Radicondoli holiday barn

Paugnano is absolutely fantastic and I would strongly recommend it for anyone looking for a Tuscan farm stay.

We stayed at Paugnano in May for 8 nights and the farm was exactly what we were hoping to find in Tuscany. We stayed in the free standing villa called Capanna. It is a renovated barn and has a fantastic rustic feel whilst being spotlessly clean and very comfortable. We are a family of 6 (three young children and a baby) and we could easily fit into the villas two spacious bedrooms. The covered pergola area at the entrance is great and a nice place for watching the sun set over the hills with some local red. There is also a lovely pool above the main farm house, complete with deck chairs, which is great for keeping the kids entertained.

The owners of Paugnano, Giovanni and Giovanna are fantastic and along with their daughters Tamara and Natalie made us feel really welcome and at home. In the end it’s the really the people that you meet on your travels that make them what they are and what we loved most about Paugnano was meeting the family. We really enjoyed having dinner on the veranda of the main farm house (which is optional). Giovanna has a big wood fired oven and cooks up some great feasts.

Pauganno is still a genuine farm and the sheep were walked past Capanna twice each day for milking which the kids loved. Giovanni showed them how the sheep are milked – which the kids found fascinating– and they also liked seeing the pet pigs, wild boar and donkey – although the pool was still favourite! You can also buy the pecorino cheese made from the sheeps milk on the property.

The family does speak some English so if you don’t speak Italian (like us) you can get by though a phrase book is helpful and is also useful around the whole Radicondoli area.

The Radicondoli area is beautiful and less touristy than the more well know parts of Tuscany such as Chianti. You are still within easy reach of everywhere though. The farm its self is very large and there is a beautiful though rugged walk to the medieval town of Radicondoli which lies across the valley. Paugnano is also close to Belforte and although a little too far to walk on a regular basis to either town this really doesn’t matter as access by car is quick and easy. Make sure you also ask about the forest swimming pool which a friend of Giovanna’s directed us to

In summary we loved it!