BY STEPHANIE KASHETA
If you’re thinking of traveling to Italy this summer, you should stay at the newly restored Toscana Resort Castelfalfi, nestled inside an 800-year old village just an hour away from the Florence airport. The medieval Borgo lays at the heart of the Castelfalfi project, surrounded by the amazing Tuscan landscape of rolling hills, cypress tree-lined avenues and dramatic coastlines. It rests in an area between Florence, Pisa and Siena. You can lose yourself when you land, unhindered by any notion of modern time, free to absorb every nuance of the hills and 57 vineyards entwined with nearly 10,000 olive trees. Visitors can tour each of these vineyards and purchase honey, spelt and wine just after it’s been produced on site.
The restoration of the region began in 2007 and there are several rental options. You can choose between renting an apartment or villa that would allow you to enjoy the freedom of a holiday that perfectly matches your agenda and spend your days just relaxing in the privacy of your garden. Or, visitors may also choose to book one of La Tabaccaia’s 31 rooms. The Boutique Hotel was formerly a tobacco factory and has been renovated using the traditional colors, designs and materials of the region, including restored oak wood beams and tiled ceilings dating back to the original building’s construction.
Travelers can luxuriate, free from the eco/carbon guilt tethered to most luxury travel. 64% of the hotel’s energy stems from renewable resources, 96% of the water is supplied by rain water collected on the property and drinking water comes from ground water. A shuttle service is available around the estate, to reduce the pollution of rental cars and taxis and the resort has chosen a FSC C084348 certified company to produce its paper promotional material, ensuring a careful use of forests and plantations in an ethical, conscious and virtuous system.
For leisure, visitors can hike, cycle or dip in one of their swimming pools or saunas. Guests can marvel at the architectural wonders of Florence, Siena, Lucca and Pisa, all only an hour away. Gastronomes can savor the trattoria and restaurant, run by a Michelin-starred chef and learn the tastes and aromas of Tuscany in an on-site cooking school nestled within a medieval castle.
A stroll through the shops will take visitors on a journey through local craftsmanship, running the gamut from a wood and terracotta workshop, a pharmacy that sells herbal remedies and makeup exclusive to the region, a grocery store stocked with local produce and the Nuvolevolanti, where travelers can view and purchase artworks from local artists.
Tennis courts are set to be built later this year, and a five star Wellness and Spa hotel is planned for 2016. I’m aching with wanderlust as I write this, totally transfixed by the thought of swimming in a pool at dusk, ensconced in the seductive Tuscan countryside.
To check out the property visit http://www.castelfalfi.co.uk/
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This post was made possible by Toscana Resort Castelafi
