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Those looking to really enjoy and make the most of one of the most scenic and charming landscapes in the world on their next vacation would be hard pressed to find a vacation rental in Italy that is better positioned than Casa Insieme. Located 9km (or 5 miles) from the pretty little town of Asciano and 29km (or 18 miles) from the famous medieval city of Siena, in the stunning Orcia Valley in Tuscany, this particular villa is ideally perched on a site in an elevated spot that affords sweeping views over the surrounding area. Many rooms throughout the house have windows and/or doors looking out onto the stunning landscape of the Orcia Valley and these views are framed beautifully, making them look more like paintings than simply openings onto the outside world. In addition to this, the villa itself is a chic, sleek, and spacious gem and ideal for those wishing to plan a relaxing and scenic holiday in Tuscany. 

The famous Palio di Siena is one of the biggest traditional events to take place in Italy each summer and is certainly one of the most exciting. For those who were looking for one more reason to find a luxury villa in Siena or a villa with pool in Tuscany, it is a pretty darn good one and definitely and once-in-a-lifetime experience to tick off your bucket list. Taking place over the course of two days in the summer, the Palio di Siena 2022 dates are the 2nd of July and the 16th of August.

But what is the Palio di Siena?

Maybe you have heard the name before, maybe you have not. Maybe you know what it is, maybe you do not. Never worry either way – we’re here to explain it all for you! In the simplest terms, the Palio di Siena is a traditional horse race that takes place right in the heart of the historic core of the medieval city of Siena, with representatives of the different 17 quarters of the city (though only 10 can actually enter the contest each race) competing to win and bring back the honour of the win to their neighbourhood.

We believe that eating local dishes is one of the most important things to do on holiday and one of the best ways to become more familiar with a culture and a place. This, of course, is especially true when it comes to Italy and to Tuscany. So many famous and beloved products and dishes come from this part of the world and eating is a key tourist activity if you have found a villa in Tuscany. There are endless delicious things to eat from this especially lush and fertile part of the country but one of the must-try products from Tuscany is Pecorino cheese.

Made from 100% sheep’s milk, there are six varieties of pecorino cheese that received Protected Designation of Origin status. Pecorino Romano is one of these and one of the most famous cheeses from Italy. Other pecorino cheese are produced on the islands of Sardinia and in the Tuscan Province of Grosseto. Dating back to Roman times, when it was a staple of the diet of soldiers at war, pecorino is now often an alternative to Parmesan.