Experiences

A beautiful tawny owl makes his home in the outer wall of the villa. To see him, stand below the west-facing window of the master bedroom and have someone open the master bathroom window shutter from the inside — when they do, he will fly right over your head.

Both fallow deer, with their massive antlers, and roe deer call the villa grounds “home.” Watch for them near dusk, in cultivated fields, or in our olive grove. The road between Panzano and Castelina is an especially great place to see them.

The colorful male pheasant loves to strut and show off in our olive grove and the surrounding vineyards. He is brighter-colored than the female, and often “crows” in a husky voice, especially around dawn and dusk. You will also find pheasant served in some local restaurants — it’s delicious!

We have at least one local fellow who lives just up the road from us, between the villa and La Cantinetta. You will sometimes see him in the fields or vineyards looking for mice, insects, or worms.

This mostly nocturnal animal spends the day inside its brown tunnels in the forest, eating fruit, worms, frogs, snakes, bulbs and acorns. They have an acute sense of smell but poor eyesight. This fat fellow sometimes appears after dark on the white road between the La Cantinetta restaurant and the top of the hill.

The African crested porcupine will stamp their feet and raise their quills to rattle them when threatened. They are unable to “shoot” their quills, but when cornered they will try to stab their attacker. They are nocturnal animals, often hunting for roots, bulbs, and insects.

You are very unlikely to see a scorpion unless you’re looking for them, though they are quite common. Look for these handsome little fellows under rocks, especially in the olive grove. Their sting feels similar to that of a bee, but they are not dangerous.

You will see some fish, most likely brown trout, in the river just down from the villa in Fiume Pesa. A range of fish, some quite large, can usually be seen around the bridges in Greve as well. If you would like to go fishing, Rafael (an avid fisherman) can give you some tips.

The Ricci family, who once occupied the villa, had the hedgehog as its crest, symbolizing protection and resilience. Hedgehogs are nocturnal and typically feed on insects, worms, and even some fruits, playing an essential role in the local ecosystem. In Tuscany, the hedgehog’s presence is celebrated, with many locals taking steps to protect their habitats.

You may see signs of where boars have been rooting in the olive grove or along the white road. Dusk is the best time to see them — try driving down the white roads in heavily wooded areas, and keep a lookout in cultivated fields, especially on rainy days. Be careful not to approach them, especially if their little ones are with them. You may notice Cinghiale on the menu in many Tuscan restaurants — it’s delicious and a local favorite.

The Italian wall lizard is the most common, loving to sun on the rocks and hide in cracks, especially down by the pool or along the villa walls. Kotschy’s geckos are shorter and stockier, tending to be shy and nocturnal, though you may see them warming in the sun in the late afternoon. These are both completely harmless and kids love to catch them.

We don’t have rabbits in Tuscany, but we do have hares. Hares are mainly nocturnal, but you can sometimes see them nibbling dandelions or grasses on people’s lawns or in the fields.

The European, or Common, toad can reach up to 6 inches in length. Behind their eyes are two bulging glands that emit a noxious substance to deter predators. Look for them at night along dirt roads, or as they randomly hop through the olive grove in the early morning. They tend to hide under stumps, logs, and large rocks during the day.

The Italian wolf (also known as the Apennine wolf) is a subspecies of the gray wolf. You can sometimes hear them howling in the afternoon or early evening. There are about 3,300 wolves in Italy and they are featured prominently throughout Italian culture and legend, including during the founding of Rome. The wolf is considered the unofficial national animal of Italy.

While rather uncommon in Chianti, you will sometimes see Mouflon crossing the roads at night. They are more common in the Apuan Alps of northwestern Tuscany. You will find a headmount of a mouflon sheep in the billiard room.