Thinking of a Tuscan Farmhouse stay in Italy? If so, you must read on.
Many have searched all over Tuscany and never found what I found there, the heart of the light itself shelled and leaved, balancing on filaments themselves falling. The secret of this journey is to let the wind blow its dust all over your body. To let it go on blowing, to step lightly, lightly...
Rabind Tagore - The Journey
Why Tuscany?
Tuscany, Italy is super attractive, highly popular and a so very much loved region to visit for holiday or brief vacation. This particular region and its breathtaking countryside offers up an extraordinary amount of choices in accommodations - including hotels, apartment rentals, farmhouses and luxury villas in Tuscany. It should most definitely be part of all travelers itineraries planning a trip to Southern Europe, or more specifically, Italy.
Large city hotels or a rural Tuscany villas offer two completely different styles to fit every personality.
Personally, I am into farmhouse stays and the authentic look, feel and smells of Italy that it brings to my senses. If you too are interested, several of the larger travel websites offer information including pictures, descriptions and reviews of various rentals in the region. Reviews can help you chose the best accommodations for your vacation needs. No need to reinvent the wheel ever.
Tuscan Farmhouse Vacationing
If you like the countryside and escaping beyond the confines and commotion of metro living, farm holidays around Tuscany are a very popular method of basing yourself in the region while exploring such an exquisite region on your Italian travels. Getting to relax in tranquility in one of the many amazing Tuscany vacation home rentals I something that all of us should have on our bucket list. Farmhouses are often large, with six bedrooms not being uncommon and several convenient bathrooms for large families. They are large enough to accommodate a few couples or two families with children. Rent one with another family and split the cost of the rental. You and your friends will never forget it.
The typical farmhouse in Tuscany has thick walls, terra cotta floors and raftered ceilings.
Most are supplied with older furniture that is sometimes feels about the same age as the house, which isn’t always a bad thing because it adds to the authentic feeling of a farm holiday in Tuscany. The décor will frequently contain older paintings and photographs on the walls.
Most of these farm homes have been modernized however, enough to be highly comfortable, but without so much as to lose the traditional feeling. The kitchen will most likely have a wood combusting hearth for warmth and cooking. It will be possible to cook your meal here and it is recommended you make the efforts to do so.
Photo: A typical Italian wood fire hearth stove
Photo: Steak Rib with Rosemary - cooked in Wood Fired Oven
Alternatively, enjoy some of the local produce in the countless cafes spread all over the region.
The plumbing may not be totally modernized in many farmhouses. In addition, there tends to be low pressure for the water system and plumbing. But one easily learns to cope or learn to know soon of a plumbing systems limitations.
Feeling like a Hot Springs Spa whilst in Italy?
Tuscany is The Place! Tuscany, is well known throughout Europe for its superlative thermal baths.
These are hot mineral rich waters made available from deep springs in the earth. They have been valued for thousands of years because of their healing properties and are great for back pain, stress relief and many skin disorders. Each has different minerals in the water, such as carbon dioxide, sulphur, many natural salts and is thought to help heal a variety of ailments. Mineral mud baths are another popular tourist attraction. A number of smaller baths are open seasonally. Other, larger baths are available year round. An admission fee is required to allow a visitor to bathe in the highly coveted waters.
Photo: Saturnia Spa Tuscany, Italy.
Every time I return to Tuscany a number of large and small additional spas have been built around these earlier more established baths. Some smaller ones are sold as day spas and are quite niche in who and what they cater for. A number of nearby resorts and hotels permit you to stay in the resort and relish in the spa ambiance. These types of holidays are ideal for relaxation and for the relief of stress. If you are high paced city worker, this is your ideal place to go.
Photo: Saint Galagano Abbey can be seen in the River Merse valley between Monticiano and Chiusdino, Tuscany, Italy.
Optimum Times to get to Tuscany, Italy.
The summer time is a favourite time for me to pay a visit to this region, and similarly all through Europe. But if you are big on the summertime, you ought to really plan out and start booking your vacation at least a year in advance if you're desiring to vacation at that time. August is the summer season to holiday for inhabitants of the region. Many shops and restaurants close for that month. If the summer peak sounds too much to bear, it is highly worth investigating shoulder seasons or months like June or July instead.
Photo: Lake Viareggio in northern Tuscany, Italy, on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Holidays are also very hectic periods in Italy. Easter time is demanding for getaway vacation accommodations in Tuscany. There's a wide array of celebrations and festivals planned all through Easter week. December breaks include Christmas and the next day, which happens to be the Feast of Santo Stefano. Another popular holiday, The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is on December 8th. The majority of merchants are closed for these days and many restaurants and cafes too. In peak season it is not uncommon to line up when sightseeing, but if you are like me and wish to indulge in a slower more indulgent spa experience – just take it easy and relax…the Tuscany way!
Buon viaggio!
More info?
For a broad selection of holiday rental websites you can’t go past:
- Trip Adviser
- AirBnB
For the best guidebooks I’ve found on the region I would recommend the following (but there are many others):
Frommers, Lonely Planet and Eyewitness Travel Guides (again no affiliate links contained herein – just a top level Amazon page linked to).
All can be found at Amazon.com