Travel :: Villa Cicolina

Today I'd like to share with you a little piece of Tuscan heaven...Villa Cicolina.  This gorgeous 16th century villa was the home of a noble family from Montepulciano until the end of the 19th century. In 2000 it was purchased by two doctors with a love for travel and they turned it into a small, luxury B&B.  From the beautiful pastel mosaic walls and ceilings to the HUGE fireplace to the antique furniture, rugs, and art, it truly was the epitome of what I always imagined as Tuscany.  We stayed in the Il Camino Junior Suite, and with it's six windows {all with a postcard view of the garden and hills}, canopy bed, and antique clawfoot bathtub, I couldn't help but let all of my worries wash away.

The grounds themselves were gorgeous.  The infinity pool was surrounded by olive trees and overlooked the rolling Tuscan countryside.  There was a small formal garden which felt as though you had stepped out of "A Midsummers Nights Dream."  It actually had a tiny chapel {literally, you could barely fit two people in it} which was absolutely lovely.  Everywhere you turned seemed to have a gorgeous little spot to cuddle up and marvel at the region's natural beauty.

After spending a few hours lounging by the pool with a book we took a cooking class, and can I tell you we had the best time ever?!  It was just Ryan and I with the chef and the hotel manager who helped cook and translate, and we learned how to make a few different Tuscan dishes that we actually ended up serving that night for dinner in the Villa's restaurant {talk about pressure!}  We made focaccia, crepes with ricotta and spinach, pappa al pomodoro {a Florentinian stew of tomatoes, bread, olive oil, basil, and Parmesan}, and apple pastries.  The class took about two hours {plus a bottle of wine} and ultimately somehow we managed to cook a delicious meal that everyone at the restaurant loved {and didn't have a clue that it was made by rookie chefs!} 

And speaking of food...breakfast was a feast of cheeses, meats, fruits, cakes, pastries, housemade juices and jams, and other Tuscan delights.  For they prepared us a picnic of Pecorino cheeses {one young, one medium, and one old}, honey, fruit {including apples and figs picked that morning from their fruit trees}, and bruschetta.  The dinner {that we cooked!} was served in a beautiful old stone stable which had been converted into a restaurant.  

After dinner we sat outside under the stars with a glass of wine, and I decided to end my night with a long bubble bath in our clawfoot bathtub.  It was one of the most magical places I have ever been and I cannot recommend it enough!  I only hope to be able to go back, sooner rather than later!