Our Location

All Villas we feature are located in Tuscany, Italy in what is called the “Casentino Valley”.

This area is beautiful and very scenic and, rich in history, where fascinating legends of knighthood, ruined castles and powerful forts, like the one in Poppi, still speak eloquently of past glories.

Mountains, streams and splendidly coloured forests mark the presence of the Casentino Valley.

Casentino has been named “the valley of the soul” due to its holy places such as: Camaldoli, Vallambrosa and the Verna (the pointed rock where St Francis received the stigmata).

Casentino is a mixture of mystery and deep sense of religion.

The Castles are still towering over the main historic roads of the Valley and it is definitely worth visiting this enchanting Valley even if you are passing through this region.

The Casentino Valley is the undiscovered part of Tuscany which not many tourists know about. It is next to the Chianti region and has not lost all its Italian charm.

The Casentino Valley is set in the magical triangle of Florence, Sienna and Arezzo and has its own Golf Club. Nearest City is Arezzo – 20 mins drive by car from the villas we feature.

Arezzo

Arezzo was a major Etruscan and then Roman center before being over taken by Florence and Siena. Arezzo was the homeland of a number of famous men (Petrarch, Piero della Francesca, Michelangelo and Vasri among them). Arezzo today is an active city with picturesque medieval sections. Its economy today is mainly focused on agriculture, jewellery and antiques.

Arezzo is famous for many things – gold and the Etruscans but most important is the antiques fair in Italy. The number one tourist attraction is the church of San Francesco and the frescoes by Piero della Francesca.

The town is spread around the flanks of a hill and has a semicircular design that fans out and down from the Duomo and the older quarter at the top of the hill. It is this older town that you'll find yourself drawn to from the more businesslike and modern lower town, an area that suffered extensive damage during the war.

Events

Arezzo hosts the popular Giostra del Saracino a tournament (a joisting tournament) in medieval costume on the first Sunday of September.

Other events:

• Arezzo Wave (Rock Music) – last week in June and first week in July
• Arezzo Jazz (Jazz Music) – last week in July
• Fiera Antiquaria (Antique Fair) – the first Saturday and first Sunday of every month
• Giostra del Saracino (Joisting Tournament) – last Sunday of June or August and first Sunday of September
• Oro Arezzo (Gold Fair) and international exhibition of gold and silver ware and jewellery – the first two weeks in September.

Nearest Golf Course & Zoo can be found in Poppi

Poppi

Poppi is a most spactular town. It is decorated with the title of one of the most beautiful boroughs of Italy and is dominated by the great ‘mole’ of the Guidi Counts’ Castle built in XIII century.

Worth A Visit: The Poppi Castle: The Taddeo Gaddi’s frescoes, the ‘Rilliana’ Library with 600 beginnings, 800 manuscripts and 70.000 volumes. The ‘Campaldino’ Battle’s plastic model. In the historical centre: The Church of Saint Fedele and the Oratory of the ‘Madonna del Morbo’.

Bibbiena

Another town worth a visit is the old town of Bibbiena – 20 mins away by car. Here you will find the IPERCOOP (large indoor market) and outside market stalls.

Worth A visit: the Church of Saint Lorenzo of the XVth century with its two beautiful terracottas by Andrea della Robbia, the Oratory of Saint Francis, with its pictorial stucco work in rococo style, the Church of Saints Ippolito and Donato. At 1 Km from Bibbiena, the Basilica Sanctuary of Saint Maria del Sasso represents the most perfect expression of the Renaissance in Casentino.

Talla

Talla – the village nearest to all the Villas less than 5 mins by car. Talla has all the amenities one could wish for with its own butcher, bread shop, pharmacy, bank, vegetable shop, minimarket, florist, cafe bar and restaurant called the L'Orcello (which does exceptional food).

The village of Talla is located at the foot of the Castellaccia, an ancient fortified place containing the house said to have been the birthplace of Guido d’Arezzo (997-1050), the Benedictine monk who perfected musical notation.

The Talla district covers the south spurs of the Pratomagno and features deep valleys and majestic forests that once had Etruscan and Roman settlements.

Golf Club Casentino

The Casentino Golf Club is located near Poppi on a panoramic and beautiful hill at about 500 a.s.l.

From this point one can take in the entire Casentino Valley, the first valley of the Arno River, the green heart of Tuscany and the home of the splendid National park of Casentino Forests. The nine-hole golf course spreads out in front of the terrace of the Club House which is located on the top of a hill surrounded by oak forests. This is an ideal location for those who would like to test their technical skills on the green.

The Driving Range has 7 covered and seven uncovered tees. There is a Gold Instructor available for those who are interested in learning new techniques. The Club also has a putting green, a pitching green, and a practice bunker.

Bike Rides

We can arrange bike hire and for those looking for an activity holiday a whole day’s or week’s cycle ride can be arranged depending on your ability. Our specialist cyclist knows the area well, trains himself and takes groups out on regular cycle rides through the mountains or gentle rides in country lane. Cycling is common in this region.

Inter-Rally Car Race in Talla

Enjoy the car rally race in Talla and surrounding roads during the first weekend of July. There are morning and night time races. This race is followed by many people and is a great experience for all.