Podere Val d'Orcia - Tuscany Equestrian

The scenery was breathtaking, the suites were stunning and the excursions were top notch. But what made our stay unforgettable was the hospitality - not formal or stuffy but warm and welcoming. Sandy, Phil and Selene and the entire staff made us feel like special guests at their home.

We visited this beautiful, beautiful property about a week ago. It’s quite remote, however 100% worth it. The view of Val D’Orcia is spectacular - we traveled a lot and this is the best in Tuscany! The hotel and property is gorgeous, and the accommodations / rooms are absolutely perfect - up-to-date , warm, cozy with modern technology and a rustic ambience. The horses are beautiful, the food was wonderful. And the hosts were lovely. We would highly recommend but be aware. It’s quite a drive from the local town which has the best pizza :-) it’s a great location to tour Tuscany or to spend a relaxing few days.

From the moment we arrived to when we left we received first class service. It was a pleasure meeting Sandy and Phil. Very nice and friendly, they can’t do enough for you. Wonderful cooking class,great accommodation (very comfortable),helped us plan our day and recommended things for us to do. The food was delicious. You can’t go wrong staying here.

Sandy and Phil are the most amazing hosts and make every stay in Tuscany memorable! From the freshly prepared breakfasts (baked with love by Sandy herself) each morning, offering locally sourced products and a variety of items perfect to start your day; to the location right by multiple sites, including the Bagni di San Filippo, there is always something to see and experience. Sandy and Phil offer warm hospitality and their expertise of the area to ensure you get the most out of your stay. One of our favorite memories was enjoying a delicious Tuscan BBQ, all done by Sandy and Phil, with typical Tuscan sides and wines too! Fabulous way to end a busy day of exploring and at sunset too! Excited to plan our next visit!

When we heard Sandy and Phil from the amazing Relais Ortaglia were moving to Podere Val d'Orcia, we were so excited! When you match this breathtaking location with the unparalleled warmth and hospitality of Sandy & Phil , we knew it would be incredible paring. Because they bring with them the option of their amazing "Total Tuscany" experience, we want to share our thoughts from our last Total Tuscany with them. Our Total Tuscany experience - There are no words to describe being part of “Total Tuscany No. 1” - The Inaugural Event. How can we describe all of the amazing experiences, the food & wine, the friendships, laughter & fun - again it was just magical. A few times a year they have an incredible week planned of tours, cooking classes, dinners - everything you want from a week in Tuscany. But this isn’t just any tour. There are plenty out there that will take you to wineries or cooking classes, but Sandy & Phil make you feel like part of the community. They don’t just bring you on a wine tasting, they know they wine makers - you don’t just have dinner, they know they owners. That transforms this into a completely unique experience. You feel comfortable immediately. Here is a bit of what we did each day: Day 1 ~ Welcome Tuscan BBQ by Sandy & Phil Day 2 ~ Alder Spa Thermae & Dinner at Townhouse Caffè at La Bandita Day 3 ~ Cheese Making Class at Podere Il Casale. Dinner at La Grotta, steps away from San Biagio Church Day 4 ~ Cooking class at Osmosi Restaurant & dinner at Osteria del Borgo Day 5 ~ Walking tour of Montepulciano with incredible tour guide, Francesca Raspanti, wine tasting at Fattoria della Talosa, meeting adorable pigs at Fattoria Madonna della Querce, & dinner at Il Teatro Day 6 ~ Tour & tasting at Podere Le Ripi Winery and dinner of a pizza tasting Al Quadrato Day 7 ~ Tour & Tasting at Avignonesi Winery, walking tour of Cortona with Francesca, & dinner Porta di Bacco Day 8 ~ Hot Air Balloon ride with Firenze Mongolfiere over the Tuscan countryside. An optional experience but 100% worth it. It’s a full week of one experience better than the next. If you’ve never been to Tuscany, this is the way to go. And just like the Italian way of life, this is also seasonal! So if you go in fall, activities change with the season…truffle hunting anyone?? 😁 You might have different things planned than we did, but no matter what, it will be amazing! We also added on the week after the tour, and it was perfect. All the thought & care that went into every detail - every flower, the rooms, every breakfast – amazing. Phil’s cappuccino and the wow of each Tuscan BBQ and yes, we had 2! Just magical. We realize that the word magical keeps coming up and that is because at the heart of all that is Relais Ortaglia is Sandy and Phil – your love of this place is reflected in everything that you do. Your love for caring for us in such a special way – yes, it is truly magical. They say home is where the heart is – we will leave a piece of our hearts with