🦌 FAUNA – Encounters With the Wild

Roe Deer – Graceful and serene, these elegant creatures often appear at sunrise and sunset, gliding silently through the forest or pausing in the meadows near the villa.

Wild Boars – Most active at dawn or nightfall, they can often be heard or seen grazing with their young in the fields surrounding the estate.

Foxes – Stealthy and clever, foxes are fascinating to spot during the quieter hours of the day, moving swiftly with sharp eyes and elegant caution.

Pheasants – Easily spotted during nature walks or even around the villa grounds, their bright plumage adds a colorful touch to the landscape.

Squirrels – Delightful companions during forest strolls, often seen darting across paths and climbing trees with agile ease.

Porcupines – Shy but impressive, they tend to remain hidden, yet may appear near bushes or cross your path during quiet nighttime walks.

Weasels & Badgers – The elusive weasel moves with quiet agility, while the more robust badger often climbs woodland slopes during twilight.

Birds of Prey –

– Peregrine Falcons: masters of speed and precision, often seen diving in flight.

– Kestrels: smaller raptors that hunt insects and reptiles in the Tuscan fields.
Keep your eyes on the skies — they’re often seen soaring above the villa.

Hoopoes – Rare and striking, with their unique crest, they’ve made their nests in the cypress trees of the villa — making sightings easy and delightful.

Grey Heron – With elegant grace, this majestic bird is often found dancing quietly in the still corners of nearby ponds.

Magpies & Grey Crows – Constantly in motion, these two territorial birds have also nested in the villa’s cypress trees.

Swallows & Swifts – Watch them dance across the sky each spring, as they return to nest in the villa’s stone farmhouse.

Sparrows – Their cheerful chirping provides a natural soundtrack at dawn and dusk, especially near the cypress trees.

Owls & Barn Owls – Abundant in the reserve, their presence is often revealed by their haunting night calls and ghostlike flight around the villa.

Bats – Several species live beneath the villa’s roof tiles, including:

– the Big-Eared Bat, with its distinctively long ears;

– the Common Bat, agile and quick over cool air currents;

– and the Itys, a small but precise hunter of the night.

🌳 FLORA – A Botanical Tapestry of Tuscany

Centuries-Old Olive and Cypress Trees – Emblematic of Tuscany, these noble trees shape the horizon with their ageless presence and serene strength.

Ancient Oaks – Mighty and majestic, their spreading canopies offer cool shade along woodland paths.

Holm Oak – A robust evergreen oak with dark foliage, thriving in the Tuscan soil and forming dense woodlands.

Ash Trees – Recognizable by their pale bark and slender leaves, often found near streams and valleys — signs of fertile land.

Hornbeam – With its smooth gray bark and oval leaves, the hornbeam marks the edges of forests and paths in graceful rows.

Aromatic Herbs – Juniper, rosemary, lavender, and thyme grow wild and abundant, releasing their distinctive scents into the air.

An Invitation to Slow Exploration

In this protected natural sanctuary, the beauty of Tuscany reveals itself not only through the eyes, but through scent, sound, and silence. Every walk becomes a sensory journey, every corner a chance for discovery — perfect for those seeking both tranquility and adventure.

A stay at Villa Le Ginepraie is not just a retreat, but a doorway to the vibrant life of the Tuscan land.