Agrotourism Family Farm Stay in Tuscany
What happens when you combine a beautiful boutique hotel and a countryside farm in Tuscany? You get Al Gelso Bianco! Our family was lucky enough to spend an incredible week here, under the Tuscan sun, in Spring of 2019.
I logged serious hours researching where we were going to spend our time. After all, if the adults were going to fully delight in the pleasures of Tuscany (Hello, Chianti!) , finding a location that would accommodate and entertain Hadley and Elle was of the utmost importance. In the end, agrotourism was the answer!
Agrotourism is the combination of agriculture and tourism. Fast becoming a very popular method of vacationing in Europe, these types of accommodations tend to feature individual villas, a communal space for guests, concierge services, all while a variety of animals wander the grounds and crops are tended to. Typically, travelers experiencing agrotourism get to partake in the agriculture associated with their accomodations. Al Gelso Bianco is a working farm & vineyard that offers.
Al Gelso Bianco located 30 minutes from both Florence and Siena, was exactly what our family was looking for! This holiday farm actually caters to families, including children of all ages. The property features 6 luxury apartments, one and two bedroom units. Our family booked one of each. Each apartment included a full kitchen, living space and balcony/patio.
This countryside farm features an outdoor pool, BBQ area (where they host weekly pizza making parties for guests, in season), and multiple seating areas featuring 360 degree views of the rolling, vineyard and orchard
covered, Tuscan hills. Hadley and Elle were encouraged to roam freely and play on the perfectly manicured property, including an on-property playground. They even loved chasing the chickens and 2 kitties that call the farm home.
One of the highlights of our stay at Al Gelso Bianco was a homemade pasta cooking class, offered by the owner of the property, Stephania. This was a family event, where the kids were encouraged to participate every step of the way. We prepared tagliatelle, ravioli & gnocchi. Lunch was served, with wine from their vineyard, and we were able to keep our aprons as a souvenir. 100% recommend!
The adults enjoyed another afternoon of wine tasting right there on the grounds. Al Gelso Bianco produces its own wine, which is distributed around the world. We were lucky to sample Chianti and Chianti Riserva made by the family, while listening to a short history of the area, sipping and snacking in the sun. The kids enjoyed small snacks, as well, and had their run of the property. It was perfect.
One the last night of our stay here, the owners arranged for a private chef to come and cook us dinner in their communal dining space. This private dinner was prepared by a chef from a local village, we were able to select and customize exactly what we wanted to eat, including specifications for the kids & the addition of a birthday cake.
Al Gelso Bianco’s Italian hospitality was unmatched - we were completelyncatered to during our week there. The atmosphere is warm and relaxed, all while being quite refined at the same time. Our children were doted on by attentive staff the entire time. The location is the perfect jumping off point for whatever you have planned in the Tuscan region. My Husband truly had to peel me away from this perfect little place, I could have stayed forever.
