Historic Farmhouse Casa del Chiodo

We chose this spot for its quiet setting and the homemade dinner, and it worked well for reaching Abbazia San Galgano. It felt safe, clean, and affordable, though it’s quite out of the way. The six-course dinner is made entirely in-house with farm-fresh ingredients. They make cheese with goat’s milk and serve prosciutto from their own pigs. It’s not included in the booking, so write ahead to reserve. Bring cash, around 40-50 euros per person, and arrive hungry. The tiny town is mostly locals, with the occasional Italian tourist, so it’s very peaceful. Restaurants in the nearest town are a 5-8 minute drive away. Abbazia San Galgano is less than 30 minutes away, which let us get there ahead of the crowds from Siena. Many popular towns are a long drive from here. That suited what I wanted for this leg of the trip, though it won’t suit everyone. My partner liked the drive less than I did, but was pleased when we got to Abbazia San Galgano first and had the place to ourselves. I usually sleep easily, but the bed was uncomfortable for me. The sheets felt rough, and the pillows were thin and hard. Anyone sensitive to sleeping conditions may want to keep that in mind.