Hidden gem in the hills near Siena

It's only 20 minutes from my house to this agriturismo and yet I had never heard of it before. So really a hidden gem! This beautiful authentic 18th century Tuscan hamlet is only 15 minutes’ drive from Siena. Situated on a hill it commands a spectacular view of the city. From the square you can see the towers of the famous Piazza del Campo in Siena. To get to the house you have to drive up a little dirt road but when you arrive you will feel you are in a bygone Tuscany. I was kindly received by the owner and Francesco, half English and half Italian. They gave me an extensive tour of the property and I have peeked inside all of the 11 apartments. The agriturismo consists of several farmhouses in which the apartments are located. There are also two villas. The owners live in one of them and the other one is for rent. My Italy does not rent out this villa, we only rent the 11 apartments. 

Dinner on the piazza!

The piazza, or square, is the central point of the agriturismo. This is where the reception and the restaurant are situated. Weather permitting and given there is enough interest, once or twice a week dinner is served on this piazza. A unique experience: Dining under the stars at long tables with  distant views of Siena! It's up to the guests to decide whether they want a complete Tuscan menu, BBQ or a delicious wood oven pizza. There is always plenty of wine  so fun is assured! Upon request, cooking classes and wine tastings can also be organized.

The agriturismo has a game room for teenagers with a ping-pong table, wifi, pool table and TV. There are two pools on the property. One pool is only accessible to adults (this pool is very deep), the other pool is for families with children. There is a herb and vegetable garden, which are used for the dinners, but may also be picked by guests. Just let Francesco know what it is you would like from the vegetable garden and he is happy to help.

The apartments

The agriturismo has a total of 11 apartments spread over several farmhouses. And although the agriturismo and the apartments are not new, I noticed that they are still in good condition and well cared for. The whole place is well maintained. All apartments have a private terrace, balcony or garden where you can eat al fresco. Some apartments have a balcony with stunning views, others have a terrace among the olive groves. There is certainly enough space here! The apartments are rustic and have a typical classic Tuscan interior, often combined with some modern elements. All apartments have wifi, a washing machine and a dishwasher, but no television.

In short

A welcoming, authentic Tuscan hamlet near Siena. Especially suitable for families with children because of the large apartments. The communal dinners on the piazza are certainly worth it!