A hidden gem in the hills of Tuscany

"We planned an idyllic week in the Tuscan hills in a beautiful townhouse and boy did L'Olmo deliver. It was everything I had hoped it would be - beautiful, historic, private and authentic. The house is large enough that with a big group it never felt crowded. We filled our week with a mix of activities and relaxation, including wine tours, cooking classes, relaxing by the pool, reading in the hammock etc. We took turns buying local produce from the market and cooking in the fully equipped kitchen and eating on our expansive patio overlooking the Tuscan hills. Our hosts Margaret and Martyn (English speakers) were absolutely wonderful, extremely accommodating and full of local knowledge and recommendations. Thank you again for having us, it was a week to remember! "

A Tuscan Dream!

"No words can do this beautiful home justice! I recently stayed here with a group of 10 friends and could not have asked for a more incredible stay. The property took my breath away and was the perfect escape from the exhausting tourist crowds in other parts of Italy. The house itself is truly a dream come true, the food and wine in the surrounding areas was some of the best I’ve ever had and the properties owners went above and beyond to provide unparalleled hospitality. Thank you L’Omo for an experience I will cherish forever! "

We found paradise!

"While the photos are incredible in their own right, they don't even begin to give L'Olmo justice. The farm house has everything you'd need for a group of 10, and there's no beating a dinner out on the patio looking over the far-reaching Tuscan hills. Martyn and Margaret are the most accommodating and fun hosts with unparalleled local knowledge - some of the best moments were hearing their stories of the local area, and visiting the local eateries and sharing prosecco with the owners and chef. Even the road to L’Olmo is an experience."  

Breathtaking Views!

"The 500 year old Villa is magnificent! The terrain to the villa is a bit meandering uphill and rough so get an SUV. The villa grounds are very well maintained as well as the inside of the villa. Martyn and his wife Margaret are extremely thoughtful and attentive hosts. Our hosts provided information to surrounding areas to sight see, grocery shop, hair salons and just plain shop! Our stay was memorable!"

"We spent a wonderful week at l'Olmo, 2 families with 5 teenagers. The view is just amazing, the place is very quiet and very well maintained, and the house is very comfortable. We spent time visiting Florence, Arezzo and Fiesole, and we very much enjoyed the pool, relaxing in the beautiful garden and dining on the terrace .

Margaret and Martyn are wonderful hosts, always there to answer questions and give advise but never intrusive.

I would warmly recommend l'Olmo for a stay in Tuscany."

"Our family of Grandparents, children and grandchildren came together from as far as New Zealand to celebrate a 60th and 30th birthday. Our only specifications were that there would be a pool and outside dining. L'Olmo was a jewel of a find with this criteria and so much more. Martyn and Margaret were wonderful hosts who welcomed us like old friends when we arrived very late after a long day travelling. They have lived at L'Olmo for a number of years and have excellent knowledge of the area. On my birthday Martyn arranged and took us to his "second home" at a vineyard giving an excellent tour and wine tasting session followed by a fabulous lunch with traditional Italian courses and wines.

This large, old, warm feeling house is beautifully furnished and spacious with many little extras. We very much appreciated the staple kitchen items, including local olive oil and even a pot of basil. The children loved the beautiful, clean and well maintained pool in which Martyn added new inflatables each day much to their delight. The views from here across the valleys were stunning. There was much wildlife whether it was watching the buzzards high in the sky or searching for wild boars and porcupines. Each evening the shepherd would herd his flock of sheep through the property allowing the little ones to pet the dogs and sheep. Accessibility by rail to parts of the region was easy and we made trips to Rome and Firenze with ease. Margaret and Martyn were great company, there if you need them but certainly not intrusive. This was a great location for exploring the Tuscany region and is good for relaxing and staying put or sightseeing and this location ticked all our boxes. We would have no hesitation in recommending this house and its hosts."

"All our expectations were exceeded at L'Olmo. Margaret and Martyn were exceptional hosts which made the villa and its beautiful surroundings that much more pleasing in all respects.We can't say more than a big, big thankyou to them both for creating such a superb experience."

"This summer our family—two parents and four kids, aged between 14 and 21, plus my father—embarked on what we hoped would prove to be perfect Tuscan holiday. L’Olmo did not disappoint.

The first evening, after a winding trip up the hillside, we were rewarded with a tree-lined colonnade entry onto the property that took our breath away. As you approach the property you get a sense of the quiet majesty and age of the place. We were warmly greeted by owners Martyn and Margaret. They were ever present but never intrusive for the remainder of our stay, extremely helpful with advice about day trips and at the ready to make reservations or help with anything else that might have come up.

