Casa Castagna - your unforgettable escape

A beautifully curated space, with the more discerning traveller in mind, the house is perfect for those who are looking beyond the well-trodden tourist path and offers an opportunity to discover life in a traditional Tuscan village. With regular festivals in the village square, and local bar (circolo) this is a thriving, welcoming community - any attempts at speaking the Italian language are enthusiastically encouraged by the locals and you will immediately feel welcomed into daily village life. The master bedroom needs very little introduction - your own exclusive 'room with a view'. The double height ceiling gives this space a feeling of airiness, echoed in the four poster bed with sumptuous White Company bedlinen - monogrammed for that little extra feeling of luxury. An en-suite furnished with rainshower and locally sourced Carrara marble tiles and of course White Company bathseets is the final touch of luxury. Two antique mahogany sleigh beds complete the sleeping arrangements in the downstairs twin bedroom. These can be combined to make a superking (request at time of booking). This room also has the advantage of a luxury en-suite with walk in rainshower with locally sourced Carrara marble tiles, complimentary toiletries and White Company bathsheets. The kitchen is immaculately equipped with designer Italian crockery, Alessi cookware and Joseph Joseph kitchenware. The bespoke table and seats are a welcome addition for savouring a bottle of red whilst keeping the budding cook company - and if you do turn your hand to a bit of Italian cuisine, there are numerous cookbooks on the well-stocked shelves. Elegant antique sofa and chairs in the living room compliment the heritage of the 400 year old house, and subtle lighting invites one to settle in with a novel from our well-stocked bookshelves along with a good glass of red. For those venturing here in the cooler months (perfect for sightseeing!) we have a gorgeous Murso woodburner with ample supplies - free of course! Running throughout the house, the original cotto tiles are the perfect backdrop for the subtle colour palette throughout all the rooms. Take advantage of those glorious summer evenings and the epic views across the valley with an outdoor terrace and ample seating. The twinkling lights across the valley will keep you mesmerised late into the evening, perfect for sampling an accompanying bottle of local vino! If you are able to drag yourself away from the views, you will find the local area offers plenty of opportunity to explore an undiscovered Tuscany. Fagiola di Sorana (Sorana beans) are only produced in this valley and have been awarded IGP status in Italy and recognised by the Slow Food movement. Savour them in one of the four excellent restaurants featuring local cuisine at modest prices. If you are lucky enough to be visiting at the end of August, the village festival celebrating the Sorana bean is not to be missed - an epic two days of feasting, dancing, and celebrating. The local bar (circolo) is the hub of village life - locals come here to chat, to argue, to exchange views and there is always a game of cards on the go. The terrace has fabulous views over the valley and we can't think of a better place for an aperitivo. Barbara and her wonderful daughters run the circolo and she has a smile for everyone - you will be greeted like a local and we can guarantee it will become part of your evening ritual. You're also in for a treat every morning as the 'bread van' arrives with all manner of freshly baked pastries and croissants - and of course glorious foccacia for your lunch al-fresco. If you need any other essentials, this is a great opportunity to stock up, but of course the main large supermarkets are in our local town, Pescia. We can also recommend Amanda who produces gorgeous home-cooked Italian dishes that just need popping in the oven. She is only a 10 minutes away (and conveniently on the way home) - perfect for those evenings after a full day in Florence or Lucca. If you're after a little 'wild' swimming we provide Hammam towels (locally sourced in Morocco) and on booking we reveal a local secret swimming spot - very popular with locals. It's the perfect way to cool down at the end of a summer's day. The beach is less than an hour away and we provide all the information on where to go and how to pick a beach. Closer to home (10 minutes drive) there are two country club swimming pools where for a small fee you can hire deckchairs and parasols and enjoy a cocktail whilst topping up on your holiday tan.