Types of vacation accommodations in Tuscany - hotels, villas, apartments, agriturismi, Bed & Breakfast rooms

A Tuscan “villa“, strictly speaking, is a very large aristocratic house of distinctive design, built to accommodate as many as 20 or 30 people. These are occasionally available as vacation rentals, usually by the week, Saturday to Saturday. Villas are normally not available during the winter because of the prohibitively high cost of heating them.

More about Tuscan vacation villas.

In addition to private vacation villa rentals, Tuscany boasts a number of boutique Tuscan villa hotels which are basically Tuscan villas that have been converted for use as a hotel without changing the architectural features excessively. They usually have their own restaurant, period furnishings and always a swimming pool.

More about boutique hotels in Tuscany.

A Tuscan farmhouse is a casa colonica (plural case coloniche) in Italian. These houses are architecturally not villas. They were and are the homes of farming families, and hence are a form of “vernacular” architecture characterised by the ad hoc additions that make them frequently so charming. However, they are often advertised as “villas” or “vacation villas” apparently because in some English-speaking countries, any stand-alone house is referred to as a villa. It is therefore important to read the description of your potential vacation rental to avoid any misplaced expectations regarding room size, ceiling heights etc.

More about Tuscan farmhouse vacation rentals.

Vacation apartments are probably the most commonly available form of holiday accommodation in Tuscany. Vacation apartments are readily available in towns and villages as well as in the country where they are often located in farmhouses that have been divided up or in what were formerly farm buildings such as olive oil presses, stables and barns. Sometimes the swimming pool is shared with other guests but each apartment should have its own well-equipped kitchen or kitchenette. Often, each apartment, if there is more than one, has its own individual outdoor sitting area.

More about Tuscan vacation apartments.

Agriturismi (farm stays), can be whole farmhouses, apartments or rooms, but when correctly described as an agriturismo they will be situated on a farm that owns land and actively produces agricultural products. In Tuscany, this usually means the property grows grapes and/or olives. Staying at an agriturismo usually provides excellent opportunities to learn about wine making and, in late October, olive oil extraction.

More about Tuscan agriturismi.

Vacation rooms and Bed & Breakfast accommodations are readily available throughout Tuscany, both in the towns and villages, and in the country. Town and country both have their advantages. If you lodge in a town and also many villages, you will have access to restaurants within easy walking distance of your accommodation, thereby obviating any issues regarding wine and driving. Groceries and other supplies will clearly be more rapidly accessible in town than in the country. On the other hand, country B&Bs are more likely to have a swimming pool and panoramic views, and possibly greater tranquility.

More about Tuscan Bed and Breakfast accommodation.