We had a wonderful time!

by Steve and Marianne, U.S.A.

Originally published on Slow Travel

My wife Marianne and I spent two glorious weeks touring Italy mid-to-late September this year(2008). We spent one week seeing “destination” cities (Venice, Florence, Cinque Terra, Lucca), while week two was spent at Casina di Rosa, a private home in the quaint hilltop village of Civitella Marittima, in Southern Tuscany.

Marianne had contacted the owners (who live in Pisa) before we left for Italy, and made the reservation for a week’s stay at their ancestral home. The owners – Gloria and Marcel (the house has been in Gloria’s family for generations) – are warm and welcoming. After giving us a key to the house and giving us a rundown on the amenities, they went back to Pisa, leaving us to our own devices.

The house is not large – just four rooms – but it is very nearly the same size as our house back in the U.S. (just a little smaller), so we felt quite at home.

Gloria and Marcel provided a welcome basket of wine and food, and the house has a kitchen to prepare your own meals, if you wish. There’s also one restaurant in the village, Locanda, which you must visit at least once. It is terrific!

The village is perfect for the more adventurous traveler, as most of the residents speak no English, thereby making us get by on our limited Italian. (The staff at Locanda do speak some English.) We had a wonderful time! The locals are very friendly, saying hello and nodding their heads as they pass. The view from the top of the hill is breathtaking, and as we had a rental car (you need a car to get to Casina di Rosa), we took many day trips exploring the surrounding area.

The house can accommodate three people, but it is perfect for one couple – it is a very cozy and romantic place to stay. I cannot say enough good things about our stay – Gloria and Marcel deserve high marks for making our stay very enjoyable. Should we get back to Tuscany, I would definitely stay here again. Thank you, Gloria and Marcel! Ciao!