Escape to Tuscany: Your Dream Belvilla Awaits in Pescia!
Escape to Tuscany: My Dream Belvilla (and Maybe Yours?) in Pescia - A Rambling Review
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to unleash a stream-of-consciousness review of my recent Tuscan escapade at a Belvilla property in Pescia. Holy cannoli, it was supposed to be a relaxing getaway, but let's just say my inner critic, along with a healthy dose of jet lag, made the experience, well, interesting. So, here's the raw, unfiltered truth, all categories be damned (mostly).
Accessibility & the "Oh, Crap" Moment (and the Good Stuff Too)
First things first, accessibility. This is a big deal for me, and I've got to be honest, I didn't specifically request a wheelchair-accessible room. I should have. I figured it would be fine because Belvilla is always so well organized. (That was a mistake, I tell you.) Facilities for disabled guests were listed, which lulled me into a false sense of security. Upon arrival, the cobblestones of Pescia looked charming and rustic from afar, but up close…. they were like a never-ending obstacle course. The property itself wasn't terrible, but it wasn't exactly a glide path. Luckily, I'm a fairly mobile gal, but someone relying on full wheelchair access would have had a tougher time. I did notice an elevator, so that's a plus, but the ramps weren't exactly the Swiss Army Knife of accessibility.
Now, let's talk Internet. Because, honestly, who lives without internet in 2024? And the Belvilla listing promised Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! And, on top of that Internet [LAN]! (Fancy!) The Wi-Fi was… patchy. Like, ghost-town patchy. I spent half my time wandering around the villa, desperately searching for a signal strong enough to upload an Instagram picture of that perfect Tuscan sunset. The Internet services were so-so. I even tried the Internet [LAN], but it just wouldn't connect. (Cue: epic eye roll.)
But hey, they didn't say the internet had to WORK.
Cleanliness & Safety: The Sanitization Symphony (and the Occasional Dust Bunny)
Alright, let's be serious. The world is a germy place. Belvilla, thankfully, seemed to take this seriously. They were clearly aiming for pristine! The Anti-viral cleaning products were in evidence everywhere. The listing mentioned Daily disinfection in common areas, which I appreciated. There was a hefty supply of Hand sanitizer strategically placed around. I peeped the Hygiene certification in the lobby and breathed a small sigh of relief. I even saw the staff using Professional-grade sanitizing services. The list goes on.
Now for the "meh" - There were a few spots where it was "meh". Okay, one or two dust bunnies played peek-a-boo now and then. The Room sanitization opt-out available should have been a thing, but it wasn't. They must have taken that option and ran with it.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Pasta, Pizzazz, and the Quest for the Perfect Espresso
Oh, the food. Tuscany. Food. It’s a love story, people! The Belvilla promised plenty, so I set out on a journey of tastebud exploration. There was talk of Restaurants, Poolside bar and of course Coffee/tea in restaurant. I should have asked about the Vegetarian restaurant before going. I was in heaven! They served Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant and of course Western breakfast, (and Western cuisine in restaurant). Honestly, I wasn't expecting much. The Breakfast [buffet] was there. The A la carte in restaurant was great. The Coffee shop delivered the caffeine, and the Happy hour was just what I needed after a day of climbing cobblestones.
My favorite part, however, was going to the Poolside bar and getting a bottle of water and a snack. I loved the Snack bar. I was in heaven! It was amazing. I would go back and order everything again.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Pool with a View? Yes, Please! (and a Few More Ramblings)
The Belvilla absolutely nailed it in the relaxation department. They boasted a Swimming pool [outdoor], but the real prize was the Pool with view. The view was breathtaking! Think rolling hills, vineyards in the distance, the whole shebang. I spent a solid portion of my trip just existing by that pool. Bliss. Pure, unadulterated bliss.
The gym was a laugh, honestly. It had an Gym/fitness center, but it was more for show. I didn't use the Fitness center. A few rusty weights, a treadmill that looked like it survived a nuclear apocalypse, and one lonely, bewildered elliptical. But hey, the pool made up for it!
