Your unforgettable escape to hidden Tuscany
Situated between Florence and Lucca, the house offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in an authentic medieval Tuscan village. Recently restored, it offers extraordinary views from every window. Both bedrooms have luxury en-suites furnished with local Carrara marble, and are supplied with complimentary organic toiletries and monogrammed White Company bedlinen and bathsheets. Spend lazy evenings dining al-fresco on the terrace or indulge in a gastronomic feast in the four excellent restaurants within five to ten minutes’ drive.
The master bedroom needs very little introduction – your own exclusive ‘room with a view’. The double height ceiling gives the space a feeling of airiness, echoed in the four poster bed with sumptuous White Company bedlinen – monogrammed for that extra little touch of luxury. An en-suite furnished with rainshower and locally sourced Carrara marble tiles and of course White Company bathsheets and you might never want to leave!
Two antique mahogany sleigh beds complete the sleeping arrangements in the downstairs twin bedroom, which can be combined as a superking (on request). Another luxury en-suite with walk-in rainshower, complimentary toiletries and mesmerising view over the private terrace.
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 your complimentary bottle of prosecco whilst keeping the budding cook company – and if you do turn your hand to a bit of Italian cooking, there are numerous recipe books 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!) or that cheeky weekend away we have a gorgeous Murso woodburner with ample supplies.
Take advantage of those glorious summer evenings and the epic views across the valley with an outdoor terrace and ample relaxing seating. The twinkling lights across the valley will keep you mesmerised late into the evening, perfectly accompanied by a bottle of local vino.
The bar also stocks a few essentials but the main large supermarkets are in our local town, Pescia, approximately 15 minutes drive. Don’t miss the Saturday morning market where farm to market is literally a matter of hours.
And the icing on the cake – a little ‘wild’ swimming. We provide Hammam towels (locally sourced in Morocco) and on booking we reveal the popular local secret swimming spot. 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 spot. 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 your holiday tan.
You’ll have the house, private terrace and garden to yourself
Complimentary toiletries, tea, coffee etc, hairdryer, swimming towels, just ask!
Click on our sightseeing page for the best to explore from your doorstep
Selected by Sawdays for an out of the ordinary experience
The house is located in one of 10 medieval villages where time is marked by the church bells echoing across the valley. 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 guarantee it will become part of your evening ritual. For a traditional Tuscan meal there are four excellent restaurants within 10 minutes of the house – perfect for sampling local specialities.
Nearest main town, Pescia, has 3 large supermarkets, plus a fabulous Saturday morning market well worth visiting to stock on the freshest produce. In just over half an hour you can be strolling along the walls of ‘Fall in love at first sight’ Lucca or on an air-conditioned train to Florence and that iconic duomo.
We were smitten on our very first trip to Tuscany – the long drive through olive groves, exploring cities and villages where time has stood still and the evening aperitivo followed by extraordinary Italian cuisine.
We always had a passion for the country and culture and many years later we realised our dream of finding and restoring our medieval house. It took many long months to find the right place, but the combination of location – a real authentic Tuscan village – and the most beautiful house and garden, and it was love at first sight! Now our mission is to share this little slice of heaven with you, our guests.
David & Michelle
Pescia is wonderful and Lucca is a must, the roads are challenging but worth driving to visit these amazing places.
Joshua Sept 22
Soren – Denmark August 22
Thank you so much for sharing this most amazing house with us! You have just done an incredible job restoring the property! We are in awe—and the countryside around your place is unbelievably beautiful! What a treat to have experienced living in it! Rarely does one find such a unique rental and then to have it so tastefully furnished and so well appointed is incredible. A very very special place
Heidi July 22
We have just returned from Casa Castagna after a great weeks holiday. The quality of the house, highly appointed kitchen, very comfy bed and general ambience of the house was beautiful. The views are amazing and hearing the bells around the valley makes you realise you are in Italy!
Our favourite restaurant, Trattoria da Giulio in Lucca, was a perfect find whilst walking around the city walls. Great setting under the arches with delicious food, friendly staff who gave excellent service and very reasonably priced. Your recommendation for the best ice-cream in Pescia was great too! We enjoyed an aperitif and bought the best take away pizzas at the village bar. They were all very friendly and we would have gone more if they’d been open.
