You have a magical and idyllic place, and we are grateful you have chosen to share it with us. The experience has been transformative. Walking the steps of L’Aiaccia and relaxing in all of its rooms, nooks and crannies has supplied us all with a blend of history and modern comforts. You are clearly special people …. sharing your vision and effort has been a privilege. We are a group of travellers from Canada and this experience sealed an amazing trip to Tuscany.
— N, E, M, L, E, A, D, J /July-August 2023
We have had a wonderful time in the idyllic setting of L’Aiaccia. Warm hospitality (Nicoletta is the best!), delicious food and wine, hikes to local wineries – the trip has been the perfect antidote to our busy lives back home. Thank you for sharing your gem with us. We hope to return one day to the magic that is L’Aiaccia.
— The Mars, Biancucci and Holness Families /July 2023
Thank you so much for sharing your amazing home! We loved it here. Everything was beautiful, relaxing and memorable. Nicoletta is amazing!
— The Novacks /July 2023
L’Aiaccia has been a dream house for us. I love the pool, hammock, and everything else! I hope that we can come back to L’Aiaccia!
— Beatrice, age 7 /July 2023
Incredible details, woodwork, beams, iron windows etc. Great job! And at no extra charge we did the back trail death march to the most beautiful orchard views in Tuscany and … then after being lost, great feeling, coming upon wondrous chateaus with wine tasting, meals and … thank god, directions home. Poor feet. Happy hearts.
— S, L, S, T, H, J, M & E (70th year reunion trip) /May 2023
Thank you very much for letting us stay in your beautiful house. We have had a lovely time. The views are incredible and the pool is to die for. Thanks for the memories.
— The Peterkins & The Garnetts /August 2022
Thank you for this extraordinary Tuscan experience! We had a perfect several days. L’Aiaccia could not have been better nor more special. Thanks also to Nicoletta and Wendy for their hospitality.
— J, A, J & C /August 2022
It is hard to find the words to express our gratitude for the magical two weeks we spent at L’Aiaccia. We planned this adventure to celebrate one son going to college, one son’s long overdue (due to Covid) high school graduation trip and one daughter heading to graduate school. From the moment we entered the archways to L’Aiaccia and stepped inside your beautiful home, we knew we had made the right decision coming here. Where do I begin? The house, first of all, is a home, with everything we could ever want clearly anticipated by the two of you. Loads of space with the perfect amount of family connection sprinkled throughout. We spent mornings at the pool followed by our coffee stop in Gaiole, and then afternoons exploring the gorgeous Tuscan countryside. Your helpful suggestions were the perfect roadmap to a vacation we will long remember. Our kids were entertained and enthused about their return visit to the magic that is L’Aiaccia.
— The McFarling Family /July 2022
My first trip here (hopefully of many) was so amazing! I will be dreaming of the pool for the rest of the summer! Thank you!!
— J. H. /July 2022
This (departure day) is a day we have been dreading since we just set foot in L’Aiaccia. Alas all great things must come to an end, though our hearts will forever hold this very special place near and dear. From this day forth, whenever I hear the words “La Dolce Vita” – the sweet life – I will think of your magnificent villa in Gaiole in Chianti! From our daily swims in the luxurious pool to the mornings spent at Bar Centrale, I think must’ve just about it covered every item on your list of recommendations. Pienza was bliss. And the food – everywhere – well…speechless. We especially loved La Gorgia, and will crave their tagliateli with truffles until our next visit, which we hope will be soon. It is easy to see how you fell in love with this place. (We’ll even miss our bumpy rides on the long white road!) All in all, we’ve had a fabulous time and I am running out of words to say how much we loved it here.
— T. Masters /August 2022
Thank you so much for sharing this special home with us. We had a perfect week, creating memories that our children will treasure for the rest of their lives. It was great to spend this time with close friends. We explored, learned, laughed and drank lots and lots of Chianti! We are all now very spoiled! We hope that your family will continue to create memories in this magical corner of the world.
— G, C, C, & A-C /July 2021
In July 2021, we were fortunate to have stayed at L’Aiaccia with family and friends. The experience was simply magical. L’Aiaccia is a special place. You know it from the first time you spot it from the white road leading up to the house. It is impeccably decorated and the layout is perfect for lounging with friends and family. Our favorite part of the house was the Loggia on the second floor with a spectacular view over the vineyards and Castagnoli. We would end most of our days with a glass of wine in the Loggia. The location of the house is wonderful; right in the heart of Chianti. Away from it all, but also conveniently close to Siena, Radda, Ama, and various castles and vineyards. We fell in love with Gaiole, the closest town, which became our home base. We frequented the fantastic restaurants in town, and became friends with the local butcher Lorenzo, who appeared on the show Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat on Netflix. Mostly though, it was witnessing the joy in our kids’ faces as they made fresh lemonade and learned how to make Nicoletta’s delicious apple cake. Even after seeing some of the greatest works of art in history in Florence and cycling through the Tuscan countryside, our kids’ favorite part of the trip was hanging around the house with their friends. Thank you Mark and Cathy for sharing your magical home with us.
