Our Tuscany, Umbria & Sicily Villa Destinations

Province of Pisa: Sunflowers, Hills, and the Coast

The Province of Pisa offers far more than its famous Leaning Tower and the busy Piazza dei Miracoli. Step beyond the city limits and you will find the classic Tuscan postcard: rolling hillsides dotted with olive groves, vibrant summer sunflower fields, and a gentle breeze off the nearby Ligurian coast. It is a region that combines quick access to world-renowned history with the quiet rhythm of rural life.

While day-trippers stick to the city, few realise that the surrounding hills hide centuries of living tradition. A prime example is the foothills of the Monti Pisani and the historic town of Buti. Famous for producing exceptional extra virgin olive oil, Buti is home to local producers like our own local host, who presses thousands of litres of fresh oil each year and even crafts her own private wine. Buti also hosts one of Tuscany’s oldest horse races, the Palio di Buti, a passionate local event untouched by mass tourism.

The region’s real strength is its sheer versatility. You can spend a morning exploring the hilltop town of Volterra, famous for its Etruscan history and alabaster workshops, head to the coast for an afternoon by the sea, and be back at your pool by dinner.

Our collection in the province ranges from characterful, rustic farmhouses tucked into the hills around Buti to broader estates in spots like Casale Marittimo. With Pisa Airport just down the road, it is ideal for guests who want a short transfer, iconic Tuscan views, and a base that makes day trips simple.

Hand-Picked & Off the Tourist Trail

While our roots are firmly in Tuscany, our connection to Sicily is deeply personal. Our focus is on the authentic, unsung northern stretch of the island within the Palermo province. Centred around the wild Madonie Regional Natural Park, this is a dramatic landscape of mountain forests, hilltop castles, and coastal fishing towns well away from mass-market tourism routes.

The region offers a balance between mountain quiet and seaside living. In the hills, medieval towns like Castelbuono—set beneath its 14th-century fortress—and Polizzi Generosa offer cobbled streets, artisan shops, and long, unhurried lunches serving rich mountain cheeses and local dishes. A short drive down to the coast brings you to Cefalù, famous for its sandy beaches and golden Norman mosaics, or the working harbour of Porticello, where colourful wooden boats bring in the daily catch.

What makes this part of Sicily so practical for a proper holiday is its location. From a countryside base in the Madonie foothills, virtually any major site on the island is within a two-and-a-half-hour drive, from the ancient Greek temples of Agrigento to the grand palaces of Palermo and Monreale. You get total peace in the countryside without sacrificing the ability to explore.

Our Sicilian collection is kept deliberately small and strictly vetted. We only take on authentic, family-owned homes with spectacular views, generous space, and real character. It gives travellers looking for genuine island life an unspoilt alternative to standard tourist traps, backed by the exact same personal advice and local oversight we provide in Tuscany

“The Green Heart of Italy”

Known as the green heart of Italy, the Province of Perugia in Umbria offers a quiet, unhurried pace that feels worlds away from the busy tourist tracks of neighbouring Tuscany. This is a landscape defined by terraced olive groves, sweeping valleys, and ancient hilltop towns where agriculture remains the genuine soul of the region.

From the historic, cobbled streets of Perugia itself, famous for its Etruscan walls, medieval architecture, and historic chocolate making, to the tranquil shores of Lake Trasimeno, the landscape is built for slow exploration. You can spend a morning visiting the historic churches of Assisi or exploring the steep medieval streets of Spello and Gubbio, stop at a local oil mill in Trevi to sample fresh, peppery extra virgin olive oil, or head to Montefalco for a tasting of world-class Sagrantino wine before returning to your villa pool for the afternoon heat.

For those seeking adventure, the surrounding countryside offers wild hiking, seasonal truffle hunting, and white-water rafting near the Marmore Falls. Meanwhile, quiet market towns like Spoleto host world-renowned arts festivals alongside traditional weekly food markets. The food across the province is unpretentious, rich, and tied directly to the land, featuring handmade strangozzi pasta, wild boar ragù, fresh black truffles, and aged pecorino, all served in local trattorias at prices that reflect real Italian living rather than inflated tourist rates.

Because we know this region intimately, we ensure our guests experience the area properly without the guesswork. We provide hand-crafted, insider itineraries covering everything from quiet, family-run vineyards to scenic valley drives. Whether you choose a restored, rustic farmhouse or a grand country home overlooking the valley, your stay comes with the exact same personal advice, local support, and honest guidance we have provided across Italy since 1988.

Read our Umbrian Excursions: The Complete Insider’s Guide

The Val d’Orcia, Rolling Hills, and Ancient Trails

The Province of Siena delivers the iconic landscape most people picture when they think of Tuscany: sweeping waves of clay hills, cypress-lined drives, and hilltop fortress towns overlooking world-class vineyards. At its heart lies the Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage region celebrated for its Renaissance design and deep agricultural roots.

While travellers flock to Pienza for Pecorino cheese or Montalcino for Brunello wine, staying slightly off the main tourist track reveals the region’s true rhythm. Just south of the working market town of San Quirico d’Orcia sits Castiglione d’Orcia, a quiet hamlet perched 540 metres high and crowned by the 8th-century Rocca Aldobrandesca fortress.

What many visitors miss is that running directly through these hills is Stage 36 of the Via Francigena, the ancient medieval pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome. Walking a mile along this path at sunset offers postcard views across the valley without the crowds of major tour buses.

