Costanza - Appartamento in Torre

If you’re into the unusual, this might be your place: cobwebs, mismatched cutlery, dishes and pots that all need washing before use, and just one proper bedroom with a bed, wardrobe and door. The other sleeping spots are a bed in the hallway, a walk-through room or a tower above. There’s a “chicken ladder,” a rusty bathtub, sticky porch swing cushions, and evening entertainment from the restaurant. The washing machine listed in the offer is only available at the hotel, for a fee. The decorative terrace has concrete and a questionable house drain.

It’s a distinctive house for people who like antique, authentic style, and it has a lovely view. The long, narrow layout is comfortable overall, with a well-equipped kitchen for cooking and a good mattress in the tower bedroom. That room is reached by a very steep staircase, so it’s not for little ones. The downstairs beds have uncomfortable spring mattresses, like water beds. There’s only one shower and toilet, and the shower head in the bathtub urgently needs replacing. Many light bulbs were burned out too. The church nearby is noisy, with a bell ringing on the hour. The pool is down the street and open to the public most of the week, so it gets quite busy. There’s a buffet and restaurant there, where we had a good dinner. The location is good for stargazing and about an hour by car from the major Tuscan cities. Laundry is in a nearby complex and costs 5 euros, even if you bring your own soap. The dryer costs another 5 euros. The listing says there’s a machine in the house, which is misleading.

Costanza apartment in Torre is now available only on Airnb and Vrbo, under new management.

Lovely houses in beautiful Tuscany, and the hosts are the best.