The farmhouse itself is spectacular. Dating back centuries, it has been tastefully outfitted with many modern conveniences. The rooms are large and bright and the beds all have comfy, crisp linens. We love to cook and had such a good time perusing the local markets, snipping the property’s abundant herbs, and cooking in the spacious modern kitchen. The kids enjoyed the wi-fi “booster” set up in the kitchen so it ended up being a busy place.

Of course, we spent a lot of time outdoors exploring the property, dining al fresco, reading by the pool, swimming in the pool, playing ping pong, and just soaking in the unbelievable lavender-scented sweeping vista of the Tuscan hills.

We went on to visit other places in Italy on this trip but our stay in L’Olmo was definitely the highlight of the trip and we hope to return some day."

"Exceeded our expectations! The house was more amazing than the photos- beautifully furnished and maintained. Our first trip to Italy and the owners took away any anxieties about being in a new place- places to visit, eat, hike, sightsee, shop. I'd recommend l'Olmo to any group or family who want to vacation "under the Tuscan sun"!"

"We spent a week at l'Olmo in mid-August with a family party of six adults and three children aged eighteen months, five and nine - and everybody had a great time. The house was welcoming and comfortable, the location superb and the swimming pool irresistible.

Set high in the hills east of Florence and looking over the Val di Sieve, the views from L'Olmo are stunning. Sitting round the pool or on the terrace looking out over the wooded slopes or up at the stars at night, you feel you are in a timeless landscape that has changed little since Roman times. Especially when the family of wild boar that live close by come foraging for pears in the orchard next to the pool; and when the shepherd brings his herd of sheep, marshaled by his two sheepdogs, to graze in the fields in front of the villa.

The stone and oak-beamed farmhouse was cool, clean and comfortable with big bedrooms and lots of space downstairs for children and adults, perfect for a family like ours.

However we spent almost all of our time outdoors on the sun loungers around the pool or in the water. There's enough shade from the cherry and almond trees to keep you cool during the hottest parts of the day and the pool is big enough for games with the children or a decent swim.

We divided the cooking between the kitchen and the barbecue and had most of our meals on the terrace with the eight of us seated comfortably round the large dining table. But we had the option of using the posh dining room indoors and then ending the evening with coffee in the library.

Florence is an easy trip for a day's outing by car or train and the local village has a couple of good restaurants and a friendly bar. If you want to go a bit further afield the owner, Martyn, will happily advise you about the best places to eat, vineyards, local markets, villages, shopping and much more.

The road up to the villa is a bit daunting the first time but soon familiar and well worth it for the stunning location and views."

"Last summer, we stayed at L'Olmo in Tuscany. The property is beautifully set in the Tuscan hills, overlooking vineyards and olive groves. The gorgeous stone farmhouse has been meticulously renovated with a huge, functional kitchen, several sitting rooms and lovely bedrooms. There is also a pool on the premises, surrounded by lavender and rosemary bushes that is perfect for lounging and enjoying the scenery.

Martyn, our host, was extremely helpful throughout our stay, arranging for a wine tour, suggesting restaurants and sites in the area.

Our party consisted of four adults and three kids. There was ample room for all of us and the house and grounds were so clean and tidy. It was an outstanding experience that I would recommend to anyone. Our kids said that staying in L'Olmo was the highlight of our three-week trip to Italy."

"We spent a fabulous week at this old world Villa, with 6 of our friends. It is spacious, homey and clean. All the comforts of home. We would travel each day to the surrounding towns to sightsee, and each night return with wine and cheese and bread to share our experiences around the farm house kitchen table. We enjoyed the spectacular views from our rooms, especially of the twinkling lights in Florence off in the distance. We picked fresh figs from the tree outside our doorstep, enjoyed the antics of the sheep that came to graze on the lawn, and marveled at the stars in the clear sky each night . This is a peaceful and charming place to enjoy the real Tuscany,away from the hectic pace of the City. The drive up the mountain, with beautiful views of the valley below , is an adventure, but it didn't deter us from coming and going each day.

Martyn and Margaret, the owners, are on property, speak English ( a real plus) and are very gracious and helpful in suggesting places to dine and what to see. Our favorite meal during our 2 weeks in Italy was at a small restaurant that Martyn recommended.

They were always prompt in replying to our e mails and answered all our questions before we booked our stay. If you are looking to experience quiet life in Tuscany, this is the place to be. We hope to be able to go back again soon."

