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Things to do near Poppi

 

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We are so excited to celebrate our wedding with you all in a truly unique location in Italy!

Our wedding venue (Borgo Corsignano, Fattorie di Celli) is located 10 minutes from the beautiful old town of Poppi, Italy.

Poppi, a member of the “I Borghi più belli d'Italia” (association of small towns of historical interest in Italy), is located in the Casentino Valley in the Arezzo province of the Tuscany region, which is kind of like saying Winnetka is in the northern suburbs of Cook County of the state of Illinois :) 

 

The province of Siena is just southwest of Arezzo, and the province of Florence is just to the northwest.

The Casentino Valley is bordered by the Apennine mountains on the east and the Chianti region on the west. 

 

While what we are truly excited about is getting to spend time with you, we also hope you take advantage of the opportunity to explore Italy further. Please see below for our recommendations, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! For visits to vineyards, it is highly recommended to call and book an appointment.

 

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In and Around Poppi:

 

In Poppi 

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  • Take a walk around the town - it is small but a very pretty old stone town, with cute restaurants and bars

  • Il Vinaio & Ortolano di Mauro Rubbioli - We love this small family owned grocer and wine shop. A nice place to stock your kitchen with wine and snacks for the weekend. Make sure to ask Mauro for wine recommendations!

  • Visit the Poppi castle and get a beautiful view of the Casentino valley!

  • Casentino Golf Club Arezzo (note: we haven’t played it so cannot personally vouch for course quality...)

  • L’Antica Cantina - restaurant in an 11th century wine cellar, right in the heart of old Poppi

  • La Campana d’Oro - Grab a beer at this local brewery!

  • La Taverna del Castello - A casual restaurant in the old town with delicious food.

  • Osteria il Porto - Get a drink and a snack on the patio with a nice view of the Poppi castle!

  • Ristorante Albergo Casentino - located just next to the Poppi castle, nice place to get a snack or a drink

 

Near Poppi

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  • Macelleria Salumeria Fracassi 1927 - Salumeria (20min drive south of Poppi)

  • Azienda Agricola Poggiotondo - family-operated winery close to Poppi (35min drive south of Poppi)

  • Castello di Nipozzano - gorgeous castle in the hills, located between Florence and Poppi. During our visit to various wedding venues, Jordan and I somehow found our way here on the way back to the airport, and it was well worth the short trip off the highway. As an added bonus, they grow wine on the estate! (45min drive from Poppi) 

  • Consumi - small restaurant / bar near the Consuma Pass - grab a coffee, beer or a glass of wine and a schiacciata (amazing Tuscan sandwich). The restaurant is divided into three parts, a dining area, a bar and a commissary so it’s a great place to sit and eat or to  pick up snacks, drinks and pastries to take for the road or for your kitchen at Borgo/Fattorie! Highly recommended if you are driving from Florence to Poppi, which also happens to be a gorgeous drive (30min drive from Poppi)

  • Cafe del Parco Camaldoli - grab a schiacciata (delicious italian sandwich) (20min drive from Poppi)

  • Hiking - explore the forest and countryside on foot (e.g. hike up to the cross of Pratomagno!)

  • La Verna - St. Francis di Assisi sanctuary, beautiful views of valley (45min drive from Poppi)

  • Ornina Winery - small winery in the Casentino valley. By appointment only (25min drive south of Poppi)

  • Raggiolo (25min drive SW from Poppi), a beautiful pedestrian-only medieval town made entirely of stone (part of I Borghi più belli d'Italia)

 

 

Longer day trips from Poppi:

(or to visit before or after the wedding…)

 

  • Bolgheri - home to some incredible wines and close to the coast! (2.5hr drive from Poppi)

    • Visit the Ornellaia vineyards - one of the most famous producers of “Super Tuscans”

  • Chianti region - probably does not require an introduction!

    • Brancaia Vineyard - founded by a Swiss couple in the 80s, amazing wine! (2hr drive from Poppi)

    • Tignanello - producer of some of the most famous “Super Tuscans” (1.5hr drive from Poppi)

  • Cortona (1.25hr drive from Poppi) - beautiful town located on a hill overlooking Lake Trasimeno

    • La Bucaccia highly recommended for a traditional Tuscan meal

  • Florence (1.5hr drive from Poppi)

  • Loro Ciuffena (1hr drive from Poppi) - also part of I Borghi più belli d'Italia

    • Visit Il Borro, known for its beautiful winery and views at the foot of the Pratomagno mountains

  • Montalcino - explore the town and enjoy the famous Brunello di Montalcino wines! If we’re lucky, the Montalcino Jazz & Wine Festival will also be running around the time of our wedding! (2hr drive from Poppi)

  • Montepulciano - also known for its wine, particularly Vino Nobile. This is an easy stop if you are driving from Rome to Poppi! (2hr drive from Poppi)

  • Monte San Savino - a town famous for its roasted suckling pig (hosts an annual festival every September), lots of good restaurants nearby, Osteria il Granaio comes highly recommended (1hr drive from Poppi)

  • Perugia - beautiful city; capital of Umbria region (1.5hr drive from Poppi)​

  • Siena - one of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany - absolutely worth a visit!! (1.5hr drive from Poppi) 

 

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Planning on an extended stay in Italy?

 

A few of Mike and Jordan’s favorites...

  • Elba Island - Beautiful small beaches are scattered everywhere along the island - you can try a different beach every day or just settle into your favorite one! The port of Piombino is about a 3hr drive from Poppi, and you take a ~1hr ferry from Piombino to Elba. Let Mike know if you want specific recommendations here.

  • Lake Como - stay in one of the smaller towns further north on Lake Como (e.g. Menaggio), rent a boat and explore the lake! Stop for a relaxing lunch on Isola Comacina (only accessible by boat)! Our favorite town, Bellagio, you can reach by ferry.

  • Lake Maggiore - just to the west of Lake Como, lesser known but equally as beautiful! Have a relaxing lunch or dinner on the elbow of the lake at Osteria Boato (technically in Switzerland...)

  • Positano - on the famous Amalfi Coast, Jordan went here with friends and loved it! Let Jordan know if you want specific recommendations here.

 

Helpful Reference Links

 

 

 

Brief Primer on Italian / Tuscan Wines:

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Tuscany is very well known for its wine, most notably its red wines produced with the Sangiovese grape. The wines of Tuscany (and Italy) are classified as follows; it’s important to note that DOCG does not necessarily always mean “better” than DOC, and DOC does not necessarily mean better than IGT!

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  • DOCG - “highest” classification for wines that meet specific production and quality standards (Tuscan examples: Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Chianti DOCG, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG)

  • DOC - for wines that meet high standards of production that are not as stringent as DOCG, but more stringent that IGT (Tuscan examples: Bolgheri DOC, Rossi di Montalcino DOC)

  • IGT - classification that was created in the 1990’s to allow for the very high quality of some “Super Tuscans” to be distinguished from Vino da Tavola, although IGTs can also be classified as DOC or DOCG if they meet those standards…. (examples: many from Ornellaia and Tignanello estates)

  • Vino da Tavola - only requirement is that it is produced somewhere in Italy

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