Posting from The Farm Files ~ Off the Beaten Path in Tuscany
Hands down, my favorite part of the whole experience of blogging has been all the wonderful people I have met and the amazing stories they have to tell.
Recently, through our mutual love of travel and the planning that goes into it, I met Emily, a true kindred spirit. She is the blogger behind The Farm Files where she writes about living on the farm which has been in her family for generations, while also maintaining a professional career. She also recently got engaged and is planning her wedding in the fall of this year. All of this makes for intriguing blogging material, and in Emily's case her intelligence and originality is clearly evident in her writing.
I am predicting big things for Emily and The Farm Files! As soon as you read her guest post, you will know why...
So, grab another cup of coffee and get ready while Emily transports us to Tuscany to wander along on her recent travels. This is a real treat!
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Hello! I am thrilled to be here writing for Sandy and her readers. I love her blog, and enjoy all of the tips and information she shares, as well as the daydreaming...each post is almost like mental mini-vacation!
I live in an old farmhouse. So, when Sandy asked me to make a guest appearance, I thought it fitting to share with you my recent experience with another farmhouse.
One located in Southern Tuscany.
The website explains it perfectly:
"Ever wish you had a friend with a stylish country house on a beautiful hillside in Tuscany, one who knows the best local restaurants, towns and vineyards? Well, now you do."
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This iconic cypress-lined switchback is part of the journey from the main road to the house...and it is lots of fun to drive.
The owner is a former American music executive. After achieving success in that line of work, he decided to quit the proverbial rat race, buy an old farmhouse in southern Tuscany, and turn it into a boutique hotel.
{You may have read about it in InStyle Magazine, New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, Vogue, or GQ}
The Weather Man™ and I are both from small towns, so when planning our trip to Italy, we thought it would be fun to explore some small Italian towns.*
We were right.
La Bandita is located in the Val d'Orcia.
The physical setting is just the beginning.
The decor is modern and minimalist, yet connected with the surrounding landscape.
We stayed in the stand-alone suite on the property.
Which was the former pig sty!
Having it's own living area, kitchen and porch, it would be a great for a family travelling with children. Or a couple.
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| View from the "pig sty" out over the valley |
As with all exceptional accommodations, what makes a place extraordinary is the service.
I'm here to tell you, these people have service down to an art.
It started from the initial contact. The owner himself wrote me and answered all of my questions. His wife is a travel writer, and he is an invaluable source of information.
He aided in planning our days spent in Tuscany, but also other parts of the trip.
Thanks to him, we enjoyed one of our favorite meals in Venice. The restaurant is tucked into a quiet residential neighborhood, and serves seasonal and local seafood.
There are only nine tables.
It was gorgeous, and so cozy.
He arranged for our rental car while we were in Tuscany. A man met us at the train station upon arrival, and picked up the car upon departure.
Much easier than dealing with an international chain.
The manager, Simone, takes care of your every whim. Each morning he sat down with us, and created a plan for the day. He really listened and made the day as busy or as relaxed as we wanted it to be. He then drew a custom map.
Called and scheduled any restaurant reservations or tours.
All we had to do was show up.
Each day started with a typical Tuscan breakfast.
While this food would be delicious anywhere,
it was particularly delicious from this spot.
If you don't want to take advantage of the exquisite restaurant offerings in the area, you can have dinner at the house.
There is a staff chef. Who is amazing.
They will set up private meals at different locations on the property or you can join other guests and have a family style meal.
One of my favorite memories is of the night we joined other guests for dinner in the main house. Guests gather in the kitchen, sip wine, nibble on appetizers, chat, and watch the cook.
Just like at home.
Guests are invited to order local wine from the owner's private collection.
On the honor system.
Joining us that night were two sisters from Florence, who were visiting La Bandita with their families. They run a textile company that was started by their grandfather. {Their American clients are Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. We were fast friends, and all the women were entertained by trying to determine if their company had manufactured any of the clothing I was wearing.} Sitting around a candlelit table, sharing a meal of local food...it was as if we were all old friends.
This place is off the beaten path, for sure {and would not be everyone's cup of tea}.
However, it is quiet and unbelievably peaceful.
From the main road, the hotel is a few miles down a curvy, bumpy, dirt road.
That is part of the fun.
Understand that there is no ambient light in this part of the world. When you're in town, there are street lights, etc. When you are not in town, there aren't.
One night after dinner, we were driving up the dirt road to the house. It was very dark. Three wild boars {seemingly out of nowhere} ran across our path!
{Look closely, and on the left, you can see Montepulciano perched atop a hill, as visible from the property.}
We spent the days visiting different medieval hill towns, abbeys and castles, sampling wines of the area, and driving through farmland vineyards as far as the eye could see.
I look forward to sharing those adventures with you in my next post.
* The Weather Man™ = my fiance.
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Thank you SO much, Emily - this was really a feast for the senses!
I can't wait for Part Two tomorrow!!