Ca' Valenzano

We had an absolutely amazing week in Valenzano! Alice and Gavin were the most welcoming hosts and we had a few delicious homemade meals with them, their friends and family. Stunning setting up in the Tuscan hills for a very relaxing week. Would highly recommend!

We count ourselves inordinately lucky to have had the chance to stay with Alice & Gavin at Ca'Valenzano. We got in under the wire before Alice decided that the combination of major refurbishments and guests was insane. And how happy we are that we did. This is an oasis high in the Tuscan hills, impeccably run and easily one of the best places we've ever stayed in. From the welcome when we arrived, to the apartment itself, to the view over the hills and far away, to the extraordinarily delicious breakfasts & dinner en famille, it was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

We spent 8 relaxed and quiet days at Ca' Valenzano. Gavin and Alice were truly wonderful hosts. They treated us like good old friends and made us feel very welcome. They had an antenna for what we needed and did a lot to give us the perfect vacation. The apartment Piccionaia is beautifully designed, well equipped and furnished with love. The terrace is spacious, has sunny and shady spots and lots of places to sit or recline. We especially enjoyed that cats and dogs came by every now and then and let themselves be stroked. It is a perfect place for people who enjoy solitude.

We had a fantastic time. The location is perfect if you’re looking for deep relexation. The views on the scenery are spectacular, the room well designed and comfortable, A number of small details, including the lovely local shower products and the great wine in the room, further added to the experience. Add to that the exceptional hospitality of Alice and Gavin. From the great breakfasts and dinners to Alice’s tips on what to do, we felt well taken care of at any moment. The wild swimming and visit to Urbino that Alice recommended stood out in particular. We look forward to our next stay!

We had a wonderful stay in the Piccionaia apartment, which is tastefully furnished with lots of thoughtful touches. A rare find! We spent our evenings on the terrace, soaking in the peace and quiet, and snoozing in the hammocks. The surrounding countryside is beautiful, the local village a walk away, and there are plenty of day trips for those who want more action. Alice and Gavin are the perfect hosts - available to provide tips and hints if we wanted them, very responsive to any questions and otherwise easygoing and friendly. We would absolutely recommend this stay to others.

We loved our stay with Alice and Gavin! It is easily my favorite part of our holiday in Italy. Their hospitality is incomparable. The house is beautiful and the view amazing. Alice is also a wonderful cook. Her risotto was the best we have ever had! I would easily recommend Ca’ Valenzano for families. Our 1 year old had a great time petting the dogs and jumping on the trampoline. Thank you so much for everything!

From the moment we arrived we felt totally at home - Alice and Gavin were amazing hosts whose local knowledge and recommendations made a huge difference. Alice cooked for us several times and the food was nothing short of superb - including the breakfasts with lots of fruit and home made pastries. The apartments are both very comfortable with great beds and space to sit and cook, and outside is a terrace with spectacular views and a place to eat underneath vines and passion flowers, plus hammocks under the pine trees nearby. A lovely bonus was the swimming hole in a nearby river.

We had a wonderful two days staying at Ca’ Valenzano and wished we could have stayed longer. Alice and Gavin were fantastic hosts and we enjoyed spending time with them and their three lovely children. The views are to die for - absolutely amazing. We spent the two days in the hammocks soaking up the views and that is very unusual for us. No need to go anywhere else! Alice is an amazing cook and prepared a lovely dinner. Breakfast was great with home made jams and pastries and a cooked option too. Would definitely recommend and would love to return

A very special place with very special hosts. We just had a lovely lovely week here. The hosts Alice and Gavin and their gorgeous 3 children made us feel right at home. The views are outstanding, the hospitality fabulous and the food fabulous. This is a real gem of a place run by really lovely people. We couldn’t have asked for more. Would highly recommend anyone to stay here.

This review is long overdue... we have been struggling to put into words how great this place is. From the moment we were greeted by Alice & Gavin we felt at home, and by the time we left it felt like they were old family friends. They were always on hand to offer advice on where to go and what to do. Nothing was too difficult. And the food! THE FOOD! Mostly grown by Gavin, and expertly prepared by Alice - just what you want in the Italian countryside. Our son had a great time playing with their three, and we had great fun drinking wine and home made aperitifs with them. 😊 We will be back.

