Casa Serena

One of the many reasons that people choose Tuscany as a holiday destination is because it offers a chance to well and truly get away from it all. You can, of course, vacation in a city and find a holiday rental in Florence or a villa in Pisa or any other stunning Tuscan town but for those looking to leave regular life behind, a vacation rental in the Tuscan countryside is the best choice.

Not least at all because many of these properties are the kind of self-sufficient wonderful places that make you want to go nowhere else. Especially when they boast a great private pool.

In order to help you find the best property in which to wile away perfect and relaxing lazy days by the pool, we have rounded up some of our best vacation rentals in Tuscany with pools. Here are just some of our favourites!

Beautiful and historic wineries that are located in the most extraordinary settings are not unusual in Tuscany but, though there are many and many that we have discussed in this blog on numerous occasions in the past, there are many more excellent examples that we have yet to discover and for visitors to the region to discover. So, if you're a serious wine-lover who is thinking of planning a vacation sometime soon, there can be no doubt that Tuscany makes for a truly idyllic and perfect holiday destination to go and see where great Italian wines are made, taste wines, learn about them, buy and ship bottles home, and to engage in a vibrant and ancient wine culture.

One particularly scenic and lovely winery in which one can do all of the above and more besides is the beautiful Castello di Monsanto. While the Castello di Monsanto actually dates back to the middle of the 18th century and wine production in the area goes back centuries, it is in the last fifty years that the estate has become home to the Bianchi family and their beloved wines. Located in Barberino Val d'Elsa, in western Chianti Classico, a bit northwest of Castellina in Chianti, this incredible historic castle was where founder Aldo Bianchi, a native of San Gimignano who had first left Tuscany before the Second World War to seek fortune elsewhere in the North of Italy, found himself at a wedding. Taking in the amazing views across at his hometown of San Gimignano, over the hills of the Chianti Fiorentino region, and right to Monte Amiata and the Apuan Alps from the terrace of the castle, Aldo fell in love. Within a few months, he owned the Castello di Monsanto.

Quaint, bright, and colourful, Antico Borgo San Lorenzo is an impossibly charming property in the Tuscan countryside, just 16km from the famous walled medieval city of San Gimignano and 5km from the pretty little town of Colle Di Val D'Elsa, that houses up to 39 guests in a total of 11 independent apartments. Organising a destination wedding in this beautiful Tuscan wedding villa and on its grounds, therefore, is a little like having a picturesque little Tuscan town all to yourself for you, your friends, and families to enjoy! If you have always dreamed of getting married in Tuscany and you are looking for a location that has character to spare and that makes for a truly romantic wedding venue then look no further! Plan your dream wedding in Tuscany at Antico Borgo San Lorenzo today and make that dream a reality...

The medieval town of San Gimignano in Tuscany is a unique place to visit because of its famous towers!

During medieval and Renaissance times it was common practice for wealthy families to build tall extravagant towers adjacent to their palazzos to show off their wealth and compete with other rich families in the area.

Book a vacation villa in the San Gimignano area and see the beauty of this ancient town for yourself!

Italy and food are pretty synonymous, right? Most people who have found a vacation rental in Italy and are planning their trip will be researching galleries, museums and attractions to visit but they are likely to also be impatiently awaiting all of the delicious meals that they have in store. While there are countless foods to be tried while in Italy, not to mention local specialities, there are some foods that are must and should not be missed while there. Even foods you may have tried plenty of times before can taste completely different in Italy and in a very, very good way.

1. Pizza

Pizza is an obvious choice but an important one. I am not a crazy pizza fan, personally, but there really is something completely different about the pizza in Italy. It's lighter and crispier and just tastier, overall.