An overdose of charm and a real taste of Tuscany
A hilltop house full of Character
Our base in Tuscany is Agriturismo Il Rigo and it blends seamlessly into its heavenly location. Comprised of 2 gorgeously converted farmhouses – Casabianca and Poggio Bacoca – you will quickly fall in love with it.
Il Rigo is owned and run by our friends, Matthias and Luisa. Their hospitality touches, warm personalities and attention to detail will make you feel welcome and special. Luisa is an award-winning pasta chef and a gastronomic genius. On your midweek rest day, she offers cookery classes and pasta making demonstrations. Matthias might spend his time in the surrounding fields as a farmer, but he is also quick to serve you a spritz or a glass of wine at the bar. Il Rigo has been passed down several generations of Luisa’s family and you will also see her parents, Lorenza and Vittorio, pottering about the estate taking care of this and that. And if you want to know anything about the local wines, just ask Lorenza!
The family has made Il Rigo a beautiful place to stay and relax, the perfect escape. They have stylishly furnished the bedrooms, each with its own warm colour themes, embroidered bed linen, antique furniture – and light, airy en suite bathrooms. There are delightful views of the countryside from their rooms and from their pretty gardens and terraces. In their elegantly furnished sitting rooms, you can relax and help yourself to complimentary tea and coffee.
The two Farmhouses at Il Rigo are 600m apart. Casabianca is the main farmhouse. This is where we host Office Hour and enjoy dinner each evening. With 10 bedrooms, it is an old stone building, full of character and carefully preserved to reflect its original structure. One of the walls has a coat of arms dating back to 1572 when it belonged to the Hospital Santa Maria della Scala. In the courtyard is a wood-fired oven where the family make bread. At the front of the house you can sit under a vine-covered pergola with a relaxing drink and enjoy enchanting views.
Poggio Bacoca is the annexe, a typically Tuscan terracotta farmhouse with 7 bedrooms that have been recently renovated with brand new spacious bathrooms. Originally built in the 1930’s for families working on the estate, it is named after the apricot trees that used to grow around it. These have made way for panoramic views from its hilltop location opposite Casabianca.
We know you will thrive at Il Rigo with its endless charm and exquisite Tuscan backdrops, but perhaps the biggest highlight of your stay will be the food. Each evening Luisa provides four courses of traditional Tuscan food, which you can enjoy in the good company of other guests and our own hosts in the dining room of Casabianca. Stand by for the famous local speciality known as pici pasta, served with garlic and tomato sauce, not to mention panzanella, saffron rabbit, Luisa’s special roast pork, almond biscotti, chocolate salami and many more outstanding dishes. Luisa’s ingredients will always be ‘in season’ and will include fresh local produce and organic products with herbs, fruit and vegetables from the gardens. It goes without saying that an excellent and complimentary local wine is provided at dinner.
Prices
Double room
£1295
Single Supplement
£195
