Agriturismo La Pieve Charme Toscana

The Agriturismo La Pieve is in the locality of La Pieve, in the hamlet of Campiglia, on the hills of Colle di Val d'Elsa in the province of Siena. It is the stretch of countryside the via Francigena crosses between San Gimignano and Volterra, and the property keeps its rhythm: olive groves, dirt tracks, silence in the evening. The house is an old rural property restored with the materials and proportions of the Tuscan tradition.

There are only three units, and that explains the intimate atmosphere. The Suite del Duca is the largest, with an independent entrance, a private outdoor space and a fireplace; the Dependance Ermitage also has its own entrance and air conditioning; the Appartamento dei Cavalieri, the most compact, keeps its fireplace. All the units have a fitted kitchen, which makes it natural to extend the stay beyond two or three nights.

The salt-water pool and the solarium

The centre of the day is the outdoor salt-water pool, large and surrounded by parasols, sun loungers and deckchairs, protected by the olive trees that hide it from the road. Salt water is gentler on the skin and eyes than chlorine, and you can feel it. A dedicated staircase leads up to the solarium, fitted with small tables and armchairs and facing the countryside: it is the place for a book in the afternoon or a glass in the evening, when the light drops over the olive groves.

There is no wellness area in the strict sense: no sauna, no whirlpool tub, no treatments. Anyone coming here is looking for something else, and the owners are honest in saying so. The age rule is stated openly on the website: guests from twelve years upwards are welcomed, precisely in order to guarantee a quiet holiday. It is the right refuge for couples and for anyone travelling in search of quiet, with Siena, San Gimignano and Volterra within a day's reach.