The Farm and Farmhouse Le Poggiola:
Introducing the Barsi Family

The name: "Le Pòggiola" is an irregular plural as the original farm was composed by five estates with the antique names of: Pòggiola 1, Pòggiola 2, La Poggiolina Alta, La Guardia and l’Uccelleria.

It’s an unusual name because of its accent and the irregular plural, which derives from the union of these holdings which are called poggi (knolls) in Tuscan.

Le Pòggiola has been in the BARSI family since 1939, when it was bought off Carlo Barsi, the paternal grandfather.

The present owners: signora Giovanna, originally from Milan and Gian Paolo, the husband, have lived there since 1971 with Lisa, one of their daughters.

Giovanna’s entrepeneurial spirit has given life to the holiday farm which started in the 80’s.

Nowadays she makes sure the garden is in bloom in all seasons. She picks its fruits so she can make delicious jams and sauces, and she scents the guest rooms with hand-made lavender sachets.



Gian Paolo’s passion for wine growing moved him to restructure the company system and to plant the first two hectares of vineyard in 1976.

Since then he follows personally the processes of vinification, aging and bottling.

Lisa, the ‘baby’in the family has inherited this love for the land and wine, and now manages the farm.

Apart from tasting oil and wine, one of her hobbies is cooking, both traditional and creative, so she often entertains herself and her guests by preparing some unique delicacies. She loves travelling too!

Her husband Luca is passionate about fly fishing and he manages the small lake as well as a local Club: the Valdinevole Mosca Club.

While her brother-in-law Paolo is the archery expert who manages the archery field ‘Uccelliera’ on the farm’s premises.

Silvia, the middle sister, is the artist in the family. She is a professional tour guide and often takes our guests around Tuscany, especially Florence.

Her passion is to write novels and poems and lives in Florence with her family. Her husband, Federico, is a goldsmith who creates beautiful jewellery both to wear and as pieces of art.

Laura, the eldest, is the family manager. She has lived in London for 20 years where she studied languages, specialising in French, and developped a passion for photography and gardening. Her husband, David, is a biologist and a musician. He loves biking, reading and, of course, good wine!