The village of Pogni is located in the heart of the Chianti area between Florence and Siena, a short distance from the Marcialla hamlet, and divided between the Municipalities of Certaldo and Barberino Val d’Elsa. The Farmstead with agritourism bearing the same name of the village is located here and dates back to the 14th century. The little village, perched on the hillside about 400 meters above sea level and surrounded by stone walls, can be reached only by a dirt road, making it even more a part of the Chianti area’s nature.

Inside are a big farmhouse and two haylofts used for agritourism, the master farmhouse used by the owner’s family. The master farmhouse, dating back to 1300, seems to have been a destination of Boccaccio, who was fascinated by the landscape and sublime winemaking tradition of the area. Another building houses the cellars where wine is made, while the older wine cellars are located under the farmhouses. Today, as long ago, they are used to age wines.

Outside, surrounded by fields and olive trees, are a small football field, a tennis court, a big pool (20×8) made of travertine marble with beach access and a splendid view of the valley and surrounding hills. There are areas with outdoor furniture for relaxation, barnyards built with handmade Florentine tiles, an antique well and age-old farm tools displayed along pathways lined with typical Tuscan flowers, completing the entire outdoor area of the village.

The quiet and peace are a characteristic quality of the liveability of this old, small and remote historical village, located in one of the most beautiful valleys of the Chianti area.

In his Decameron Boccaccio describes the Certaldo area where some of “the best wine ever tasted” is still produced today. Opposing enemies fought over the conquest of these lands where the generous vines yield their treasures from the rocks. The oldest record of Castello di Pogni dates back to 1059. The name derives from the Latin “pugna” (fist), recalling the battles fought here for the control of a geographically important area inhabited by proud, indomitable people.

“Ponnia Thuscorum statio celeberrima quondam” became the domain of Conte Alberto Degli Alberti, also Lord of Certaldo and the legendary Semifonte. The Castle included numerous houses and inhabitants and three fortified towers. Pogni soon quarrelled with the powerful Republic of Florence, which disapproved of the arrogant Conte Alberto and his subjects who lorded it over the Val d’Elsa as far as the Val di Pesa. Florence also wanted to take possession of a fertile area rich in vineyards and olive groves.

The Republic used the pretext of the 1107 edict issue by the town of Florence allowing attacks on castles that failed to obey the central power. One night in June 1184 the Republic placed under siege the Castle of Pogni, despite its strength. Conte Alberti was taken hostage in Florence and freed only on condition that he, Countess Tabernaria his wife and their children should destroy the castle by April 1185, pull down the Certaldo towers and raze the castle of Semifonte to the ground, never to be rebuilt.

This was the end of the Castles of Pogni and Semifonte which earned such fame for the courageous protection of their inhabitants, conquered because they were forced to surrender by hunger rather than by attacks from Florence and the many precautions of a powerful town to fight them and bring them into abeyance, to the extent that the following verse came into use: “Florence move over Semifonte is becoming a city!”.

Fattoria Pogni is one of the very few agritourism which may be titled to be 100% eco-compatible and energetically independent. In the agricultural complex of Pogni we only use renewable energies both for the agritourism and for the farm.

Living in one of the most beautiful natural environments of the world, Tuscany, and taking from nature and from the land the fruits of our work, we have always been very attentive and sensible to the environmental respect.

The energy used to heat the water, the cellar, and the other interiors of our farm holiday during the winter time is provided by a plant working with the wood shavings obtained by the wood coming from the trimming.

The energy used to produce electricity is obtained by a power plant made with photovoltaic panels, realized by respecting the beauty of the natural environment.

Coming to Fattoria Pogni is not only a unique experience of a magic place. It is the opportunity of experiencing the philosophy of a life based on a deep respect for nature as well as for that wonderful land that is the Chianti area.