Renting a cottage in Tuscany
has always been fantasy fodder for travel aficionados.
Sure, there are villas and hotels and converted farmhouses
and myriad other places to stay, but when it comes to
the allure of the cottage holiday, Tuscany has the best.
From options right outside the city gates of Florence
to waterfront cottages on the Ligurian Sea, if you want
a holiday cottage in Italy, you go no further than the
region famous for seclusion, tranquility and romance.
Whether you want to stay near one of the busy Tuscan cities, or want complete seclusion, there are plenty of options in the rich countryside. Like most Tuscany vacations, the Chianti hills are one of the main tourist attractions, if not for the sumptuous landscape, then for the immaculate wine selection all around you. While renting a holiday cottage in Italy might not be the cheapest form of accommodation available, it is certainly one of the best. Private gazebos overlooking vineyards and the medieval walls of some village in the distance, cypress trees lining the grounds while you sip from your wine glass – all that and more are waiting for you at your cottage in Tuscany.
What you’ll find in these cottages are comfortable rooms in rich settings with all the amenities of a hotel room. But unlike Tuscany villas and hotels, the majority of cottages are in the least populated areas. So if you want to mix up your stay with seeing the sights of major tourist cities like Florence and Siena, you’ll have fewer options outside of city limits. If you want to spend your days in quaint hillside villages, than you’ll likely be near villages like Follonica, San Gimignano or Monteriggioni. No matter where you take your cottage holiday, Tuscany will provide.
If you are trying to stick near Florence, try the Marignolle Relais & Charme, which has the added benefit of being near one of Italy’s best golf courses. Although you’ll be right near one of the busiest cities in Italy, you’ll never know from this cottage in Tuscany.
The best method to getting a cottage, other than booking ahead on the internet, is heading to a major city in Tuscany and asking about the outlying areas. Even the tiniest villages usually have some kind of cottage available. The Locanda Vigna Ilaria just outside of Lucca is another example of an excellent holiday cottage in Italy. You’ll find yourself on the fringes of Lucca’s Wine Road, surrounded by excellent restaurants and the gorgeous Tuscan sun.
Renting a cottage in Tuscany is also popular with honeymooners, as the location can’t be beat, and it affords a certain kind of intimacy that is missing from many urban lodging options. But newlyweds or not, cottages are superb spots for romantic getaways with your significant other.