The area is also renowned for its natural thermal waters. Beyond the famous central basin pool in Bagno Vignoni, you will find Bagni San Filippo nearby, where free natural hot springs sit hidden in the forest, complete with the dramatic “White Whale” calcium formation.

The region’s strength lies in its balance of culture, exceptional food, and effortless day trips. You can spend a morning exploring the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo in Siena or the Romanesque Abbey of Sant’Antimo, stop at a local vineyard for lunch, and return home to your pool by evening. It gives you the classic Tuscan experience alongside the quiet space needed for a proper break.

Arezzo, Tuscany’s easternmost region, provides the lush landscape that served as the backdrop to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Visitors to Arezzo can explore its wealth of Gothic churches, and beautiful countryside, combining mediaeval charm with a thriving cultural scene.

Beyond the regional capital, the landscape stretches into the Valtiberina, or Tiber Valley, framed by forested mountains and quiet river valleys. This is a region shaped by Renaissance masters. Sansepolcro, a vibrant town enclosed by medieval walls, was the birthplace of Piero della Francesca, whose masterpiece La Resurrezione hangs in the local museum. Higher in the hills lies Caprese Michelangelo, the birthplace of Michelangelo himself, surrounded by protected ancient chestnut groves. Down in the valley sits Anghiari, a steep stone hill town famous for its medieval alleyways, active artisan restoration workshops, and the historic 1440 Battle of Anghiari.

What many tourists miss is the region’s vibrant calendar of living traditions. On the first weekend of every month, medieval Arezzo hosts the famous Fiera Antiquaria, filling the squares with hundreds of antique dealers and collectors. In June and September, the city hosts the Giostra del Saracino, an ancient jousting tournament in Piazza Grande. Meanwhile, in Sansepolcro, local archers challenge rival teams in the historic Palio della Balestra crossbow competition, wearing Renaissance costumes inspired by Piero della Francesca’s paintings.

The food across the valley is seasonal and tied to the land, featuring local porcini, black truffles, roasted chestnuts, and chianina beef, paired with rich local wines. It offers visitors direct access to historic art towns, quiet mountain drives, and authentic market life without the heavy crowds of central Tuscany.

Birthplace of the Renaissance, Tuscany’s capital is a must-visit for any art and architecture lovers. With a wealth of museums and galleries containing some of the world’s most illustrious artworks, Florence is one of Europe’s main cultural epicentres.

From Brunelleschi’s iconic Duomo dominating the skyline to the Uffizi Gallery housing masterpieces by Botticelli and Da Vinci, the city is an open-air gallery. You can cross the historic Ponte Vecchio, view Michelangelo’s David at the Accademia, or take in panoramic sunset views across terra-cotta rooftops from the Romanesque steps of San Miniato al Monte, perched just above Piazzale Michelangelo.

What many day-trippers miss is the authentic rhythm found across the Arno River in the Oltrarno district. Centred around Piazza Santo Spirito, this neighbourhood remains the beating heart of traditional Florentine craftsmanship, packed with family-run leather workshops, paper marblers, and wood restorers. It is also where you will spot historic buchette del vino, small Renaissance wine windows built directly into palace stone walls centuries ago, where locals still pause for a glass of wine served straight onto the street.

The culinary scene is equally grounded. You can sample local dishes at bustling market stalls inside the Mercato Centrale or enjoy a slow dinner in a quiet trattoria serving thick Bistecca alla Fiorentina and local red wine.

While exploring Florence is essential, staying directly in the dense city centre often means heavy crowds, summer heat, and complex driving restrictions. Basing yourself in a country villa in the surrounding Florentine hills or near quiet local train stations offers the ideal balance: straightforward day trips for sightseeing, followed by peaceful countryside evenings, open space, and a private pool.

Tucked between Florence and Lucca, the Province of Pistoia stretches from the fertile nursery gardens and olive groves of the plains up into the rugged peaks of the Pistoian Mountains. It offers an ideal mix of sophisticated spa towns like Montecatini Terme, family attractions like Collodi’s Pinocchio Park, and wild mountain terrain around Abetone, central Italy’s premier ski and summer hiking hub.

At the heart of the region sits Pistoia itself, a compact, medieval walled city that remains largely undiscovered by mass tour buses. Exploring on foot leads you to Piazza del Duomo, home to the Romanesque Cathedral of San Zeno, and the Ospedale del Ceppo with its famous 16th-century Della Robbia glazed terracotta frieze. For something different, guided tours run through the medieval tunnels of Pistoia Sotterranea beneath the old hospital streets.

Daily life revolves around food and community. Piazza della Sala hosts a bustling daily food market that transforms by evening into a lively spot for local aperitivos, while full open-air markets fill the surrounding streets every Wednesday and Saturday morning. Culture runs deep here, from the prestigious Pistoia Blues Festival every July to the historic Giostra dell’Orso jousting tournament.

What makes Pistoia so practical for a holiday is its balance of quiet village life and effortless connections. You can enjoy a morning coffee at a local village bar, get insider recommendations on hidden spots from local hosts like Federica, and be in central Florence in just 45 minutes by train or Lucca in 40 minutes. It gives guests iconic art cities, mountain adventures, and exceptional local olive oil, all served up with fewer crowds and far lower prices than neighbouring tourist hotspots.