We visited lots of places. Strolling around Pisa was a pleasant surprise, the area around the university away from the tourists at the leaning tower, including the discovery of the Filter Coffee Lab. Clearly the go to place for the students-wonderful selection of teas, coffees and cakes
Claire & Adam Sept 22
So I said in Oct 19 that Casa Castagna is a gem, best place we’ve stayed, and we’d return… and so we have! Post pandemic, and even more excited as I knew the standards that delight. Michelle and husband have created something truly special with this restoration town house up in the Tuscan hills. A design enthusiasts dream, luxury details, and you will be transported to a beautiful and authentic pocket of Tuscany.
Favourite parts of the days are sunsets on the terrace, espresso in the morning and spa like luxury of the bedrooms and en-suites. It’s a joy to stay in and cook. Love the Alessi, love the hamman towels.
This time we ventured back to the walled city of Lucca twice, Porto Venere, Florence by train and the Uffizi (naturally!). Vinci and also that leaning tower!! We found the secret swimming spot which is worth finding, and even ventured to the Hotel Country Club one day for poolside relief from the heat. Hazelnut and Nutella gelato is a must in Pescia that’s recommended. The app is a joy, a great addition. Will be back for a third time 🙂
Carlie June 22
We had an amazing stay at Casa Castagna!
We loved the views from the terrace, and the main bedroom, and the extra touches of the luxurious sheets, beautiful crockery, (with a choice of espresso cups!), and overall interior design of the house, which has been lovingly restored.
We loved walking directly from the house to explore the area, and
visiting some of the neighbouring villages.
Coffee and croissants in the local cafe and bar were lovely. We also visited da Carla and La Pieve – both were lovely, and we tried the
Sorana beans cooked in a flask at Da Carla, which was amazing.
We took a visit to Buonamico Wine Resort, for the wine tasting and tour, and loved the sparkling wines in particular! We loved walking around the hilltop village of Montecarlo, and exploring Montecatini Terme.
Everything was perfect! Thank you so much!
Marcus Sept 22
Wow what a gem of a find Tuscany.
My wife and I visited Casa Castagna in September with some friends for a relaxing getaway.
We were greeted with a beautiful gift bag with local honey, award winning local olive oil and hand made soap all in a hand printed bag, a lovely touch.
The house is stunning, sympathetically restored with stunning views of the valley and a great terrace for a meal and or aperitif.
The beds were very comfortable with lovely linen with the name of the house embroidered for another lovely touch, a beautiful ensuite with a powerful shower.
The kitchen has everything you would want or need and the upstairs lounge is comfortable and has the great views.
During the day we closed the shutters to keep the heat out and this kept the house lovely and cool.
The village has its small bar with a shop, they do speak English and do welcome any attempt to speak to them in Italian. It does a great continental breakfast, get there early for the big croissants, great coffee, aperitifs and has a small selection of goods in the shop. Sit and watch the world go by with Negroni or a beer.
Down the hill there are fantastic restaurants, river and the pools to bathe in and in the evening look out for the wildlife. We saw a family wild boar, deer and an owl flying in front of our car – truly magical!
We have already booked for next year.
Mick Sept 21
We had an absolutely wonderful holiday. Michelle could not have been more helpful, I could not praise her higher. We loved the house and the views were to die for. We will definitely be visiting again.
Noilin Apr 22
I had such an enjoyable stay at the house. If you want a true experience of what it’s like to be in a magical hill town in the heart of Tuscany then this place is perfect for you. The house itself is exquisite, the detailing and the quality of all the finishes and superb linens – it really felt like a stay at a 5-Star Hotel.
The communication was perfect from start to finish and they even have a fantastic app for your phone that tells you everything you need to know. The restaurants just three minutes away down the hill are perfect in every way serving pizza and wood-fired grilled specialties from the region.
Overall, the location is so convenient for exploring the nearby cities like Pescia, Pistoia, Lucca and Florence – The end of your day you can return to the house and feel like you live there. We will be back for certain!
