Casa Vacanze Villa il Castellaccio

We’ve returned almost every year since 2004. The owner is great, and the place offers good value. It’s a lovely villa with four roomy apartments, set among olive groves and vineyards across a large property. There are plenty of great places in Tuscany within easy reach. Take a look at the website, you may find yourself wanting to stay for a week or longer.

We stayed in one of the five villas, and it was beautifully appointed with everything we needed for a comfortable visit: gas hob, oven, dishwasher, small washing machine, good WiFi and a little TV. The complex also has a shared pool and barbecue area, plus plenty of parking. One thing to plan for is groceries. There were only a few basics when we arrived, and with Saturday check-in, shopping can be awkward because most places are shut on Sunday. Bring food and extra essentials like toilet paper. Leonardo was a terrific host, helpful with anything we needed and very good at English. The property is tucked into the hills, but lovely small villages and restaurants are nearby. The scenery is spectacular. You’ll want a car to get around unless you’re keen on long walks in hilly terrain. Figline station is 10 km away, with trains to Florence taking just over half an hour. Driving takes about an hour, though parking there is horrendous, so I’d take the train. Siena, San Gimignano, Strada and Greve in Chianti are among the towns within about an hour by car. Pisa took us around an hour and 45 minutes. It was a wonderful place to rest and recharge after weeks of nonstop travel.

Castellaccio is a great base for places like Assisi, Siena, Castellina in Chianti and Radda, and the pizza in Lucolena was still as good as ever. That little restaurant also does gnocchi with gorgonzola that was to die for. This was our second stay, and Villa 3 made us very happy. The patio held on to the day’s warmth even on cool evenings. We had a small problem with the hydro one night, but it was fixed straight away. Leonardo welcomed us warmly, and the place already feels like home. When we come back to Italy, we’d love to stay here again.

The owner is lovely, and the house is stunning, with a view that really makes you say wow. It has three rooms, a kitchen and two toilets. The heating wasn’t very helpful, though.