Podere La Tona

There’s plenty of space in the accommodation, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen-living room, and a lovely big terrace. The swimming pool is also very nice and large. We felt comfortable during our five days, and the peace and quiet make Podere La Tona a good choice if that’s what you’re after. The property itself is very large, though the pool is the only facility. There’d be room for something like a playground or football pitch. It sits just above a village, and the drive up is a bit steep and partly unpaved. The nearest larger town is Fellonica, which is clean and inexpensive, with food, drinks, parking, and a nice promenade. The beaches were well maintained too.

The pool, with its lovely view of the Tuscan hills, was the one positive for us. The annex we were given felt too cramped for a family of three or four. The rooms were tiny, with barely enough space to walk around the bedroom bed, and the sofa bed in the kitchen had the same issue. I’d say it can only fit two people. The drive to the property takes eight minutes and is difficult when two cars meet, since you have to reverse to one of the few pull-ins. The place is surrounded by nature and looks beautiful, but we didn’t feel our concerns were handled well. On the second night, we got back from a nearby village around 11 pm and found mouse droppings on the kitchen, bed, bathroom, and inside the sofa bed. We couldn’t sleep there, so we messaged the manager. She said she’d deal with it the next morning and look for a solution, which left us sleeping in our car. When the manager and owners heard about that, they didn’t offer a refund for the night, only saying maybe they would if the problem continued. The cleaner then cleaned the whole apartment and confirmed the poison she had put down had been eaten. While sanitizing, we found the dead mouse too. If they knew or suspected there was a mouse in the apartment, why was it assigned to us without any warning? I also found the house not especially clean. The only wardrobe was made of old wood that left clothes with a sickening smell. We kept everything in our suitcases because of that and because we feared mouse dirt would get on our clothes. It was frustrating having to keep checking for more mess during the holiday, since mice had made homes in holes in the olive trees around the pool and in the detached house. There were more of them in the end.

The nearby beaches at Baratti, Punta Ala, and Cala Violina are easy to visit from here, which was handy. We had a truly relaxing stay at this beautiful property, surrounded by silence, with a lovely pool looking toward the hilltop village. The staff were helpful and efficient, and sorted out the few things we asked about right away.

Even on the hottest days, the breeze coming up the hill and the pool made it easy to feel comfortable. Fireflies are still around, with crickets chirping in the background. It’s a charming spot in nature, and a very relaxing place to enjoy the quiet.