All year long we search for local people who are passionate about their work, who generously share a phenomenal experience at a local price. These are the moments and connections that will make your Tuscan vacation unforgettable!
WINE TASTINGS
Among the hundreds of options, let us connect you to the wineries that best fit your style of wine tasting! We only select wineries when we really believe in what these vintners are trying to achieve, and they represent the best experiences for our guests. Two of the finest wines in all of Italy are here–Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
COOKING CLASSES
Learn to cook like an Italian! We have different cooking class options to suit your interest level and time. Choose from a 5-star Michelin gourmet chef course, or an authentic four-course meal at a local farmhouse, or our professional chef friend can come to your apartment and give the lesson in your “own home”. Your friends and family will be impressed and grateful for your new culinary skills. Win, win!
SPECIAL MEALS
Is “dinner of a lifetime” on your Italy wishlist? We have assembled an array of unique, evocative dining options for our guests. Set in beautiful and historic locations, the menus are comprised of fresh local ingredients by superb cooks and chefs, provided solely for our guests. You can be certain that the entire experience will be a treat—the food, the service, the setting, and the value.
CHEESE TASTING
Our area is world famous for sheep’s cheese, Pecorino di Pienza. Visit a family farm where they raise Sardinian sheep on wild herbs and grasses, learn how they make their 15 varieties of exquisite cheese, visit the fattoria and aging cellars, and then enjoy a generous farm-to-table lunch overlooking the valley. They have received many awards both local and national, and they have been mentioned in prominent Italian and international journals of food and wine. Delizioso!
PRIVATE TRUFFLE HUNT
You can find truffles here most of the year, but it is in the fall that the white truffle is found—the king of delicacies. One of our properties has a small, private truffle reserve, and we are delighted to hunt for truffles when possible, but nearby is the larger truffle area of San Giovanni d’Asso. We’ll organize a hunt with the truffle hunter and his specially trained truffle dogs and a translator, and then a meal that includes the taste of the truffle.
WINE TASTING TOUR WITH PRIVATE DRIVER AND VAN
If you’d like to visit three wineries with a light lunch – free to enjoy the scenery and wine with no worries about driving!–we will organize a full-day of vineyard visits and tastings with a private driver and wine specialist. What a treat!
CITY TOURS
The great art cities are fascinating but can also be overwhelming. It is our pleasure to reserve, for you, the best local guides who can eliminate the stress and make the history come alive for you in beautiful Florence, Siena, and more. If you’re visiting cities on your own, we are more than happy to call ahead and make museum reservations for you, so that you can skip the waiting lines and walk right in.
CUSTOMIZED DAY TRIPS
If you’d like to go see some renowned places in Tuscany and Umbria, we are happy to suggest to you day-trip itineraries that can be done on your own or with a certified tour guide and/or private driver. We work with outstanding guides for all the areas within a two-hour driving distance, including Cortona, Volterra, San Gimignano, Assisi, Chiusi, Arezzo, Orvieto, and Civita di Bagnoregio.
YOUR INNER ARTIST
Get in touch with your inner artist! Tuscany has attracted and inspired artists for centuries, and we’re lucky to host great talent here today. Even if you haven’t picked up a paintbrush since childhood, you could create a beautiful keepsake in a watercolor painting class with our professional painter friend. Or, if the shutter and lens is your medium of choice, go on a photo safari with a landscape photographer who knows all the best places and tips to capture quintessential images of Tuscany.
MASSAGE & THERMAL SPAS
Your muscles may be tired after all your adventuring. Enjoy a relaxing or therapeutic massage without leaving the comfort of your Tuscan “home.” Our own Cretaiole olive oil will make your skin glow and your massage can be arranged in your room or overlooking the olive orchard. And if you’d like to go out for a spa day, there are spa towns nearby offering personal services (massages, cold water plunges, facials, etc.). Our area is also full of thermal activity with several excellent hot springs.
MOUNTAIN BIKING & CYCLING
For those who like the wind in their hair, we can tell you about a plethora of cycling options nearby. From mountain biking the forested slopes of Monte Amiata, to pedaling the quiet gravel roads of the valley, or racing village to village on a road bike, advanced and beginner cyclists will love it. If you’re worried about the hills, we can even get you an E-bike! All cycling tours can be arranged independently or with a professional guide, according to your preference.
PHOTO SAFARI
For those who have a passion for photography, you can join a local professional landscape photographer and visit the best locations, with incredible lighting and remarkable views. You’ll want to frame and hang your own precious souvenirs!
HOT AIR BALLOONING
Imagine floating over the vineyards and olive groves at sunrise. Very near our village is the launch site for hot air balloon rides. Our friends will usher you into an unforgettable experience, including a champagne breakfast and incomparable views of the beautiful places in our valley, that you will have already come to love. This is a special way to celebrate life and love with someone special. Just remember to bring your camera—this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you will treasure.
YOGA CLASSES
Imagine an early morning or late afternoon yoga class with the Val d’Orcia as your backdrop. The view alone will immediately put you in a zen mood! Our yoga teachers have years of experience and look forward to helping you with your postures and certainly getting you into the zone. Private or group classes are available on site or at local studios.
HORSE BACK RIDING
With a guide, you will explore the country side and at your own pace and view the wonders of our valley.
