Two Weeks in Tuscany: Best Place to stay ~ Agritourismo Villa Argiano
Two weeks in Tuscany is a dream. We rented a car in Florence and drove to our Agritourismo, Villa Argiano, located in the rolling hills of Montepulciano. Known as the heart of Tuscany, this area of Italy is what we all imagine when we think of Tuscany. Villa Argiano, a gorgeous, ancient Tuscan estate and farm, is the quintessential place to stay for an authentic Tuscan experience. Villa Argiano is not a five-star, glamorous resort chock-full of amenities as some neighboring properties boast. It is as real and as true to Tuscany as you can get with rustic lodgings, dreamy flower-filled grounds, and warm and genuine hosts that become lifelong friends…family even. For me, it is light-years beyond those insincere, high-end establishments that are a dime a dozen in the region.
We rented a two-bedroom apartment for our stay. I fell in love with the classic wood beam and white stucco ceilings you always see in pictures from the Tuscan countryside. The apartment came with a fully stocked kitchen, which was a great amenity. We enjoyed bringing back goodies from the various markets in the Tuscan towns and cooking meals with the fresh ingredients. The front door looks out over the hills and offers a fine view of the hill town of Chianciano, which twinkles in the night. The estate oozes Italian charm and offers a pool and endless beautiful spots for reading and rest. Walk among the olive trees and grape vines of this working estate that makes its own wine and olive oil. Stop and smell the dazzling array of roses that host Olympia has lovingly cultivated. Dine alfresco under your own honeysuckle-covered pergola. The romance of the place is intoxicating, and with only a handful of rooms they rent, you will feel as if the whole estate is yours.
What makes Villa Argiano truly special are the people who run the Agritourismo, Olympia, Lorenzo, and their son, Steffano. They care for you as if you were their own family. Please don’t pass up the opportunity to attend one of their cooking classes. Master chef, Roselle, teaches you have to make the famous hand-rolled pasta “pici” and classic tiramisu out in the garden – a truly hands-on experience. Roselle has been a chef since she was fourteen years old and is a natural teacher. Steffano, the host’s son, is an excellent translator and assistant chef. Then, once you have finished your class, sit down in the garden to an extravagant feast, cooked and served by Olympia, Roselle, and Steffano. This was probably our favorite day of the entire two-month trip through Europe.
The story behind Villa Argiano is a true “Under the Tuscan Sun” tale. Olympia, age nineteen, is swept off her feet by the older and handsome Lorenzo and taken out of the bustling city of Rome to his family’s Tuscan estate. Here they build a life, have three beautiful boys, and work hard to turn the estate and farm into a successful Agritourismo. I have already told Olympia that I would love to help her write that story someday. The estate is an easy drive to many of Tuscany’s most famous hill towns (more to come in other posts!). We took day trips to explore each of them. I do highly recommend renting a car, as public transportation is sparse in the country. Driving is part of the experience of Tuscany, and I can’t imagine one can get the true experience without a car. Driving is very easy (get the GPS!), and we had no trouble navigating and parking. One of the pleasures of Tuscany is driving on the scenic roads.
Final Thoughts:
If you are searching for the quintessential, authentic Tuscan experience, Villa Argiano is the place you will dream about long after you have left. The very heart of Tuscany resides in this magical place. You feel it deep in your bones as you gaze out across the valley and soak in the sea of vineyards, Iconic Italian Cyprus, and red poppy fields. Olympia and Steffano will welcome you in and make you part of their family. They will feed you like family, too!
I hear so many tourists say how they plan to take a “day trip” to Tuscany or spend one or two nights in the region. This hurts my heart. Tuscany is not a place for a day trip or stopover. It requires a long marination to soak it all in. This is the place for "Il dolce far niente" – the sweetness of doing nothing. Here is where you can truly experience “La Dolce Vita” – the sweetness of life. And you should.