"My wife and I and seven family members as young as 11 had a wonderful week at L'Olmo. The Lewis' were perfect--they were there when you needed help and guidance, but otherwise very unobtrusive. The house was beautifull restored, the accommodations were outstanding, and the scenery was breathtaking. Far beyond our expectations. We enjoy cooking, so we particularly appreciated the very modern kitchen; and having a washer and dryer was very important with the large group. The grandchildren swam every day after the Tuscany sightseeing, and that was very important to our total enjoyment. They also enjoyed table tennis. Three of the family work so we had a laptop computer. Even though we were in the country, we were able to get internet reception in the kitchen much of the day. The week was superb."

"What an incredible 7 days spent in Tuscany and at L’Olmo. Our hosts Margaret and Martyn were wonderful. They provided such good assistance with things to do, places to see, and restaurants to eat at. When we forgot to pick up some Basil from the market one day, Margaret was quick to the rescue with some from her thriving garden, along with some vegetables for dinner.

There are so many brochures and books in the house it took the better part of an afternoon to review them all. The house couldn’t have been better. Plenty of room for everyone, both inside and out. The pool was so refreshing after hiking the trails around the property. Be sure to find the Chestnut forest – we even picked up a few porcupine barbs along the way.

We all couldn’t believe we were staying in a 500 year old villa! We made day trips to Pisa, Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano, and Florence. Very convenient to them all. Be sure to take the train to Florence – its so convenient. Be sure to buy your ticket from the Tobacchi shop in Londa when you’re picking up your groceries and you’ll be set. Our most favorite part of the drive up to the house was passing through the farm and driving between the house and barn. The owners would peek out from the doorway, waving to welcome us back. The kids got a kick out of seeing the cows and chickens in the road. We had such a great time that there’s not a day that goes by that we don’t think with envy of our week at L’Olmo and the wonderful memories of a trip of a lifetime. Hopefully only one of many to come!"

"What an incredible 7 days spent in Tuscany and at L’Olmo. Our hosts Margaret and Martyn were wonderful. They provided such good assistance with things to do, places to see, and restaurants to eat at. When we forgot to pick up some Basil from the market one day, Margaret was quick to the rescue with some from her thriving garden, along with some vegetables for dinner.

There are so many brochures and books in the house it took the better part of an afternoon to review them all. The house couldn’t have been better. Plenty of room for everyone, both inside and out. The pool was so refreshing after hiking the trails around the property. Be sure to find the Chestnut forest – we even picked up a few porcupine barbs along the way.

We all couldn’t believe we were staying in a 500 year old villa! We made day trips to Pisa, Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano, and Florence. Very convenient to them all. Be sure to take the train to Florence – its so convenient. Be sure to buy your ticket from the Tobacchi shop in Londa when you’re picking up your groceries and you’ll be set. Our most favorite part of the drive up to the house was passing through the farm and driving between the house and barn. The owners would peek out from the doorway, waving to welcome us back. The kids got a kick out of seeing the cows and chickens in the road. We had such a great time that there’s not a day that goes by that we don’t think with envy of our week at L’Olmo and the wonderful memories of a trip of a lifetime. Hopefully only one of many to come!"

"It has been 6 weeks since I left L'Olmo and it still feels like a dream. The house was amazing. Martyn and Margaret are very hospitable and friendly. The house and grounds were impeccably clean and inviting.There was more than enough room for our families(10 people), the kids enjoyed exploring the land, ping- pong and the pool.

The drive up the mountain was a bit daunting, but not a problem at all. We enjoyed the house, cooking in the well equipped kitchen, eating and drinking on the porch and hiking the trails. Day trips to other cities was easy to navigate(with a map).Plenty of resource material and maps in the house.I would recommend the house without any reservations at all and would go back today if I could. If I close my eyes I can still smell the fresh lavender....."

"We were 8 people from age 16 to 78 to spend a wonderful week in this fabulous house. Our only regret is that we didn't book a week more.

The rooms are big, clean and beautifully decorated in Tuscan design. The kitchen very well equipped and perfectly designed for lots of home cooking. We spend most of the time around the house outside on the lovely shady terrace, or around the pool area. The house does not have air condition, but it turned out not to be a problem, though we were there during the hottest period of the year. The cool mountain breeze was enough to keep the rooms comfortable at nights.

The view all around the house is breath taking. Simply beyond words! The place is so tranquil, that you never want to leave. Martyn and Margaret keep the pool clean and water the flower pots on the terrace quietly very early in the morning. The garden area surrounding the house is so well kept.

Martyn and Margaret are the best host imaginable. They respected our privacy, but were always close by, when we needed advice or help. They know their local neighborhood very well, as well as their way around Tuscany, and they are always very friendly and helpful.

As my daughters boyfriend quietly said to me while relaxing in the hammock and gazing over the mountains : "To think that such a place exists, and that you were able to find it!"

We will be back for sure!
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