Cottage il Metato

The cottage is a restored "Metato" - a small building used to dry chestnuts for making special chestnut flour. Situated on the edge of the countryside, it has an open view, as it is the last house in the village of Partigliano. There is an outdoor area with private parking, and use of the swimming pool (50 meters from the cottage). More pictures and details here:

€475 a week in the low season (now!).

Roccaforte

Apartment Roccaforte in Barberino Val d'Elsa has 5 rooms and 4+1 beds: living room, kitchen/dining room on the ground floor, two double bedrooms, each with bathroom, on the first floor, and also an attic with access to a terrace which overlooks the village and the countryside. A splendid private garden complete the property which has an independent entrance directly on the central square of Tignano Castle.

Santa Fausta

The apartment Santa Fausta is part of an ancient farmhouse on top of a hill from which you can enjoy a stunning view over the medieval village of Lucignano. On the side of the cottage there is a garden that leads to the swimming pool. The apartment is on two floors connected by a wooden staircase. Lucignano is a beautiful medieval village with its characteristic and unique oval plan; it is located close to major roads and railways that connect the most important art cities of central Italy. Pets are welcome. Euro 500 a week in the low season, 900 in high season.

Villa Toscana Podere Le Capanne

Villa Podere le Capanne is located in Tuscany and was renovated in 2009. The villa is situated in open countryside surrounded by green landscape, located at the foot of Montecastelli Pisano around Sillani Rocca fortress. The farm has a beautiful view and allows you to enjoy breathtaking sunsets. Prices start at 359 euro a week in the off season!

Il Pruno

The house, located in a tiny village from the 18th century, has been completely restored. Situated in the hills of Tuscany and Umbria, far from urban traffic and surrounded by green forests, it has a beautiful swimming pool of 15 x 6 meters, a children's play area, barbecue, and very original gazebo. Il Pruno is perfect for those who really want to get away from the chaos of the city, take long walks, and enjoy nature. 1,600 euro a week in the low season, 2,500 a month. Sleeps up to 14!

La Locanda del Moro

La Locanda del Moro is a stone farmhouse, completely restored using traditional Tuscan materials like brick, chestnut wood and stone. La Locanda del Moro offers its guests the chance to taste dishes of traditional Tuscan cuisine, thanks to the many excellent and typical foods of the area, to be rediscovered in front of the stone fireplace in winter. La Locanda del Moro is an excellent starting point to discover the most picturesque corners of Garfagnana with itineraries on foot, horseback, bicycle or car, with very experienced local guides. A holiday at Locanda del Moro is an unforgettable experience for all five senses.

Wine events in Tuscany

If you are staying in one of our villas in the country or one of our luxury apartments in the amazing Renaissance city of Florence, there are a couple of very important wine tastings coming up you may be interested in:

The Chianti Classico Collection - February 17 and 18 at the Stazione Leopolda in Florence

Benvenuto Brunello - February 22, 23, 24, and 25

Check the links for more details on these events.

Snow in Florence and Tuscany

There was a great winter storm (great if you like snow!) in Tuscany and Florence last Friday night into Saturday. Snow in Florence is sort of a rare event, and the city looks amazing coated in white. Here is a photo:

Want to taste just-pressed olive oil - straight from Tuscany's olive groves?

When you think olive oil, you think Italy - and for good reason. Italy produces some of the most flavorful and highest quality oils in the world. While they are the second largest producer (behind Spain) of olive oil, Italians are the number one consumer of this 'liquid gold.' It is a precious heirloom, and just-pressed oil tastes unlike any other.

Tuscany opens its doors during the harvesting and pressing of oil. Festivals pop up in small towns, families living on orchards post 'open' signs along the road. You can often help pick olives, watch them be pressed and learn how to taste and compare the complexities of olive oils. This 'taste of Tuscany' is unlike any other.

The olive oil trees are harvested just once a year, primarily during the month of November. In most cases, the olives are combed or handpicked off the trees and fall into nets on the ground below. The olives are then gathered, put in slotted containers and pressed within 24-72 hours.

While there are many tree varieties, the four most common are frantoio, leccino, moraiolo, and divastro. Each of these trees determines the oil's distinct flavor; some orchards will have more than one variety. Quality depends on the trees used, the pressing process and growing region. It also depends on time, heat and light. Made with great care, the best quality oils have a shelf life of 2 years; they should be kept in the dark (note dark bottles) and away from heat. The color of the oil is due to the variety of olives used---and has no bearing on quality. Tuscan oil has a distinct green color and ranges from naturally spicy to sweet and mild.

Olive oil is as unique as wine in terms of care, harvesting and flavor profiles. One olive orchard owner lamented the fact that restaurants don't have 'olive oil lists' to accompany traditional 'wine lists.'

Tuscany boasts some of the best olive oil in the world; many associations, cities and cooperatives are organizing special itineraries and opening olive oil pressings to the public. November is a great time of year to visit olive mills (frantoi), to observe the crushing and to taste first-hand, just pressed olive oil. There is nothing like the flavor of new oil; it is used directly on salads, sandwiches and for dipping bread. 'Old oil' is primarily used for cooking - last year's harvest is considered old. Think of cookies: they are amazing just out of the oven. Even though they are still delicious a few days later, they lose that fresh, just out of the oven quality. The same is true of olive oil: you will never forget the mouth-feel and novelty of tasting new oil - while staying in the heart of Italy.

Tuscany's Reggello region is situated southeast of Florence, borders Arrezzo and Umbria to the east and the Chianti hills and Siena to the west. Reggello has 'Oil Routes' that you can follow; this year in Florence's Piazza Santa Croce they had 'The Extra Virgin Olive Oil Fair of Reggello' - an event with over a dozen olive oil producers, where visitors could taste as many olive oils (as well as sample Vin Santo, wine, and olive oil lotions and soaps). If you drive through Reggello's hilly landscape, you can visit many mills. A few of the mills are Frantoio Pasquini, Frantoio di Santa Tea and Terre di San Gorgone.

To soak up Reggello's oil routes and more, consider renting a villa in olive country from Tuscany Rent Direct. Tuscany Rent Direct offers many well-appointed country homes - here are a few that are ideally situated to enjoy Tuscany's annual olive pressing events:

Villa Leopoldina

Casa del Torrente

Podere Castelli