We will be in Europe next summer, with a stop in Tuscany. We plan to rent a villa/Airbnb/VRBO in Tuscany for 7-10 nights. Having only ever day-tripped to Tuscany from Firenze in the past, I’m not that well-versed on the various towns/regions, so hoping some kind folks in this group can help. Here is what my wife and I have dreamt up:
-rent a villa that is “in the countryside” for tranquil privacy, but which is accessible by car to a nearby village (market, restaurants, etc)
-reasonable driving distance to great wineries to visit
-less crowded with tourists (is this even possible?)
-scenic medieval buildings
Yes it is possible, but others will have better 1st hand experience of staying in such properties in this region. Tuscany is indeed generally touristy, but set your sights away from the famous locations and you’ll have a different (and to my mind more enjoyable) experience.
If they’re still going, worth looking at Alisdair Sawday / special places to stay. Their aim was to promote the real/quirky and they can unearth some wonderful places to stay, often away from the bright lights.
Some agriturismo (farmstays) have apartment accommodation, and this can be a super option, especially where they do evening or weekend meals as well.
I’d personally set sights even more local, in looking for places where you can walk to a local alimentari, restaurant/trattoria, and thus avoid having to worry about that 2nd (or 3rd) glass of wine.
Driving is generally easy in Tuscany, but we always like to plan out a target car park when heading to another town for a day trip. With route locked in, it can be less stressful.
There’s decent choice on arrival/departure airports, with Pisa, Florence’s own airport, but also somewhere like Bologna in potential easy reach depending on which part of Tuscany you’re aiming for.
As it’s summer, worth considering whether you want a pool. Having that to come back to at the end of a day out and about is wonderful, but also so is an early morning swim to start the day off well. That might compromise the extreme of tranquillity, where you’re absolutely on your own, but there should be places where that pool might be shared between just 3-4 apartments.
Two years ago we did a week in Manciano. We loved it. Small town that is walkable. It never felt crowed or full of tourists. Restaurants are few but very good. Good, not great wineries nearby. Reasonable distance to pitigliano, saturnia, scansano, and the coast. Sienna while farther away is under a 2 hours drive.
There is a long backstory as to how we ended up here. It would have never been my first choice. I am sure there are other places that better meet your list of attributes. However, if one wants a less touristy experience, I highly recommend it. Arguably the best day of the trip was laundry day when we all went to the laundromat and enjoyed a long lunch of wine and plates of cheese, charcuterie, and other treats that the owner kept bringing out.
AirBnb and VRBO are taking a huge toll in parts of Italy and you’ll have a better experience with other accommodations. It’s worth checking out agriturismo options in areas you are interested in, I know Le Ragnaie has an agriturismo and there are plenty of others who will too. If you want something more secluded from others it would be worth checking with wineries you hope to visit to ask for local recommendations, I’ve had great experiences with that approach in Barolo.
We stayed at a really nice one with 3 other couples that I would highly recommend. But you need 8 - 10 people. Let me know if you’re going with friends or family and I can give you more info.
But yes, I have spent a lotta time in Tuscany. Hit me up and and we can talk about what you wanna do, where (you think) you wanna stay and how long you’re gonna be there. brad@bradtrent.com
It was great. Located in a vineyard, but w/i walking distance to Montepulciano.We would walk up to town every morning for coffee and a croissant. Ate at several of the restaurants there.
Lots of wineries in Montepulciano and close to Montalcino too.
My wife and I were there for our 25th anniversary, five nights there and the rest in Siena.
Volterra is an Etruscan/Roman/Middle Ages walled town that mixes all three eras of architecture in a really amazing and charming way. Pretty well preserved roman ruins are everywhere, Etruscan gates and walls that are even older, and the rest is solid Middle Ages stuff-- no room for cars, it’s mostly a walking town. Solid restaurants. Not too bad on tourists. Everyone is super friendly. Maybe not right IN wine country but a short drive away (the closest is the underrated Maremma DOC region.). There’s an American woman (or was) there who married a man from there and did a daily tour for $20 that was well worth it for English speakers. They also recently discovered a Roman Colosseum just right outside the walls that had been “forgotten” and only rediscovered like 9 years ago, digs still ongoing.
Not sure if it fits ALL of your criteria but we love Lucca and have stayed there several times. I believe there are villa/Airbnb/VRBO in the area and certainly quality wineries to visit nearby.
The walled city of Lucca has everything you might want want, restaurants, sites, wine bars, some quality shopping etc etc.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions, will look into everything.
I have no idea if this is realistic or not, but my wife’s “vision” is the privacy/beauty of a Tuscan villa (rolling hills, vines, olives, etc) but where it isn’t a long drive (could even be a walk) to get to the closest town where we can stock up on groceries, eat at a restaurant, shop, and generally immerse in the culture.
Again, I have no basis on which to compare, but when I picture walled towns, I envision more flats/stacked homes that won’t have the land or space of something more rural.
We stayed in a villa with some land and tremendous views about 600 meters from Volterra’s city walls. Walked a bit uphill past the Etruscan walls to the old walled city every day, and a grocery store was along the walk. Kinda ideal, for what we were looking for (which sounds similar to what you are seeking).