Irwin June 22
We had the most wonderful Autumnal stay at Casa Castagna and I could not recommended this beautiful house more highly. It’s the best place I’ve stayed; a real gem. The luxury standard throughout is just ‘wow’ whether that’s the Alessi & design gadgets in the kitchen with stunning Smeg oven and hob to create your own Italian delights, or the high quality of every detail that Michelle has put in.. in every room. The photos are great, but you will be blown away even more so. The Tuscan hills are quite something; a perfect base to explore Florence, Lucca and beyond. Definitely returning…
Carlie Oct 19
We had an excellent stay at Casa Castagna. The house is a wonderful base to enjoy the beauty of Tuscany, with Lucca and Florence a short train journey or drive from the property. The local restaurants recommended by the owners are all superb and the accommodation with its views was just perfect.
Dan May 19
We spent a wonderful week at this house at the end of Sept/early Oct. It has been beautifully restored and offers magical views from its windows and garden. The selection of books in the house was a bonus! Besides being great for lazy days the location is also a good base for exploring the region. We loved Lucca so much we visited it twice!
We also visited Da Sandrino and Da Carla, two of the restaurants recommended by the house’s owner and only five minutes drive away. Both were very good. I’d recommend the wild boar and olives at Sandrino and steak with green peppercorn sauce at Carla. I’d advise future guests to arrive at the house during daylight if possible. The 15-minute drive to it from Pecia is rather challenging if you aren’t used to country roads. Saying that the owner provides excellent directions.
David & Adam Oct 19
What can I say…the most amazing place to stay! Glorious valley views from the villa windows and terrace. Beautifully and artistically furnished holiday property with attention to detail, without compromising on comfort. Tranquil evenings lounging on the terrace watching the sun go down. Wonderful restaurant nearby serving locally sourced Italian cuisine. A holiday to remember – I will definitely be returning!
Amanda Sept 21
An amazing location, within driving distance of some of the best cultural and historical sights in Tuscany, but still secluded and authentic. The house itself is beautifully renovated whilst retaining its’ original charm.
Freddie Sept 20
Very beautiful home with an absolutely stunning location. Communication with Michelle has been impeccable – very informative description of location and facilities. Clearly an advantage to get to the house by car. We can definitely recommend the accommodation and host.
Trine & Claus (Denmark) Oct 21
We loved the luxury standard, the interior design, the soft sheets, the equipment in the kitchen, the welcome bottle of Prosecco, the terrace and the view, the swimming spot and the whoe experience. We loved preparing dinner and eating on the terrace. We absolutely loved the natural river swimming (but by late afternoon it loses the sunshine).
We did a lot of hiking to the surrounding villages. To Castelvecchio and San Quirico you can leave from the doorstep. From Vellano there are also nice trails. Being from Switzerland we are used to better hiking paths but we still had fun. And the olive oil tasting with Luca was very local and authentic – we loved it. Thank you very much for sharing this fantastic home.
Raphael & Guillaume (Switzerland) Sept 21
We loved the peacefulness of the house and the surroundings and the comfort of the house. We visited local restaurant Da Carla and had a lovely lunch in Montecarlo. We liked Montecarlo and Pescia – not too big or too busy. We would recommend the natural river swimming – we went there with our teenage girls every day!
Jolanda (Germany) Aug 21
A beautiful house in the most stunning part of Tuscany. The views over the valley when waking each morning is really something special. The interior of the house is flawlessly elegant throughout, warm and comforting. The local authenticity of the area is a refreshing escape from the fast-paced lives of home.
By far my two favourite things about this house are the local restaurants nearby producing the best Italian cuisine, and the natural pools to bathe in during the day when the Tuscan sun is at its’ best!
Thomas Aug 20
We spent a happy week at Casa Castagna. The property had been beautifully restored and fitted with lovely furnishings. All local restaurants were superb and the local Italians very friendly. A great base to explore the local area. Many thanks for a lovely holiday.
Owen & Angela Sept 19
What a wonderful holiday we had at Casa Castagna. The house is beautiful and luxurious. We totally relaxed during our stay. The driving was exciting and you get used to the roads really quickly. One of our best days was driving out to some of the other villages – all beautiful and all different. There is a bus service throughout the day to Pescia for supples and train connections to Lucca, Montecatini and Pistoia.
We were lucky to be in Sorana for the bean festival. The local people are incredibly friendly and we had a wonderful night of eating, drinking and dancing with them. The circola, bar, is a great place for an evening drink.
