In 1997, Sting bought a 16th-century Tuscan estate as a family retreat; the 865-acre property now produces organic wine, olive oil, honey and fruit |

PC: Il Palagio Official website​

Above the Tuscan town of Figline Valdarno, among the hills of the Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Il Palagio occupies a large stretch of farmland with a history reaching back centuries. The estate became part of Sting and Trudie Styler’s life in 1997, when the couple bought the historic property and began restoring its buildings and agricultural land. What followed was not simply the renovation of a country retreat. The vineyards and olive groves were brought back into use, while new production developed around the estate. Today, Il Palagio operates as a working farm and vineyard, producing wine and olive oil alongside honey, fruit and other crops, while also opening parts of the property to visitors.

Il Palagio had centuries of farming history before Sting arrived

Il Palagio was already a substantial agricultural property long before Sting and Styler arrived. Records from the 16th century describe a 350-hectare estate spread across the countryside of the Chianti Colli Fiorentini area. At different points in its history, the land was associated with prominent Italian families and developed the practical features expected of a large rural estate.Agricultural production changed over the centuries. Oil mills, grain stores and wine-making facilities became part of its working life, leaving Il Palagio with a history tied as much to farming as to its architecture. The property that Sting and Styler acquired therefore came with an established agricultural identity, even if much of the work ahead involved restoring it.

How Sting and Styler restored Il Palagio as a family retreat

Sting and Trudie Styler purchased Il Palagio in 1997 and embarked on an extensive restoration of the estate. The work covered the villa as well as the surrounding farm buildings, vineyards and olive groves.For the family, the property became a summer base and a place where they could spend time away from their other homes. Over the years, it was also used for private gatherings, concerts and family occasions. The setting provided a quieter role for a property associated with a globally recognised musician: it became a lived-in country estate rather than simply a historic house.The restoration also had an agricultural side. Rather than separating the residential parts of Il Palagio from the land around them, Sting and Styler developed the estate as a functioning farm.

PC: Il Palagio Official website

The vineyards begin producing their own wine

Wine eventually became one of the most visible parts of that agricultural revival. The first vintage of Il Palagio’s Sister Moon Toscana IGT was produced in 2007, using grapes grown on the estate itself. The wine marked a point at which the restored property was producing something under its own name rather than simply serving as a private retreat. The estate’s output has since extended beyond grapes. Olive oil is produced from its groves, while the farm also produces honey and seasonal fruit including cherries, apricots and peaches.That mix reflects the older character of Il Palagio as a diversified agricultural estate. Its land is not devoted to a single crop, and the farm continues to combine several forms of production.

From private retreat to working farm

The transformation has made Il Palagio unusual among celebrity-owned country properties. Its history as a family home remains visible, but the estate also functions as an agricultural operation. The vineyards and olive groves form part of the productive landscape, while other parts of the farm support fruit and honey production. The emphasis on organic farming has also shaped how the estate presents itself today.For Sting and Styler, the property has become closely connected with both their private life and their interest in producing food and wine. The result is an estate where the residential and agricultural sides exist together rather than being treated as separate uses.

The estate opens its doors

Il Palagio has gradually become more accessible to visitors. In 2021, a farm shop and pizzeria opened on the estate, giving guests a way to experience its produce without simply visiting as private invitees.The shop offers Il Palagio wines, while the pizzeria adds another food-focused element to the property. Local aperitifs are also used in spritzes served there, bringing some of the surrounding Tuscan food and drink culture into the visitor experience.Then, in 2024, the estate introduced La Taverna dei Lupi, a pop-up street food and music venue in the hills. It opened to the public for the first time that year, with a programme that included performances by both local and international musicians.

A family home that still works as a farm

Il Palagio has retained its role as a summer home for Sting and Trudie Styler’s family, even as more of the estate has been developed for agricultural and visitor use. The villa and its surrounding buildings remain at the centre of the property, with the working landscape extending around them.Its evolution has taken place over decades rather than through a single renovation. The 16th-century estate became a private family base after the 1997 purchase, then developed further as vineyards, olive groves and other forms of production were restored and expanded.The property now combines several identities that have accumulated over its long history: historic Tuscan estate, family home, vineyard, organic farm and visitor destination. Its wine, olive oil, honey and fruit production give the land a working purpose, while the farm shop, pizzeria and seasonal events have created a public-facing side to a place that was once largely private.