Villas in Certaldo
Certaldo is a walled hill town in the Val d'Elsa where Boccaccio was born, with a funicular up to the old streets. Nearly all homes here have a private pool, and most sit a short drive from town. Plan on hiring a car, with Florence or Pisa airport about an hour away.
- Villas
- 25
- From, per week
- £336
About Certaldo
Certaldo's old town, the Castello, stands inside walls with gates including Porta al Sole and Porta Alberti. You climb on foot by Costa Alberti or Costa Vecchia, or take the funicular from Piazza Boccaccio. There is no main square; Via Boccaccio does the job, lined with the church, Palazzo Pretorio and the old market loggia. Giovanni Boccaccio, author of the Decameron, was born here and his house is now a museum. Local pride runs on the Certaldo onion, which appears in the Decameron and gives residents their nickname, cipolloni. The homes lie close around the town, nearly all with a private pool and a garden, and about half sleep six or more. Air conditioning is far from universal. Summer evenings bring Mercantia, a street arts festival in July, and in winter it is worth checking museum opening times before the climb.
Is Certaldo right for you?
- Best for
- Pool stays within easy reach of San Gimignano and Florence
- Not for you if
- You need air conditioning as standard, because most homes here do without it.
Near Certaldo
San Gimignano
Hill town of 13 surviving medieval towers, listed as a World Heritage Site since 1990; easy to reach from Certaldo.
Florence
Certaldo has trains to Florence Santa Maria Novella, and the drive to Florence airport takes around 50 minutes.
Pisa
About an hour by road to Pisa airport, or around an hour and a half by train via Empoli and Pisa Centrale.
Getting to Certaldo
Florence airport is around 50 minutes by road and Pisa airport about an hour. By train, Certaldo links to Florence Santa Maria Novella, then a tram reaches Florence airport in about an hour and 20 minutes in all; Pisa airport takes around an hour and a half via Empoli. Hire a car for homes outside town.
When to go to Certaldo
Mercantia fills the old town with street performers each July, and a historical re-enactment inspired by the Decameron follows each September, so those months have the most going on. Winter is the quiet end of the year, when it is worth checking museum and restaurant hours in the old town. A private pool matters mostly in summer, and air conditioning is worth asking about.
Villas in Certaldo
2-star property
Conte Francesco I
Certaldo, Tuscany Chianti, Italy
4
2
0
BBQFireplaceGarden+8 more
from£67
per nightCertaldo villa holidays: questions answered
Can you reach the old town of Certaldo without climbing?
Yes. A funicular runs from Piazza Boccaccio up to the walled Castello. The alternative is walking up the old streets of Costa Alberti or Costa Vecchia.
Where is Certaldo?
Certaldo sits in the Val d'Elsa, in the Empoli area of Tuscany. It works well as a base for San Gimignano, which is easy to reach, and for Florence by train.
Does a villa in Certaldo come with a pool?
Nearly always: almost every home here has a private pool, and a garden is common too. Air conditioning is less usual, so ask before booking for July or August.
Certaldo or San Gimignano?
Certaldo gives you a small walled town with a funicular and Boccaccio's house. San Gimignano has 13 surviving medieval towers and a World Heritage listing. They sit close enough to combine on one stay.
When is Mercantia in Certaldo?
Mercantia, a street arts festival, takes place each July. A Decameron-themed historical re-enactment is held in September, so check the dates for the year you travel.
Nearby towns to Certaldo
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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