Tuscany Travel Guide, Photo Gallery of Tuscany



Albarese | Parco Naturale delle Maremma

Capalbio


Colline Metallifere


la costa Toscana

Walking along the Tuscan coast

Crete Senesi

         
Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore

Grosseto


Manciano


Montagnola Senese

         Walking in the Montagnola senese


Montalcino

Monte Amiata

         Walking on Monte Amiata


Montepulciano

Prato

Scansano

Siena

          Fonti di Siena

Sorano

Sovana

Val d'Elsa

Val d'orcia

          Montalcino

          Pienza

          Sant'Antimo

          San Quirico d'Orcia

          Radicofani

          Walking in the Val d'Orcia


Val di Chiana

         Montepulciano

         Montefollonico


Valle d'Ombrone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

 

 

 

 





 

Wild artichok | Kardoen of wilde artisjok

Wild artichok | Kardoen of wilde artisjok

 

Toacana ] Galleria di immagini  
     
   

Impressions and reviews


   
   

„A che serve passare dei giorni, se poi non si ricordano?" Cesare Pavese

 

   
   
Berthold & Cordula, Köln (August 2015)

 

We should rather keep this as a secret...
Podere Santa Pia is the most beautiful holiday house ever...
In its simplicity the house is very rich and strong. (You won't be bothered by plastic flowers, if you know what I mean).
It was just the perfect place for us (4 adults and 6 children) to stay. You could always find a shady spot outside and let your eyes wander over the hills. Sunset every evening! Inside the house we enjoyed the huge kitchen - nothing was missing - and tried to bring our cooking skills to perfection. ;-)

If you are lucky, the landlords are in as well. They will give you a very warm welcome and provide you with
any kind of information you could ever imagine about tuscan history, art, food, wine or landscape.
We enjoyed our holiday a lot (batteries are fully recharged) and we often think back to the night with pizza and Parmoleto. We definitely have to return to this lovely spot of Italy one day. Thank you![1]

 

Published on HomeAway 13 11 2015

 

Sunset Maremma

Evening sunset, Podere Santa Pia

 

Marc & Leen, (May 2013)

 

Alweer een paar weken thuis, intussen. Maar Santa Pia is nog dichtbij.
We hadden 'zo'n mooie band', het huis en wij. En al zeg je dat niet, zo voelde het wel. Zeldzaam vertrouwd en vanzelfsprekend.
Bedankt dat we in jullie huis mochten wonen.

 

Photo Marc & Leen, (May 2013)

 

Paul and Melissa, London (July 2022)

 

Podere Santa Pia, nestled in the rolling hills of Cinigiano, is a place of pure, unadulterated beauty. The farmhouse, with its sun-worn stone walls and terracotta roof, sits amidst sprawling vineyards and olive groves, basking in the warm glow of the Tuscan sun. The air is thick with the scent of wildflowers and the distant sound of sheep grazing on the lush pastures.

The tranquility of this place is palpable, and one can't help but feel a sense of calm wash over them as they take in the natural splendor that surrounds them. The terraced gardens, with their vibrant array of herbs and vegetables, are tended to with care and love, and the fruits of the land are used to create delicious, rustic dishes that are a true taste of the region.

But it's not just the landscape that makes Podere Santa Pia so special, it's the people who call it home. The owners, with their deep-rooted connection to the land and their passion for preserving traditional Tuscan culture, are warm and welcoming, and their love for this place is evident in everything they do.

One of the highlights of our stay was exploring the surrounding area. Siena is a beautiful city with historical monuments such as the Duomo and Piazza del Campo. But the smaller villages in the area are also well worth a visit, such as San Gimignano with its medieval towers, Monteriggioni with its ancient city walls, and closer to us, Montalcino, Pienza, San Quirico d'Orcia and the Abbey of Sant'Antimo.
After a day full of impressions, it was great to return to our holiday home. Here I could enjoy a glass of local wine and a good book while looking out over the breathtaking landscape. At Podere Santa Pia, one can truly experience the beauty of the natural world and the simplicity of a life lived in harmony with nature, just as D.H. Lawrence once wrote, "the beauty that makes you ache is the beauty that you can't keep." It's a place that will stay with you long after you leave, and one that you'll long to return to time and time again.

 

The house offers its guests unforgettable views and breathtaking sunsets...

 

Jenna, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom (August, 2022)

Having spent the first few days of our holiday in Siena, we were able to enjoy two peaceful and relaxing weeks at Podere Santa Pia. It is the perfect getaway. Nestled amidst the picturesque vine-covered hills and olive groves of the enchanting Tuscan countryside, Podere Santa Pia is a charming gem of rustic elegance. This is what we were promised, and it was completely true. The access road is not for the faint-hearted, expect an adventurous drive up/down to the house. But the reward is tremendous. The house is big and spacious, huge kitchen, huge living-room. In the garden, many pleasant terraces and hidden corners. You are rewarded with a different landscape from every angle. The panoramic view allows you to cast your sights out over the patchwork blanket of vineyards from one perspective, with a glimpse of the Tyrrhenian Sea visible from another.
I remember the first morning, sitting next to the pool. Surrounded by lush greenery and the soothing sounds of nature, it was a morning of quiet contemplation. The world bathed in a warm, soft light that seemed to infuse everything with a sense of calm and renewal. The gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze and the distant chirping of birds provided a soothing soundtrack to this peaceful scene.
These are unforgettable memories and we and our entire group are eager to return soon to this little paradise.

