · Countryside
Horseback Riding
Golf · Two Options
Golf Courses
Both bookable in advance online.
~1hr 10 mins · Full Day
A dedicated adventure park within the Castelfalfi estate — tree-top courses, zip-lines, Tibetan bridges, archery, an outdoor climbing wall, and suspended houses built into the forest canopy. A great full day out if you're travelling with family or want something completely different from wine and hills.
Day Trips
~10 mins · Chianti
Greve & Montefioralle
Greve is the market town of Chianti — good for provisions, a coffee, and a wander. Above it sits tiny Montefioralle, a perfectly preserved medieval walled village with views for miles. A perfect morning out.
~50 mins · Full Day
Florence
The Uffizi, the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, the best gelato of your life. Book museum tickets well in advance — lines are brutal without them. Go early to beat the crowds. The drive up the Chiantigiana in the morning light is half the pleasure.
~35 mins · Full Day
Siena
The magnificent Piazza del Campo, the striped Duomo, and some of the finest food in Tuscany. Smaller, slower, and less crowded than Florence. Many people prefer it.
~45 mins · Half or Full Day
A stunning medieval hilltop town famous for its ancient towers, its world-champion gelato, and its white Vernaccia wine. Easy as a half-day — wander the walls, eat too much gelato, and be home for dinner.
~1.5 hrs · Long Full Day
Pisa & Lucca
Further than the other day trips — commit to a full day and make it count. Pisa for the Leaning Tower and a surprisingly lovely city centre, then Lucca for its intact Renaissance walls and excellent food. A worthwhile long day.
~1 hr · Full Day
The cypress-lined roads, rolling golden hills, and Brunello di Montalcino wine — the most iconic Tuscan landscape on earth. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Worth every minute of the drive south.
~1 hr · Half Day
A dramatic Etruscan hilltop town with alabaster workshops, Roman ruins, and medieval walls. Less touristy than Siena — a quieter, more local feel. Pair it with a long lunch and a slow drive home through the hills.
Leave a Note
Share a memory, a wish, or your finest marriage advice.
The guestbook opens closer to the big day.
[ COMING SOON ]
Questions
A car is strongly recommended — the villa is on a country road outside Panzano with no public transport, and a rental car will let you explore the region freely. Book early; July is busy. However, if driving isn't an option, private transfers and transport for day trips can be arranged through the villa at an additional cost.
Summer wedding attire. Think linens, summer dresses, light florals — garden party meets Tuscan vineyard. The ceremony will be held outside at the villa, on uneven ground, so choose your footwear accordingly. Leave the stilettos at home; wedges and block heels are your friends.
Yes — Italy charges a tassa di soggiorno (municipal tourist tax) of €2 per person, per night. This is not included in the villa cost, and it isn't part of what you send us — you pay it yourself, in cash, at the villa on the day you arrive. Seven nights (10–17 July) = €14 per person. Bring it with you; cash only.
Hot. Expect 28–35°C (82–95°F) with very little rain. Evenings cool down pleasantly. Pack light fabrics, sunscreen, a hat, and good sunglasses. Drink more water than you think you need.
Strongly recommended. Italy occasionally strikes (transport, services), and medical care for non-EU visitors without insurance can be expensive. Most credit cards offer some travel cover — check your policy.
The Euro (€). Cards are widely accepted in Florence and Siena but smaller villages and farm shops often prefer cash. Keep some Euros on you, especially for local markets and rural trattorias.
In July, Italy is 6 hours ahead of the US East Coast (EDT) and 5 hours ahead of Bermuda (ADT). Plan to arrive a day or two early if possible — Tuscany is a wonderful place to adjust to the time zone.
Yes, the villa has WiFi. For mobile data out and about — essential for navigation on those country roads — we strongly recommend setting up an eSIM before you leave home. An eSIM loads a local Italian data plan onto your phone digitally, no SIM card swapping, no roaming fees. Here are the best options for our trip:
🏆 Airalo — Our top pick for most guests. Italy plans start around $4.50 for 1GB (7 days) up to ~$18 for 10GB (30 days), which covers a week comfortably for maps, messaging and photos. New to Airalo? Use referral code ROB1705 and get a $3 credit on your first purchase. airalo.com
🔄 Holafly — Best if you're a heavier data user or don't want to think about gigabytes. Offers truly unlimited data plans — Europe 7 days ~$27, 10 days ~$37, 15 days ~$49. Ideal if you're coming for longer or plan to work remotely. holafly.com
📋 Quick comparison:
| Provider | 7 days | 10 days | 15 days | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | ~$9 / 3GB | ~$14 / 5GB | ~$18 / 10GB | Budget, light–medium use |
| Holafly | ~$27 unlimited | ~$37 unlimited | ~$49 unlimited | Heavy use, peace of mind |
⚠️ Check your phone is eSIM compatible before purchasing — iPhone XS/XR and newer all support it. Set it up at home before you travel so you're connected the moment you land.
Light summer clothes, an Italian chic outfit for Monday, comfortable walking shoes for cobblestone villages, sandals for the villa, swimwear for the pool, sunscreen, a hat, a reusable water bottle, and an appetite for wine and pasta.