Travel is about many things: learning and understanding new cultures and – importantly – reflecting upon one’s own; delighting in new languages; meeting new people; staying in a relaxing location; and refreshing one’s curiosity about life.
‘La Tacherina’ is a beautiful, warm, homey spot high in the Tuscan Hills. Enrico and his daughter Marta are beautiful, warm, human beings. They are both absolutely delightful to deal with and very clearly love their home and want you to enjoy it to the full.
La Tacherina is about a 15-minute drive up the hillsides through Gavile – with its 1000 year-old church – and onward. What begins as a narrow country road becomes a really narrow back road, and then becomes a really, really, narrow dirt road, but, eventually, home hoves into sight and two very excited dogs bark out a welcome! Excited, because the hamlet wherein one finds La Tacherina is but four houses and countless olive and fig trees.
Enrico showed us around and we were greeted with a bowl piled high with local strawberries, a bottle of Chianti, an Easter cake, Easter eggs, dried salami and a basket of breadsticks. Our welcome extended to a greeting from ‘Felice’ – the resident outdoor cat [our name for him]. He may be fed at your own discretion and he is the most well-behaved feline we have ever met. Gracious, appreciative and largely content with his own company. Oh, and he loves sleeping in the olive tree overhanging one of the patios.
The ‘home’ – which it is and is distinctly not a ‘house’ – is a lovely two-story building, renovated in 2001 from an old coach house. Upstairs has two bedrooms, a bathroom with shower and spectacular views. Downstairs is a large area comprising a living room, dining room, second bathroom also with shower, and a good-sized kitchen. The place is well equipped although it does not have an oven, although you could use the BBQ outside.
One day the neighbouring children peeked through the fence and their grandmother appeared with a basket of freshly laid eggs for us. We returned the favour with a chocolate Easter bunny and chocolate eggs. Rarely have we seen a more appreciative audience – the children were positively giddy with joy!
It should be added that we were joined by two close friends who had never visited Italy and La Tacherina touched off their love affair. All in all, a fabulous place with wonderful hosts. We experienced Tuscany with its delightful charm, thanks again, Enrico & Marta!