They also had a Spa/sauna. I had the full suite of options here, the Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Massage, and maybe some more things from the listing. I was too relaxed to notice. I was in heaven!
Services and Conveniences: The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Confusing
Okay, Belvilla tries really hard. There was a ton of stuff, listed or not. They had a Concierge (who was incredibly helpful, even though he clearly hadn't been sleeping) and offered Currency exchange (essential!). The Daily housekeeping was on point, thankfully, since I was making a mess faster than they could clean it. Doorman? Not that I saw. Dry cleaning? Yes, but I didn't have time. There was a Convenience store, which was super handy for last-minute snacks (and my emergency stash of chocolate). The Facilities for disabled guests were present, but, as mentioned above, not perfect.
For the Kids:
I didn't have any kids with me. I'll try something different next time.
Rooms and Amenities: Where the Magic Happened (or Didn't)
And now the rooms! They were listed as Non-smoking rooms. They had Balconies, Bathtubs, and Safe, but for all of it, they were just OK. The Air conditioning was my savior (thank you, angels).
Getting Around: The Tuscan Tango of Transportation
Getting to the Belvilla was a piece of cake. They had a Airport transfer, which was awesome. The listing included Car park [free of charge]. But if you want to go out and explore the countryside, I recommend a car. The Taxi service was pretty reliable, and they had Car park [on-site].
Final Verdict: Belvilla in Pescia - Worth It?
Look, Tuscany is magical. Pescia is charming. And despite the occasional hiccup (internet, accessibility), this Belvilla property delivered on the core essentials: beauty, relaxation, and enough pasta to feed a small army.
SEO & Metadata - Because Apparently, This Matters
- Keywords: Tuscany, Pescia, Belvilla, vacation rental, Italy, pool, spa, wheelchair accessible, Wi-Fi, food, review, accommodation, travel, Italian vacation
- Meta Title: Escape to Tuscany: Belvilla Review in Pescia - The Good, the Bad, and the Pasta!
- Meta Description: A candid review of a Belvilla property in Pescia, Tuscany. Honest thoughts on accessibility, amenities, food, and more. Is this your dream Tuscan escape? Find out!
- H1: Escape to Tuscany: My Dream Belvilla (and Maybe Yours?) in Pescia - A Rambling Review
- Image Alt Tags: Pictures of the Tuscan scenery, the pool, the food, etc.
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into my Italian escapade, centred around the glorious, olive-soaked Belvilla by OYO Olivi Rosso in Pescia. Let's be real, planning this whole shebang was as smooth as a grappa shot at 3 am – which is to say, not very. But hey, that's part of the fun, right? Here we go, warts and all…
Pre-Trip Panic & Pre-Pescia Preps (aka, "Did I Remember My Passport?!")
- Weeks Before: The initial excitement (and the inevitable spreadsheet-induced anxiety) sets in. Flights booked! (Hallelujah.) Villa booked! (Double Hallelujah!) Then comes the packing. Oh, the packing. My usual routine involves a frantic hour the night before, resulting in a suitcase that resembles a toddler's art project – bright, messy, and somehow holding everything except what you actually need.
- Days Before: Panic intensifies. Researching Pescia. Reading every review about the Olivi Rosso (hopes and fears running wild). Googling "best pasta near Pescia" approximately 37 times. Starting to learn a few basic Italian phrases, which, let's be honest, will probably sound more like a drunken pigeon attempting to sing opera.
- The Day Before: Packing attempt #2. Realizing I still haven't washed my favourite travel socks. Contemplating ditching them for a pair of questionable novelty ones. Deciding against it (mostly). Did I remember travel adaptor? Toiletries bag… passport…
- Arrival Day Meltdown: The airport chaos is a beautiful, stressful symphony of lost luggage, screaming babies, and the general feeling of being mildly out of control. Finally, after a series of near-misses and a frantic run for the connecting flight, the plane begins its descent.
