Podere La Casina, Tuscany

 A Slice of Heaven 

Photo courtesy of Podere La Casina

Where to begin. Podere La Casina is my favorite place to stay in this wide, wide world. That includes four & five star hotels/resorts, castle & palace hotels or quaint bed & breakfasts'. There is something about it that makes me happy, gives me a sense of place and becomes my comfort zone while I'm there. I don't know what it is, but I will do my very best to describe it.  It has a tranquil beauty that is in the middle of Tuscany tucked alongside a hillside near a wildlife refuge.  This 16th Century farmhouse looks the part of a remote Tuscan getaway. I can sit in the gazebo and just stare at the house for hours. The house speaks to me. My wife and I have been coming here for over 20 years and we were some of its first guests. Every year when we return it feels as if we have never left, we just pick-up where we left-off. An important part of why this place is so special is the Porro family.  They add a whole new dimension to hospitality. From the very beginning they have made us feel like family and made it a second home. The mother and daughters manage the property masterfully and we have watched the kids grow up to fine adults (great upbringing). The parents live nearby in their own small castle. Songs from birds of all kinds fill the air all day, you can even hear a Cuckoo. For the longest time I thought it was a clock, too funny. 

The house has five apartments, four in the main house and another in a detached building, all keeping to the historic nature of the farm house. My favorite apartment is Myrtus, complete with archways and wooden beam ceilings. It is the largest, has two bedrooms, overlooks the pool and has its own pizza oven, which works just great. All of the apartments are lovingly and tastefully decorated to reflect the Tuscan lifestyle, each have  full kitchens as this is not a bed and breakfast. The Porro's are continuingly upgrading and adding little somethings to make your experience more  enjoyable. The gazebo is a wonderful place to have breakfast or dinner for that matter. It too has morphed over the years and is a fun place to hangout, have gatherings or simply take in the scenery.  La Casina seems to be near everything, 30 minutes to an hour from Siena and Florence and all important destinations in Tuscany.  It makes for easy day trips to wherever you want to go. 

Oh the swimming pool, it is a great way to relax on a summer day. Somehow it doesn't detract from the house, it feels like it should have been there from the beginning. I will warn you, it can be a little chilly in the Spring and Fall, but that's ok as it adds to the charm. The grounds include a small olive orchard, strawberry patch and the new Bosco della burraia - a safe running and walking area in the woods. A burraia is a place full of history where farmers and shepherds built underground structures to preserve milk and cheese. In 2017, the Porros discovered one on their property and made it into a place of meditation and exercise. Like I said, always growing and making things better. 

It is also a great jumping-off point for wine country. The Chianti region is just 30 minutes north and 30 minutes south is home to the famous Brunello di Montalcino. Lucignano,  which I describe at length in an earlier blog, is just 7 minutes away and has a wine shop, Enoteca Merenda Toscana, that has select premium wines from the region. Marguerite is the owner and is very knowledgeable  of all the local wines. A nearby eatery we discovered thanks to the Porro's is Ristorante Bar La Scuderia. Try the Steak Florentine, it is simply wonderful. Sitting on a cross-roads, it is not the first place you would think to stop-in, but locals know how good it is. Friendly service, great food.

Spring, Summer and Fall are all great times to visit, the weather seems to always be favorable. There are a variety if micro climates within a 60 mile radius, but all seem to be mild. That said, I've never been in the Winter and I suspect it has its own charms. I know it snows at La Casina. There is a train station nearby but I would strongly suggest driving as the scenery is so spectacular at every turn. There  are a number of close by small walled villages and great medieval towns that I will detail in separate blogs, so stay tuned for more insights.