As I sit down to write this post about our stay in the beautiful Tuscan farmhouse, Casa al Povero, I already have a big smile on my face & a warm fuzzy feeling inside thinking about it.
When we booked this holiday, we couldn’t have imagined what awaited us when we arrived in beautiful Tuscany. Needless to say, it has left an imprint on our hearts.
Location
Sitting proudly among the Tuscan hills, Casa al Povero can be found in southern Tuscany, a short drive from Pisa airport and a stone’s throw from beautiful Volterra. It can be seen for miles all around. It really is a breathtaking site. In fact, whilst driving down the mile-long sweeping driveway towards the beautiful Villa, we were convinced that the one we could see wasn’t ours and that ours would be hiding behind it somewhere! To our amazement, there was no other property for miles, and this was, in fact, Casa al Povero, our home for the next week.
Outside
The Villa enjoys 360-degree unspoilt views. Every window you look out boasts another breathtaking scene, so beautiful and serene that no photograph does it justice. I still remember the first morning we woke up, the stunning sunrise that my daughter and I sat outside watching in total silence & in awe of what we saw. Mother Nature at her finest. Waking up to the stunning views each morning was just incredible. I enjoyed opening the shutters as soon as I woke up because, with the ever-changing atmosphere and light, no two mornings were the same.
Inside
The interior of Casa al Povero was almost as excellent as the outside. There are 5 bedrooms split over two levels, meaning there was plenty of room to get some peace despite there being 6 of us. The kitchen is plentiful with everything you could want or need. Furthermore, the dining room and table are more than big enough for a large family meal should you wish to escape the sun for a while. The Villa was warm with plenty of hot water and powerful showers – what more could you ask for!
Family Time
Staying in Casa al Povero made spending quality time as a family easy and enjoyable. Having a large family like us, it’s inevitable that the children will argue, and we will all get on each other’s nerves. On this holiday, it simply didn’t happen. The Villa was spacious and offered enough room both inside and out for us all to grab our own place of quiet & calm if needed. This was especially great for Archie, who has special needs, as he often needs some alone time or a perfect place to enjoy his car collection in place! The Villa is equipped with plenty to keep all ages amused; many hours were spent playing ping pong and table tennis. Who knew we were all so competitive!
The Pool
Despite being October, the days were warm enough to enjoy the pool. It is unheated, and so was for the braver amongst us, but the children had a great time. For the younger ones, it was too cold in October, so they enjoyed watching from the warmth of the poolside. In the height of Summer, this would be a fantastic way to cool off & you wouldn’t need to leave the Villa!
Al Fresco Dining
One of my favourite memories from the week in Italy was the luxury of cooking outside on the BBQ (there is also a pizza oven). Eating in the beautiful Tuscan countryside where the only noise was the sizzling of the steak and the ‘pop’ of the cork was quite special! The sound of the children giggling in the pool whilst we sat and enjoyed a glass of wine, watching the food cook nicely, still brings a smile to my face. As cheesy as it sounds, it is moments like these that precious memories are made from & what really sets apart a villa holiday from a hotel holiday.
The Area
Casa al Povero’s location is perfect for exploring many parts of stunning Tuscany. During our week-long holiday, we visited the following*:
♥ Lucca (1 hr 35 drive)
♥ San Gimignano (45 minute drive)
♥ Pisa (1hr 10 drive)
♥ Volterra (10 minute drive)
♥ Siena (1hr 20 drive)
(*individual blog posts coming soon)
Volterra was the closest, and consequently, we spent the most time here. This is where you will find the nearest supermarket to buy fresh ingredients to cook on the outside BBQ at the Villa. Volterra itself has incredible views due to it being so high up, and as a result, you can actually see Casa al Povero from there!
We were made to feel so incredibly welcome by the owners, even being invited to a bbq and taken to see how olive oil is made from their olive trees down below.
We have stayed in Cash al Pavero three times now, and never get bored of the amazing view and wonderful owners. I am already planning our next trip!