Published on The best holiday homes in Tuscany, August 2023

   
Diane, Vancouver (July 2015)

 

Evenings at Podere Santa Pia offer an enchanting atmosphere.The views are incredible, awaiting nightfall and the sound of the nightbird, the monotonous, fluting call of the scops owl... The property incorporates the perfect harmony for man and nature.

 

Jan O., (Juli 2015)

 

Wij hadden een zeer aangenaam en rustige vakantie in Podere Santa Pia. De advertentie loog er niet om, de woning ligt erg afgelegen, buiten het kleine dorpje, aan een klein grindweggetje. Het is juist die afgelegenheid die zorgt voor de enorme rust. De woning ligt midden in de natuur, met een spectaculair uitzicht op de heuvels. Vooral de zonsondergangen waren super mooi. De grote tuin met verschillende terrassen en hoekjes, zorgt er ook voor dat ondanks dat we met 6 personen waren, ieder zich in alle rust kon terugtrekken. Dit gold ook voor de woning zelf. Grote ruimtes, met een zeer grote living en keuken, en ruime slaapkamers. Alles heel simpel en eenvoudig ingericht, maar we hadden zeker alles wat we nodig hadden. We beschikten ook over twee badkamers en een buitendouche, wat met de hitte zeker geen overbodige luxe was. De eigenaars stonden ook klaar om elke vraag te beantwoorden, en de woning beschikt ook over een zeer omvangrijke website voor de omgeving. Omdat we met drie koppels gingen, was de vakantiewoning ook enorm betaalbaar, en er was zeker voldoende ruimte om met meer mensen te komen. Het was zeker niet onze laatste vakantie hier, we hebben enorm genoten van ons verblijf.

 

 

Evening sunset, Podere Santa Pia

“A large drop of sun lingered on the horizon and then dripped over and was gone, and the sky was brilliant over the spot where it had gone, and a torn cloud, like a bloody rag, hung over the spot of its going. And dusk crept over the sky from the eastern horizon, and darkness crept over the land from the east.” 

John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath

 

Otilia, Bukarest, Rumania (October 2016)

This was one of the wildest (and beautiful) places we've stayed in our trip around Tuscany. Indeed the south of this region is magical and you can see that from the terrace of the house. In Podere Santa Pia you can get the full experience of living in a Tuscany country house, a charming and romantic place. Warming up with woods was part of it. We would like to thank our host for the extremely detailed printed instructions that we found on the table. We recommend this place for a lovely, intimate and wild vacation.

Published on Airbnb, October 2016

 
 
 
Daily senset at Podere Sante Pia

Daily sunset at Podere Sante Pi

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“The sky, at sunset, looked like a carnivorous flower.” 

“Bright colours in the west, giant butterflies dancing as night crept like a cripple toward the east.” 

Roberto Bolaño, 2666

 
Ronald en Oda, Den Haag, Nederland (Juli 2023)

Ons verblijf in het vakantiehuis Podere Santa Pia in het betoverende Toscane was als een droom die werkelijkheid werd. Bij het betreden van dit schilderachtige toevluchtsoord, werden we met open armen ontvangen door de enthousiaste eigenaars. We kregen een korte maar bevlogen rondleiding en de eerste tips over het leven hier. Het huis zelf ademde de charme van een vervlogen tijd. De houten balken aan het plafond waren als getuigen van eeuwenoude geschiedenis, terwijl de warme kleuren van het mooi gedecoreerde interieur een gevoel van huiselijkheid en geborgenheid creëerden.
En dan het landschap rondom het huis...De glooiende heuvels, bedekt met olijf-en wijngaarden en braakliggend weiland, strekten zich uit tot aan de horizon, als een levend schilderij dat constant veranderde onder de Toscaanse zon. Het huis was oorspronkelijk een klein klooster. Hier trokken jonge vrouwen zich terug om zich aan een geestelijk leven in een ongerepte omgeving te wijden.
We vulden de dagen met lange wandelingen door het ongerepte landschap. Of we zwierven door middeleeuwse dorpjes, waar smalle steegjes ons leidden naar verborgen pleintjes en pittoreske plekjes. Arcidosso, Castel del piano , Abbazzia San Salvatore en Santa Fiora, waar we de bijzondere charme va de Monte Amiata ontdekten, of mee naar her zuiden, Sorano, Sovana en Pitigliano, met hun fascinerende sporen van de Etruskische cultuur. We dwaalden door de geplaveide straten van Siena en bewonderden er de majestueuze architectuur van de kathedraal. En 's avonds, na een dag vol onpeilbare indrukken, keerden we terug naar ons toevluchtsoord Santa Pia en de rust en sereniteit van het Toscaanse platteland. We brachten uren door aan het unieke en nieuwe zwembad dat we helemaal voor onszelf hadden.

Published on Homeaway, July 2016

 
 
 
 

 

 
   


[1] This is a small selection of comments and descriptions on the various platforms on which Podere Santa Pia is mentioned.