We bought a beautiful souvenir from a market stall in Lucca – a man carves little houses and towers from beautiful wood which go together to make a simple street. It takes me straight back to the village every time I look at it. Only disappointment was we couldn’t find a porcupine quill to take home!
Ali Aug 19
A wonderful cottage in one of the most beautiful parts of Tuscany. Once you have mastered the way to the cottage for the first time – the description on the website is very helpful – it is not particularly difficult and leads to a picturesque small village.
The cottage is fully equipped, beautifully furnished and perfect for four people. Visits to the local bar, the mobile shop coming every morning and to the multiple events on the little market square are highly recommended.
Florence, Pisa or Lucca are the obvious places for visits, we would however recommend also to spend time in Pistoia and Pescia. Our favourite spot: In the east of the village a place to sit and read, especially also on hot days.
Bianca Aug 19
Recently back from a very hot week staying in this beautifully refurbished and thoughtfully equipped house. It had everything we needed and the owner Michelle was fantastic at responding to our queries, before and during our stay. We loved having breakfast and dinner outside, watching the constantly changing views across the valley. The village was characterful and friendly and getting up for the bread etc van an experience. Despite the appeals of the house, we dragged ourselves away to a couple of the local restaurants and had good food (including the local beans!) at modest prices. A great base for exploring Lucca and local towns and villages, with high mountain walks about a 90-minute drive away.
Prys Jul 19
We had the most amazing time at Casa Castagna. It is in such a beautiful setting and we felt very at home. We did a lot of walks from the door, exploring the other villages in the area. We didn’t make it to the wine tasting in the end, but we did take up your recommendation of La Sandrino – that wild hare pasta blew our minds and our tastebuds! We also made the most of our last day which was very rainy by booking a table at the Agri-Turismo for their gastro feast, and what a feast it was. We felt very welcome as the ‘x 4 Ingleses’. The kitchen had everything that was needed to cook up some tasty meals of our own and we enjoyed a lovely day in Lucca cycling around the city walls. We really had no complaints even with the patchy weather. We would certainly consider returning and have already shared details of where we stayed with friends. Many thanks again for helping to make our stay truly special.
Shona & Jon Apr 19
From the upper windows, views across a wooded valley reveal medieval villages. Birds flutter and chirp. The cockerel crows and the church bell rings out the hours. Inside, the house is comfortable, stylish and well-equipped for our stay, and the detailed information provided by the owners makes everything easy. On our last day, we followed directions to the local swimming hole – a hidden treat and highlight of our holiday.
Anna Aug 20
Via fra Canti 1
Sorana
51017
Pistoia
Find us on the map using what3words (click below):
Phone: 07809 615725
email: info@casa-castagna.com
There is very good mobile phone signal from the house, however in certain internal areas this may be restricted by the very thick, 400+ year old walls. There is also good signal from the garden. We would also advise using a wifi enabled messaging service such as whatsapp in conjunction with mobile.
Please note that fibre optic cables haven’t quite reached us yet and that wifi service in a medieval village can be subject to some fluctuations.
The house is fully equipped, including hair dryer, iron and ironing board, plug-in mosquito repellent, kettle, espresso maker, dishwasher, toaster, swimming towels, coolbag, picnic blanket.
The terrace is furnished with outdoor table and seating for 6 and two loungers.
We also provide enough consumables for your first few days – coffee/teabags/dishwasher tablets/toilet rolls/olive oil/salt and pepper.
The house is stocked with the basics – coffee, sugar, tea etc.
The local bar has a few essentials available for purchase however the nearest basic stores are a 10 minute drive in Pietrabuona with an alimentari, butchers etc.
We highly recommend making a stop at the biggest supermarket, Esselunga, in Pescia which is conveniently en-route to the house (highlighted on the directions PDF attached to your booking email). Opening hours are 7.30 to 21:00 (20:00 Sundays)
There are two further major supermarkets, Co-op and Lidl, and a weekly Saturday morning market in Pescia (highly recommended) with ample fresh produce.
There is a comprehensive list of recommended places to visit on the sightseeing page of this website.
We will also send you a link to our digital guidebook 7 days prior to your arrival, which provided all the information in a convenient app
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