We’d had a villa in Tuscany for 16 booked since 2019. After two years of delays, they cancelled our booking with two months to go.
With my extended family to please, including my disabled mother and my octogenarian father, we started a desperate search for a villa that could tick our ambitious list of features. This vila was the closest we could find, and exceeded our expectations in every way…
The outside area is amazing. So much room and so much seating, all of which stays in shade all day. With two outside kitchens and being so close to the sunny pool area, the whole family could be together almost all the time (although there a plenty of private areas, balconies and a roof terrace to retreat to).
Our biggest concern was the pool. From the photos it’s hard to tell if it’s big enough to swim. I’m delighted to say it’s more than OK. I’d guess around 1.2m deep and 4x6m. It has built-in steps and seats along two edges. The steps don’t have railings, which meant getting my parents in and out was a group activity, but we managed – they swam every day.
The inside is simple, cool, well presented and all bedrooms had AC. We had two bedrooms on the ground floor, three on the first floor, and then there was the top floor: Reached by a spiral staircase, It’s not your standard affair. The staircase opens directly on to the tiled roof terrace, with seating and sunbeds. One door leads to the bedroom, another leads to an outdoor bathroom with sink, shower and toilet. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but we loved the poo with a view.
Finally, the owner is fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. Super-responsive, and so helpful. He arranged transfers and did everything he could to make our stay as straightforward as it could be. I honestly couldn’t be more grateful.
The town is a lovely place. We loved the gelatoria, and the cafes Tortuga and Vela. We visited La Capannina da Gino for meals and on the final night had a wonderful meal at Lido Sayonara, ending with live music and dancing. The local store, Holiday Market, was small but well stocked. We also had a big-shop delivered using the online delivery service listed in the 18-page handbook we received from the owner. We ordered on the Sunday, the delivery came Monday PM.
The only thing to really watch for are the trains. It’s a small station, with only a handful of trains every day. The ones we took to Noto and Syracuse were small (two carriages) and hot. Luckily, the journeys are less than 20 mins.