Villa Humbourg

Our group of five was so glad we took the tour with Ludovica. It was one of the highlights of our trip, and we especially loved her dogs, Mira in particular. Ludovica was a lovely host who answered our questions with nuance and detail. We learned a lot about olive oil, including how to tell good oil from poor quality. The tour was great value and included the garden grounds, the home's interior, a hidden chapel and a generous olive oil tasting. It wasn't harvest season when we visited, but we still learned plenty about how olives become oil. We loved seeing Ludovica's passion, knowledge and care as she carries on her family's production of high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Highly recommend.

Ludovica gave us a four-hour olive oil tour, and charged just five euro per hour. She does it to share her family's generations-long passion for making fine extra virgin oil, and shapes the tour around what you want to know. We learned about when olives are picked, how they grow, and how different varieties are blended on the farm to create Villa Humbourg's distinctive flavor and aroma. She also explained cooking with olive oil, milling, cold pressing and storage in the Villa's cellar. We tasted the oil and the olives, and learned how to read the bottle labels. The home has been in Ludovica's family for hundreds of years, with a foundation stone dated circa 1443 on one wall. It began as a hilltop fort and was expanded over time. The three-storey building has an astonishing 42 rooms, with antique furniture and fine paintings throughout. A lovely chapel hidden behind a secret door was a highlight. With EU support, this traditional way of producing boutique Tuscan olive oil is being preserved. Go see the process with Ludovica as your host. For logistics, we took a train to Certaldo without a car, and Ludovica arranged a return taxi for 50 euro. The alternative is a two-hour walk.

If you spend a few hours listening to Ludovica talk about extra virgin olive oil, you'll come away knowing a lot more about it. Her tour is one of the most detailed I've been on, and her passion for the industry shines through. Wandering around Certaldo, you might even find yourself wishing you could live her life one day. You'll be much better equipped to choose a bottle the next time you're in a supermarket aisle.

Ludovica is a really nice owner and always ready to help. This place is amazing, with great views and lovely surroundings. The rooms are very big and have beautiful interiors. A top place to stay in Tuscany. Thanks for a great time!