Cretaiole, on land of Etruscan origin, crowns a panoramic hilltop halfway between Pienza and San Quirico d'Orcia, and very close to Montalcino and Montepulciano, where you will relax completely, enjoy achingly beautiful vistas and seem to "breathe in" the essence of this mystical Tuscan land, the Artistic, Natural, and Cultural Park of the Val d'Orcia.

The farmhouse is a beautiful, fully renovated 14th century building, subdivided into six comfortable apartments (all with a kitchen and a fireplace). Each unit has preserved its unique architectural features and is furnished with Tuscan antiques in order to allow the guests to step back in time while availing themselves of modern amenities.

Simply arriving at Cretaiole is an uplifting experience, when first laying eyes on the spacious yard with its colorful red, orange, and yellow flowers.

Everywhere you look as you walk on our land are nature and wildlife! In the woods you will find large stands of oak and cypress, in the fields below are roe deer, pheasants, hares, and porcupines; in every corner are wildflowers and fresh herbs—poppies, broom, rosemary, and sage; and every spring, there are new kitties waiting for you to cuddle and laugh at them as they play in the grass—a warm and fuzzy delight to both young and old!

At Cretaiole you will find so many different kinds of places to call your own while you enjoy a good book from our library, a glass of wine, or a delicious slice of pecorino cheese. Perhaps you will choose the beautiful, flower-laden courtyard; or sway softly in the large hammock near the peaceful, ancient olive orchard; or swing gently in the glider on the crest of the hill looking toward the village-scapes of Pienza and Radicofani with its magnificent tower. In any season, the beautiful veranda beckons you to come within—to a wonderful space, rain or shine.

Eating and drinking are favorite pastimes at Cretaiole! Without leaving the property, you have access to our family’s high quality agricultural products: Orcia DOC wine, our Tuscan extra virgin olive oil, and much more. Spring water, straight from Monte Amiata, comes directly to Cretaiole, and totally accessible for your use—it is the freshest, tastiest you can have! Next to the centuries-old olive grove is a vegetable garden, tended to lovingly by Luciano. There he grows, for the free and abundant use of the guests, lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, bell peppers, eggplant, onions, green beans, fennel, and parsley. Whatever is growing during your visit, you are invited to pick and eat to your heart’s content.

Cretaiole also means meeting other people from all over the world, sharing passions and interests, and socializing over a glass of wine in a genuine, familiar and authentic way.

If you are a walker, you will enjoy exploring the wonderful trails that lead directly from your doorstep at Cretaiole to many beautiful places: Pienza, the iconic Cappella di Vitaleta that adorns many Tuscan calendars, and centuries-old stone farmhouses. You will want to take your camera with you because you will have spectacular views of Pienza, the model Renaissance city, rising up on one side, while the valley spreads out on the other side in a checkerboard of agricultural fields. The enormous Mount Amiata, Val d’Orcia’s tallest mountain and inactive volcano, crowns the colorful countryside in the background.

In this oasis of peace and tranquility, you will have the opportunity to experience the countryside and its rhythms; to discover aromas, flavors, images and memories that have been waiting to surface; and to witness firsthand how the simplest things can become so satisfying to the soul.

With all there is to do in this fascinating land, you will be tempted to spend many hours soaking in the comfort and beauty of Cretaiole—your home in Tuscany.

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