— The Lopez Family /July 2021
L’Aiaccia is an enchanting place. It is nestled in a truly peaceful location and offers a lot of terraces, loggias and other places to enjoy a relaxing stay. The staff is joyful and pays a lot of attention to details – which allows guests to enjoy a very well maintained property.
— The Ruzette Family / August 2020
No simple description of L’Aiaccia will do its magic justice. My wife and I spent a phenomenal week there in April 2019, and cannot wait to return. L’Aiaccia is a spectacular, beautifully maintained, but at the same time historic, villa among many acres of olives, grapes and rolling hills. The villa is perched on a hill, surrounded by small towns, many within easy driving distance, each of which have their own unique and unforgettable charm. But leaving the property to enjoy the Tuscan paradise surrounding us was not an easy decision. The villa itself is cozy and wonderful, and the gardens are spectacular. I lost track of the number of rooms in the villa with jaw-dropping views, but one memorable one is the view from the Porcilaia (the guest house) shower, from which you can see the little village of Castagnoli. The accommodations are exceedingly comfortable and quiet. We had to drag ourselves out of a womb-like bed every morning, but when we did, the aromas and sounds of nature that greeted us in the gardens made it worth the struggle! We enjoyed a variety of nature walks on and around the property, and even had the chance to see a cinghiale (from a safe distance) — the boar that makes its way onto most of the local menus. Speaking of which, the food in the area is some of the best we’ve had in Italy, and my wife and I both became devoted fans of Chianti Classico, which is found in abundance in the wineries and restaurants around the Villa.
— The Sabins / April 2019
The hosts were extremely accommodating, providing driving directions to local points of interest, and making restaurant recommendations in the area. They are clearly quite detail-oriented and focused on ensuring that every guest has a memorable stay.
I cannot recommend L’Aiaccia strongly enough. It was an experience of a lifetime.”
Our family of six shared a relaxing and magical week at this enchanting villa. My wife and I have had the fortune of visiting the Tuscan region a couple of times in the past but this was the first time with our four children ranging in age from 18 to 10 (1 girl; 3 boys). We were seeking a location and overall experience that would maximize the flexibility to visit places such as Siena, Florence, San Gimignano and Radda while providing ample opportunity for the family to relax, experience and embrace the welcoming Italian people and culture. L’ Aiaccia provided all of the above and more. The location and setting could not have been more picturesque and welcoming and was within a short drive of all of the aforementioned places and numerous other quaint villages. The property has been meticulously renovated and furnished in the style and spirit of the Tuscan region to maximize your comfort and feeling of being “at home”. We enjoyed breakfast as a family every morning in the ground floor Loggia overlooking the hillside, would spend mid-day experiencing the surrounding area and were sure to find our way back to L’Aiaccia late afternoon and evening where we would relax by the pool, play table tennis and foosball with the children in the game room and take turns deciding which of the many incredible outdoor space to choose from to relax and enjoy some pre-dinner conversation, reading and wine. We would end our days with dinner, many of which were prepared by Nicoletta – L’Aiaccia’s housekeeper/cook – at the Garden Dinning Area under the candlelit, vined trellis overlooking the countryside and L’Aiaccia’s grounds beautifully manicured by Sandro, the gardener.
— The Frye Family / July 2018
The experience well exceeded our expectations and we look fondly towards our next family visit.”
This was our first trip to Tuscany as a family. The pictures of L’Aiaccia on the website looked great and we had no hesitation in booking. L’Aiaccia is even more beautiful in reality. This hidden gem in a quiet valley location down a bumpy “white road” is serene and magical. We had two weeks in August enjoying the breathtaking views from the house over the neighbouring olive groves and vineyards, long lazy lunches at the outdoor tables and hours of fun in the large pool. Away from the hustle and bustle but close enough to all amenities and local towns to never want for anything. Day trips to Florence and Siena were easy. The facilities at the house were all first class and Sandro the gardener and Nicoletta the housekeeper helped to make this a trip of a lifetime. We were spoilt with freshly picked vegetables from the garden (tomatoes like you have never tasted) and Nicoletta’s wonderful chocolate cake. All washed down with a choice of the many delicious Chiantis to be found in numerous nearby vineyards.
— The Bishops / August 2015 / August 2017
In all it was one of our favourite family holidays and we didn’t want to leave. We are already planning our return… but for longer this time!”
As this was our first time in rural Tuscany we had so much on our doorstep to explore and L’Aiaccia provided the perfect base to go out to all the stunning Tuscan towns and cities nearby – Pienza, Siena, Montepulciano and, of course, Florence. The only trouble with this was that we were so torn with whether to make the most of the L’Aiaccia’s fantastic location or whether to stay and relax in the gorgeous garden! The weather was exceptional during our May trip, meaning we spent much of our time enjoying the pool, loggia and alfresco dining. The house was beautifully furnished, and exceptionally comfortable, with birds nesting in the windows in the Tower– a real highlight for us! Everything has been so carefully thought out by Cathy and Mark and we could not fault the brilliant Nicoletta (who cooked a fantastic traditional Italian dinner for us one night) and the friendly Sandro.
