And return we did!

by John and Marty C., U.S.A.

Originally published on Slow Travel

Last year we had reported what a wonderful time we had in Tuscany staying a week at Casina di Rosa (see Review #905). Some things are simply to good to do only once and you know you must return! And return we did!

We have learned that vacations that begin with rest are usually the best – especially when you have had a long international flight. The Hilton Hotel inside the Rome airport is the perfect way to begin and end a Tuscan Holiday. We stay a day and a night at the Hilton upon arrival and before departing. In addition to being super convenient, it provides free shuttle service into Rome with arrival and departure ½ block from the Spanish Steps.

Car rental companies are located along the corridor connecting the Hilton to the airport and the route to the wonderful village of Civitella Marittima is about a 2-1/2 hr drive from the Rome airport. It is centrally located between Grossetto (to the south) and Siena (to the west) and, the best part, this hilltop village is where you will find the most pleasant home to stay on holiday-Casina di Rosa!!

Often when people go back to the same area they are disappointed … things change … or the experience was better in memory than in reality. Not so for us!

Casina di Rosa remained as charming as we remembered and as clean as ever with all the amenities one would need for a stay and we can never give enough praise to our hosts Gloria and Marcel. Their love of the area is obvious and contagious and they offer great advice for daily adventures around Tuscany. Casina di Rosa is the ideal spot to travel out each day whether it’s to the beaches in Castiglione della Pescaia, or to Siena, or Montalcino or a casual drive anywhere within Tuscany.

If you enjoy being an independent traveler, even with only a slight knowledge of the language Casina di Rosa will meet your needs; you will notice this immediately the moment you visit the website.

As we also noted in our last years’ report the local restaurant in town, Locanda nel Casero is not only still there, the owner/chef Alessandro continues to produce the absolute best meals in all of Tuscany! Using local produce for great value his gourmet creations are worth returning home for every night during the entire stay! In fact we stayed in his bed-and breakfast (locanda) to have an extra night in the village and just one more meal by Alessandro before leaving for Rome.

Let us say this about Casina di Rosa – we have made it an annual event! We are going back next year (and probably the next and the next and …). This is how much we feel like family there. It REALLY IS that good!