The property of La Foce lies on the hills overlooking the Val d'Orcia, a beautiful and miraculously intact valley in Southern Tuscany. Midway between Florence and Rome, it is also within easy reach of Siena, Arezzo, Perugia, Assisi and Orvieto.
Renaissance and mediaeval gems such as Pienza, Montepulciano, Monticchiello and Montalcino are only a few miles away. The countryside abounds in lovely walks among woods and the characteristic crete senesi (clay hills); the food is among the best in Tuscany and famous wines such as vino Nobile and Brunello can be tasted in the local cellars.

[ local map | map of region ]

Cultural events - concerts, art exhibitions, garden courses - are organized in beautiful venues nearby. Surely, Tuscany's charms have been widely publicized; but La Foce is undoubtedly a place where the best of this region can be enjoyed.

Known as an important settlement from Etruscan times (a burial-place dating from the 7th century BC to the 2nd AD has been recently excavated on the property), La Foce has been continuously inhabited for many centuries. Later, its strategic position on the historical Via Francigena leading to Rome greatly increased its significance.

The Villa itself was built in the late 15th century as a hostel for pilgrims and merchants traveling on this busy road. In 1924 the property was bought by Antonio and Iris Origo, who dedicated their lives to bringing prosperity and cultural and social changes to this poverty-ridden land.
Today the estate - a combination of woods, cultivated fields and olive groves - is run by the Origo daughters, Benedetta and Donata.

La Foce has also become a centre for cultural and artistic activities. Castelluccio, a mediaeval castle on the property, is the home of an international music festival, Incontri in Terra di Siena. It also hosts art exhibitions, as well as courses on garden history and landscaping. La Foce's farmhouses have been luxuriously restored and provide wonderful holidays in this remarkably unspoiled valley.

Several farmhouses, most of which have already been restored and refurbished to a high degree of comfort, lie in the property. At La Foce you will enjoy swimming (all the houses have pools), tennis, riding (stables at 1 km from Chiarentana) and trekking on trails which have been marked throughout the valley.
Guests who wish to spend their holidays in settings of unusual peace and beauty, with some of the most beautiful sites in Tuscany at their fingertips, will find La Foce perfect for their needs. The climate is excellent: dry and breezy, it will never be too hot, as La Foce is over 500 m. above sea level.

Please click here to view some larger photographs.

We have individual pages for three separate rentals at La Foce:

Chiarentana - five holiday apartments - sleeping from 2 to 6 people, shared pool.
Sassaia - Private villa, swimming pool, sleeps 14.
Gonzola - Italian farmhouse rental, swimming pool, sleeps 10.