Buongiorno! They say we are fulfilling dreams of real Tuscany. The address is right, the Val di Cecina hills. A cypress road, a stone “borgo” on a hill and a view from the window of olive groves and vineyards.

But what exactly is this “real Tuscany”? Maybe it’s Chianti Classico ice cream in Volterra, or morning shopping in Montecatini Val di Cecina, where a farmer sells fresh fruit and vegetables straight from his car? Maybe a visit to Lajatico, the hometown of Andrea Bocelli and a coffee drunk slowly on a cobblestone street? For some, it’s full sun and lazy sunbathing on the White Beach (Spiagge Bianche). For others, quite the opposite, fast descents on two wheels on Tuscan serpentines, the wind in your hair and calves on fire. Or maybe it’s just a house with a swimming pool on a hill? Smelling of cypresses, where you can do nothing, slowly, without a plan, with wine in your hand and the croaking of frogs in the background.

We invite you to discover your favorite version of Tuscany. We will tell you where to get lost to find the best pub and which rivers the locals choose when the heat is taking its toll. We kindly warn you, love for Tuscany is an incurable feeling. We fell in love in 2011, when we first visited Volterra and its surroundings.

Among the Tuscan hills in a borgo that has as much charm as the years. It is a classic hamlet rebuilt from ruins in 2008. With a 360° view of the Val di Cecina valley, one of the most beautiful in the region. Of the dozen or so apartments, only a few are rented to tourists, and one of them is our Arancia (Italian for orange) for up to 4 people.

We renovated the apartment ourselves in 2022, following a simple principle: we prepared everything we would expect as guests. We took care of the details, from dishwasher and washing machine capsules to guides in several languages.

Arancia is 45 m² of air-conditioned comfort, a bright living room with a large, equipped kitchenette, dining room, separate bedroom.

In the living room you will find a sofa bed for two people (140x200 cm), an armchair, a coffee table and a bookcase full of guides to Tuscany (in English, German, Italian and Polish). In the bedroom there is a comfortable bed (160x200 cm), a large wardrobe and an additional chest of drawers. In the bathroom - a shower, towels and basic cosmetics.

The kitchen is fully equipped, you will find here a gas hob, oven, large fridge with freezer, dishwasher and washer-dryer. The dining room with a window overlooking the hills will accommodate four people, and if you decide to watch a movie in the evening, there is a TV with Netflix. Although with such views it is almost a crime. 😉

In the courtyard there are garden furniture exclusively for your use and a shared swimming pool, usually open from May to September - it all depends on the whims of the weather. It is rarely crowded here, because Tuscany effectively draws you into traveling.

And if you’re planning on exploring on two wheels, we’ve got a pump, inner tubes and a tool kit – just in case the trail decides to get adventurous.

In the apartment you will find a fully equipped kitchen with an oven, so you can cook with local ingredients bought at the mobile market. On site, a Bialetti coffee machine with a supply of capsules awaits you, and to start your stay off right, a set of welcome drinks and snacks - water, beer, wine, sweets, grissini and other delicacies.

However, we encourage you to take a break from the kitchen. After all, Italians know very well that the way to a person's heart is through their stomach. We will tell you where you will eat the best!

Two kilometres from here, among the hills, our friend Magda runs the restaurant "Osteria Etrusca" with her husband. Be sure to let us know when you are going there for dinner - we will reveal the rest on the spot.

A little further away, in Saline di Volterra, Il Vecchio Mulino is doing great. And in Volterra itself? Everything your heart (and stomach) desires – from the brilliant street food at La Sosta del Priore, to the delicious Italian cuisine at Il Poggio, to the dozens of pizzerias and wine bars. Truffles are a local must, and for dessert? Award-winning ice cream from Isola del Gusto.

Maybe we should start by saying that if someone feels like getting bored in the spirit of sweet idleness (Il dolce far niente), we invite you to the pool. You can float there carefree like an orange in Aperol or sit comfortably on a deckchair, with a morning espresso and your favorite book in your hand.

And if you prefer more active, there is plenty to choose from. We start with the obligatory classics: Volterra at your fingertips, then Pisa, Siena and of course Florence - the pearl of the Renaissance, with the majestic Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio and countless museums.

We also recommend less touristy corners: San Gimignano, Lajatico, Lucca, Grosseto... and finally dozens of picturesque towns scattered across the hills of our valley - Montecatini Val di Cecina, Querceto and many others.

In season, concerts, art, Italian cuisine and wine festivals take place almost every evening. Out of season? Tuscany slows down and you can savor it even more slowly.

We love Tuscany and we want to spread this love! We know the addresses that don't make it into tourist brochures. We have prepared for you a subjective, constantly updated collection of secrets of the area and the entire region - from less obvious places, through our favorite routes, tips (more or less practical).

Are you a fan of two wheels? Tuscany is a paradise for cyclists. The asphalt route starts right next to the house, the climbs are solid, the views even better.

And if you decide to spend an evening with Netflix anyway, we won't judge - but we loyally warn you that Tuscany is more addictive than many a series.

For little explorers, we have a whole range of adventures. Trips to the river, where only the locals splash, trips to the sea, which is within reach, and a swimming pool right under your nose! Although there is no separate paddling pool, the steps work great as a splashing zone under the watchful eye of parents.

The youngest will definitely love Vinci: in the house where Leonardo was born, he himself talks to us, and in the local museum named after him, there are plenty of interactive models of Leo's inventions. Yes, yes, Leonardo from Vinci!

There is a small desk in the bedroom. There is a large table in the dining room. There is good wifi. Other amenities? Amazing views out the window to accommodate the eye torn away from the computer screen!