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Tradition & hospitality. Villa Le Capanne knows a thing or two about it…
Last week 12 of my amazing blogging friends, plus yours truly, spent a long weekend at this little gem of a place, kindly organised by the wonderful Bookings for You.
If you’re planning a holiday with friends, a birthday celebration or a destination wedding
make sure you keep reading, because I cannot think of a better place.
Grab a cuppa, take in these views, and just picture yourself here…
This is no ordinary villa… let me show you around
As we drove through the rolling hills of Tuscany on our way from Pisa airport to Villa Le Capanne, our car gently hugging the turns of the winding country roads, we were all of us lost in the views – our conversations were constantly interrupted by oohs and ahhs.
When we reached the villa, which perches atop a hill, the first thing we saw was a beautiful olive grove. The Tuscan countryside was below, and behind the farmhouse, the mountains and as a centrepiece was the beautiful 100 year old farmhouse – you can’t help but be impressed by its character and charm.
Our lovely hosts, Vera and Dario from Giovaninni enterprises were there to greet us with wide smiles and platters featuring several types of meats and cheeses and of course, a few bottles of fizz – what a welcome! I’ve got to say that both Vera and Dario’s extraordinary warmth and attentiveness blew me away – they went well beyond what I’ve ever experienced before, simply fantastic.
Vera and Dario showed us around the villa (which sleeps 22 people over 9 bedrooms), sharing their stories about the magnificent renovation they’ve recently completed of the century-old building, such as how they kept most of the original furniture as well as many of the house’s original features. The lounge area is very spacious and bright, with ample seating perfect for a large group of friends, or for families to lounge around after a day of exploring.
There are three separate seating areas, two of which inside, and one lovely big wooden table on the patio overlooking those amazing views. Can’t you just imagine yourself with a glass of red, picking at cured meats and local cheeses… postcard-perfect.
The rooms
The property’s nine rooms have been carefully designed, each with its own style but fitting perfectly with the villa’s traditional Tuscan look – the owners want you to really experience what Tuscan life is like, but with all the modern touches you’d expect in a luxury accommodation – think rustic chic, with a touch of luxury.
I loved the little touches, such as the olive branches placed delicately on the towels, and the gorgeous antique double mirror in our bathroom which matched my bed’s headboard. Claire from Tin Box Traveller and I stayed in one of the two luxury suites, which beside being incredibly spacious, and the largest bathroom I’ve ever seen, also had the most breathtaking views…
The Spa & Pool area
The villa has the most incredible spa area, with an enormous hot tub (it fit us all!), a massage table (you can book massages directly with the villa) and a relaxation area . The large pool is located just up from the spa and the suite rooms, and although it wasn’t open as the temperatures were still a bit too low, I could definitely imagine myself have an early morning swim surrounded by nothing but spectacular views. Spa & pool towels provided, of course!
Catering options
I will write a separate post all about the scrumptious food we were lucky enough to sample while staying at Le Campanne, but I wanted to include a bit of a glimpse of what the options are.
Self-catering
The villa has a well-proportioned kitchen, split into two areas, a huge fridge and everything you would need to cook up a great Italian meal.
Villa catering
Having said that, I can’t say enough about the Giovaninnis’ skill with food. Their emphasis is on slow food and farm to table, ensuring everything you’re served hasn’t travelled for more than 20 miles – how’s that for sustainable?!
You can choose from a variety of catering options, from a breakfast basket every day to a large brunch; a pizza party or a mama’s cooking dinner – the choices are endless.
Days out
The villa is perfectly located within 20 minutes of the medieval town of Volterra, and near both Sienna, Florence and Pisa, not to mention endless Tuscan towns you just have to visit – I wish we had more time to wander around the region, soaking up the good views and eating all the amazing food up… a good excuse to come back! I will be sharing what we got up to over a long weekend, which I hope will give you a good idea of just how much you can see using Villa Le Capanne as a base to explore Tuscany. But for now, here’s a taster…
As you can see, Country Relais & Spa Le Capanne has well and truly thought of it everything – and it’s all been meticulously chosen too. I cannot wait to come back! If you’d like to see what my wonderful fellow bloggers had to say:
Mini Travellers – Villa Le Capanne, Tuscany with Bookings For YoMini Travellers – Villa Le Capanne, Tuscany with Bookings For You
Flying with a Baby – Review of Country Relais & Spa Le Capanne – A Luxury Villa in Tuscany
Like Love Do – A Tuscan Experience
Extraordinary Chaos – STAYING AT COUNTRY RELAIS AND SPA LE CAPANNE WITH BOOKINGS FOR YOU
Ting from My Travel Monkey – A long weekend in Tuscany with Villa Le Capanne
Tin Box Traveller – A Luxury Villa Holiday in Tuscany
Parent Shaped– Tuscan Mommas: Villa le Capanne
Otis and Me – Country Relais & Spa Le Capanne in Tuscany
n.b I was very lucky to have been invited and hosted by Bookings for You and Country Relais & Spa Le Capanne, but as always all opinions are my own.
