UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN, A WEEK IN A PRIVATE VILLA
In July last year (2015) we rented Capanna Cerreto for seven days with Montreal based website, Luxury Retreats, in the Tuscan hills with our dear friends Tyler, Jessica, and their daughter. Having lived in Florence as a university exchange student, I love going back to Tuscany. The villa was located off a country road and up a winding dirt road. Without any close neighbours, we were situated amongst Chianti vineyards and olive groves. The main floor had a large living area and separate kitchen. Both rooms had French doors onto the shaded patio which overlooked the pool area below. Upstairs, there were three bedrooms, each with their own ensuite.The bottom floor had another living area, with a large flatscreen TV and two additional bedrooms. There is an on-site care person, who looked after the gardens and the pool. Monday-Friday, a cleaner came through for a few hours, just like a five-star hotel service. Decor wise, it was simple, like a page out of Vogue Living, with white washed walls and comfortable furniture.
We woke up late in the mornings, feasted on the sweetest, juiciest stone fruits and indulged in a morning swim. Our afternoons we either had a long lunch in a village nearby or ventured for longer drives, thirty minutes to Sienna and less than an hour from the shopping, sights, and art of Florence. Returning back to the villa, we would swim again as relief from the afternoon heat.
Evenings were chef prepared dinners in our villa or a nearby restaurant. One of our dinners we had a party with friends, four couples and six children under nine. Our multi-course meal prepared by the chef and served with such loving care gave us a perfect moment in time that could never be repeated even if we tried.
Another evening we drove about 20 minutes to a Michelin starred restaurant called La Bottega del 30 in the tiny little village of Villa a Sesta. It was nothing short of being spectacular, and I still dream about the luscious raviolo where the egg yolk oozed out and melted into the brown butter as an unctuous sauce. We left everything to co-owner/chef Franca, as menus weren't provided. Back at the villa, our bedrooms were air conditioned and wifi throughout, so we were also not roughing it.
ENDS