When you see the house in the valley for the first time, it really takes your breath away – one day we hope to return and have that thrill all over again!”
— Lucy & Matthew / May 2017
We spent an idyllic week at L’Aiaccia at the end of May with a group of friends. The house itself is incredible with plenty of living and dining spaces to enjoy and tastefully decorated bedrooms (most with stunning views over the vineyards). The gardens and pool are beautifully tended by the lovely Sandro who lives in the local village with whom we chatted in our broken Italian. The housekeeper Nicoletta cooked an authentic Tuscan feast for us one night and it was among the best food we’ve had in Italy – definitely ask for her traditional Tuscan cinghiale (wild boar). L’Aiaccia was the perfect Tuscan hideaway from which we were able to explore the best the region has to offer. We also walked up to the local village for wine tastings at the vineyards around L’Aiaccia which was fantastic and worth the walk up and down some steep hills!
We would recommend L’Aiaccia for anyone looking for an unforgettable stay in Tuscany.”
— David and Bethan / May 2017
We visited L’Aiaccia for a week in the fall with friends. We had been to Tuscany several times and knew we were in for a treat, but L’Aiaccia exceeded our expectations in every way. The home was beautiful and comfortable. Cathy made sure we had plenty of ideas for how to spend the week. Nicoletta, the housekeeper, prepared a nice simple meal for our group that was ready for us when we arrived on our first day. She made sure we were comfortable throughout the week. Sandro, the gardener, had the fireplace ready to light after our days exploring the surrounding towns. We spent many a great evening curled up around the fire sipping the delicious wines from local wineries. The views of the surrounding countryside were spectacular, especially at dusk.
L’Aiaccia is remote enough that we felt like we had escaped the hustle and bustle, but close enough to Siena and Florence for day trips. We loved every minute of our stay!”
— The Rissis / October 2016
L’Aiaccia is a magical place—when you stay there, you feel like you are going back in time, but with modern comfort and conveniences! My husband & I joined friends for a Fall visit–wonderful meals around the generous dining table, cozy chats in front of the enormous fireplace, finding special nooks for reading and relaxing, hiking around the gorgeous countryside, and exploring the local villages and towns—we can’t wait to go back!”
— The Honeycutts / November 2016
L’Aiaccia was the perfect backdrop for an Autumn trip to celebrate life with our dearest friends, three couples. Each day began with coffee and breakfast at the terrace table overlooking the sculpted gardens, followed by a mid-morning swim in the hillside pool on sunny days. The property grounds provided ample exploration opportunities; our favorite being the marked trail through the woods. Most days were filled enjoying local fare and visiting wineries in the surrounding villages. By days’ end, we were all keen to get back to L’Aiaccia where we could disappear into our own spaces – each felt completely secluded and unique. On two evenings Nicoletta prepared delicious gourmet meals for us served up in the dining room filled with old world Tuscan charm. Following dinner, we often sat and talked for hours in the living room at the top of the stairs. It was here that we enjoyed a crackling fire that was set up for us by Sandro earlier in the day.
Our time at L’Aiaccia was truly an extraordinary experience. We highly recommend L’Aiaccia and look forward to our return.”
— The Bakers / October 2015
We spent a week at L’Aiaccia with our dear friends during summer 2014. It is the perfect place for two families to enjoy the beautiful Italian countryside. It is close enough to explore Siena (we had a great time going to a Palio practice) and other surrounding towns. Given the lovely accommodations and living spaces, everyone felt at home and wanted to spend our ‘down days’ relaxing around the pool, sleeping in the hammock or taking a hike to a small village near by (where the restaurant is terrific). Nicoletta and Sandro make you feel at home from the moment you get to L’Aiaccia. Make sure to have Nicoletta prepare a meal for you and taste the wonderful produce Sandro nurtures in the garden.
We highly recommend L’Aiaccia and look forward to going back!”
— The Willeys / July 2014 / October 2019
I have been lucky enough to visit L’Aiaccia on more than one occasion — which is actually necessary to enjoy its many delights. There seems to be a new adventure around each bend in the road — of which there are many! Just to name a few…an expedition into Siena to tour the magnificent cathedral and the stunning giant fan-shaped piazza plus shopping and discovering the most decadent hot chocolate ever — perfect on a chilly November evening. Another highlight was visiting the internationally known pottery company, Ceramiche Rampini, just a short drive away where we chatted with the owner and were given a surprise tour of the workroom to see the artisans painting the intricate patterns for which they are famous. Time spent at L’Aiaccia itself is delightful — it includes many luxuries and is exquisitely decorated and furnished. Each bedroom is styled individually and is wonderfully comfortable as well as private. There are a number of living spaces both formal and casual to congregate throughout the house although the kitchen may be my favorite spot — perhaps because that is where Nicoletta makes her scrumptious meals.
I could go on and on and on… but visiting yourself would be so much better!!”
— JN / November 2012, 2013/ April 2016, 2017