Guest User
October 21, 2022
We actually wanted to go to a campsite, but they were all closed. We were standing a bit lost on the road in San Giuliano Terme when a man approached us and asked if we were looking for somewhere to stay. When we said yes, he put us in touch with Giulio's Agriturismo la Grotta - he was his neighbor - and it was the best coincidence of the vacation. Instead of one night, we stayed three nights. We were and are delighted by this beautiful oasis in the countryside and by the friendliness and comfort of the accommodation. Although it was months ago, I keep thinking about the lovely stay and the nice encounters there. That's why I'm writing this comment now - albeit late. The property is a dream! It is totally quiet and secluded between olive groves and forests on the hillside. You have a wonderful view of Pisa in the west and the Apuan Alps in the north. The property is quite high up on the hill, but by car you can get to the main road to Pisa and Lucca in the valley very quickly and easily. The host Giulio and his wife gave us a very warm and friendly welcome. Our Italian is very poor, so it was helpful that Giulio speaks fluent English; he has an English university degree. His wife also speaks fluent English. Giulio has been managing the agriturismo for several years and is gradually converting the facility to sustainable and resource-saving management and independent energy supply in conjunction with sustainable forestry. This topic is very close to his heart and he explained the individual projects to us very well after a long breakfast. Because of Corona, and because it was low season, we were the only guests. The room was impeccable, very clean and large and furnished with beautiful and large furniture for storing belongings. The bathroom was also very spacious, tastefully and very stylishly and comfortably furnished. The outdoor area is large and invites you to play boules, play badminton or watch the view and the sunset in a deck chair. Large trees provide shade so that it will be bearable even in the summer heat. Unfortunately, it was still too cold to swim in the very beautiful and stylishly designed pool. From the accommodation you can take very nice walks and hikes. A popular destination is the Hermitage on the former (medieval!) connecting route from Pisa to Lucca on the ridge behind the house. After three days we continued our trip to Tuscany. Giulio gave us valuable tips for the rest of our trip with his regional knowledge. We would be happy to come back to Giulio on our next visit to Tuscany. This will certainly not be long in coming.
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