Hess Archive

The directions by car:

If coming from Pisa, follow the main road from the airport signposted to Florence and the A1 Autostrada. From Rome and any other southern locations, take the A1 north in the direction of Florence and Milano. Continue on the A1 past Florence and take the Barberino exit which is 15 kilometers north of the Florence North exit. If you are coming from Forli you can follow the A14 to Bologna and follow the Bologna instructions, or you can take a beautiful road marked towards Firenze that takes you through the Muraglioni pass. Contact me for detailed directions for this route.

From Milan and Bologna, take the A1 south toward Florence. Take the Barberino exit which is about 75 kilometers from Bologna and 15 Kilometers before Florence.

From the Barberino Exit:

• You’ll drive through what looks like a truck stop, keep going – it gets better!
• Once you have exited at Barberino, you will follow the signs for Borgo San Lorenzo (you are 25 km from the farm).
• From the exit you go straight and follow the signs -- you are on the A62/A551.
  You will pass along the northeast side of a large reservoir. A few kilometres after you pass the dam, you will see an old Medici castle on your right (Caffagiolo).
  The road will bend left, then you will pass a small restaurant on the left, then the road bends right and you will see a pizzeria on the right.
   
• There is now a choice between a slower, easier route, and a faster, more complicated route.
   
• SLOW WAY.
• There is a road to the left immediately in front of the pizzeria mentioned above. This road goeas towards towards Scarperia and this connects with the main road through the valley and goes through the towns of Borgo San Lorenzo and Vicchio. (you would turn left onto that road, follow it to the end (about 4km), turn right and then take a left at the next light (sign posted towards Borgo San Lorenzo) -- you are now on the main road that goes through Borgo San Lorenzo and then Vicchio).
  
  You go right through the towns in the valley. First Borgo, then a couple of really small villages and then Vicchio. The road passes to the right of Vicchio (you'll see the train station on your right as you pass on the edge of town).
• The road bends right and then arcs around the town. After you pass the town the road bends to the right again.
   
• You will see a mechanics place on your right, and a small tobacco shop on the left. Just past this you will see a small cemetery on the left and just past that you will see a road to the left towards Villore -- turn onto that road.
   
• Follow this narrow paved road for 7 km. Be careful as the locals fly down this road. You will be climbing all the time on this road.
   
• At about 7 km you will see a steep dirt road to your left sign posted towards Poggio Secco -- take this turn.
  If you end up in the village of Villore, you have gone too far -- the Poggio Secco road is just before the start of Villore.
   
• Go up this dirt road for 2km (it's a bit rough). You will come to a small dirt piazza at the top of the hill. Across this you will see a small road directly ahead, skirting the hill on its left side -- follow that road.
   
• About 50 meters on your left side you will see my drive -- there is a stone barn next to the entrance and an oak has been cut just at the start of the drive and the stump is quite visible. Pull in the drive and we'll meet you as we'll hear you coming. You mobile ought to work at the top of the hill but not on the Villore road.
   
• FASTER WAY
• Instead of turning left towards Scarperia, continue straight past the pizzeria. This road winds up a short hill and ends at a roundabout. Cross over the roundabout and take the road that goes through the tunnel straight ahead. Continue on this road to the end (about 10 km).
   
• Then turn left and follow that road for a few kilometres until you see a sign to the right for Saggianale and Vicchio.
   
• Follow this road to Vicchio. After about 10km you will come upon Ponte a Vicchio.
   
• Turn left at the intersection in front of Casa del Proscuitto and cross over the small stone hump backed bridge.
   
• Follow this road up to the railroad crossing and cross over the tracks to the intersection with the main road. Turn right here.
   
• After you pass the town the road bends to the right again. You will see a mechanics place on your right, and a small tobacco shop on the left.
   
• Just past this you will see a small cemetery on the left and just past that you will see a road to the left towards Villore -- turn onto that road.
  
  Follow this narrow paved road for 7 km.
  Be careful as the locals fly down this road.
  You will be climbing all the time on this road.
   
• At about 7 km you will see a steep dirt road to your left sign posted towards Poggio Secco -- take this turn.
  If you end up in the village of Villore, you have gone too far -- the Poggio Secco road is just before the start of Villore.
   
• Go up this dirt road for 2km (it's a bit rough).
  You will come to a small dirt piazza at the top of the hill. Across this you will see a small road directly ahead, skirting the hill on its left side -- follow that road.
   
• About 50 meters on your left side you will see my drive -- there is a stone barn next to the entrance and an oak has been cut just at the start of the drive and the stump is quite visible. Pull in the drive and we'll meet you as we'll hear you coming. You mobile ought to work at the top of the hill but not on the Villore road.