We LOVED our stay at Gavin and Alice’s charming guest home. It was one of the most memorable parts of our vacation. The home has great views, is cozy and cute, and is close to an incredible swimming hole that we spent the day at. But the best part was the cooking class with Alice, and the multiple course meal that followed!! She is an incredible cook and that evening was super fun getting to know them and learning about all of the local cuisine and history.

We stayed with Alice and Gavin for 11 nights. Alice was helpful and quick to respond from our first enquiry. We asked for a vegetarian meal for our first night and loved Alice’s take on a vege lasagna with salad. They are warm and open people who we enjoyed talking to us and when we would come into contact or if we needed something. They have a great family and it was lovely to be part of it for a short while. We recommend staying there and with them without hesitation. We also thank them for letting us take our two dogs Ollie and Dipsy, who got on with Tilley and Sheila very well.

We stayed with Gavin and Alice for ten days at the end of July. It was one of the best holidays of our lives! We felt like we were staying in a paradise - beautiful landscapes, peace and quiet, secret swimming spots and great local food. Gavin and Alice made us feel so welcome and part of the family. Their recommendations always took into account us as individuals and what we wanted to experience in our holiday. The apartment was of a really high standard and Alice's cooking was delicious. We cannot recommend this place highly enough and will definitely be coming back!

We were so looking forward to our week stay in Sestino and were certainly not disappointed, in fact we can't wait to go back now! On arrival Alice and Gavin made us feel really welcome, and we arranged for a nice and easy meal on our first evening which was lovely. We also had the really nice meal on the saturday evening, amazing food and great company. The property is perfect if you have grown up kids like us, we booked both so we all had our living quarters and that worked incredibly well. It is all very nicely done and well looked after. Alice and Gavin embraced Tuscany, sharing the love!

Our visit to Ca' Valentano was our first family holiday with our baby daughter. It couldn't have gone better. The welcome was warm, accommodation beautifully thought out and scenery divine. Days were spent munching wild strawberries, meandering through the countryside, wild swimming and visiting local sites. Evenings were passed on the terrace basking in the evening light and bath time was taken al fresco! Ca' Valenzano is a super spot to get away from it all but close enough to the village to dip into local life, which too was warm and welcoming. We will definitely return.

We had a lovely week at Ca Valenzano. The views down the valley are incredible. We took advantage of some stunning walks and a visit to a beautiful wild swimming spot. Despite not having a car, Alice and Gavin were very helpful with lifts to the local town of Sestino. The nearby agriturismo restaurants are terrific.

We absolutely loved Ca’ Valenzano. It’s Sawday’s through and through and some more. Great views, great food, fab wine. We breakfasted on the terrace in the sunshine, we supped the local vino and ate under the starry sky and fairy lights. Just magical. Gavin & Alice are exceptional hosts. They know when to leave you alone and when to knock on your door. Ca’ Valenzano is in the mountains, but don’t be fooled by the map. Sestino, only 3km away is a lovely Italian town with everything you need if you decide not to stray too far. Lovely accommodation. Truly Italian. We will be back.

Spent a glorious week in this idyllic spot with a couple of friends. Alice and Gavin were amazing hosts, giving us plenty to do and cooking up some absolutely delicious food - mostly home-grown delights. Other highlights: swimming in the river, picking blackberries (later became gorgeous ice cream), searching for mushrooms, excellent restaurant recommendation and wonderful wine-tasting. A thoroughly relaxing little break. The views from the apartments/terrace are spectacular and the accommodation is very comfortable and beautifully done. Couldn't ask for more and can't wait to go back!

Gavin and Alice were the perfect hosts and went out of their way to ensure we had a wonderful time. Alice is an amazing cook with a seemingly endless store of cured meats, sauces, vegetables and fresh pasta. (Book a workshop so you can reproduce Ca'Valenzano culinary heaven when you return home!) Gavin has endless local knowledge and will readily provide info for local events, activities, walking and restaurants. The kids loved the freedom and the relaxed family atmosphere. A perfect retreat for outdoor enthusiasts, foodies, animal lovers and those needing to push the 'family re-set' button.