Part 1: Pescia, The Smell Of History, and The Pursuit of Perfect Pasta (and maybe some good coffee)
Day 1: Settling In & The "Oh, My God, This Is Gorgeous!" Moment
- Afternoon: Arrive at Olivi Rosso. Oh. My. God. The photos didn't even do it justice! Seriously, the place is ridiculously charming. Rustic, sun-drenched, and smelling faintly of rosemary and… well, Italy. The relief of finally reaching my destination is palpable. The villa's owner, a lovely older woman, (she's got those warm, "tutta la vita" eyes), shows me around. Her Italian is a rapid-fire blur, and my attempts at understanding are met with kind smiles and lots of head-nodding. I spend the next hour just wandering around, glassy-eyed with joy (and travel fatigue).
- Evening: Pasta. I need pasta. Now. I find a tiny trattoria in town – the kind where the menu is scrawled on a chalkboard and everyone seems to know everyone else. I attempt to order in my broken Italian, completely mangling the pronunciation of "carbonara." (I'm pretty sure I accidentally demanded a mountain of cheese.) The waiter just shrugs and smiles. Then, behold! The carbonara arrives, and it's… perfection. Creamy, eggy, and the taste of pure joy.
Day 2: Market Mornings & Renaissance Ramblings (and a near-disaster with a gelato)
- Morning: The Pescia market! Oh, the colours, the smells! Mountains of fresh produce, glistening olives, cheeses that smell so potent they could knock you out. I attempt to buy some peaches but get completely lost in translation. The vendor, a woman with a mischievous glint in her eye, starts speaking loudly and waving her hands. I eventually manage to purchase about ten times more peaches than I intended.
- Afternoon: Exploring the local churches and Renaissance art. Let me be honest, I'm not the most cultured traveler. My attention span in museums is roughly that of a goldfish. But the architecture is stunning. I find myself oddly moved by the quiet intensity of the paintings. Then things took an unexpected and disastrous turn. I see a gelato stall and that's it. All reason went out the window. I bought the biggest gelato I could physically carry. I take my first bite, and the cone gives out. Gelato goes everywhere. Down my shirt, all over the cobblestones. It was an absolute mess. I just burst out laughing.
- Evening: Wine tasting at a local vineyard. The wine is delicious. The owner is passionate. The conversation is lively (even though my comprehension of Italian is still questionable). I end up buying way too many bottles, convinced I'm a wine connoisseur.
Day 3: The Olive Groves, Cooking Classes & The Real Italian Life
- Morning: A walk through the Olivi Rosso's olive groves. The air is crisp, the sun is warm, and the views are… breathtaking. I start to feel a sense of peace, a slowing down that I rarely experience in my "real" life. The simplicity is amazing.
- Afternoon: Cooking class! I'm sure that's the idea. My first attempt at ravioli: disaster. My first attempt at a simple sauce: minor improvement. The chef is a real pro, with a smile as wide as the Tuscan landscape.
- Evening: Eating the dinner we made. My ravioli looks like misshapen little blobs of dough, but it’s delicious. We have a good laugh, and the feeling of accomplishment is amazing. Plus, drinking more of that wine.
Part 2: Day Trips & The Search For The "Real" Italy
(Day 4): Exploring Lucca
- Morning: Decided to visit Lucca which is a short drive away from Pescia.
- Afternoon: Got to the top of the Guinigi Tower, which has some fun quirky trees growing on the top of the tower!
- Evening: Pizza tasting with some gelato after.
(Day 5): Volterra & San Gimignano - The "Towers" and The Terrazzi
- Morning: Driving to Volterra and San Gimignano. These two cities have a really cool history. Plus, I was told that the view from San Gimignano's Torre Grossa is amazing.
- Afternoon: I got to the viewpoint and took some pictures. I bought some wine, which seemed cheaper than the day before.
- Evening: I went back to the Olivi Rosso.
Part 3: The Slow Farewell & The Lingering Taste of Italy
Day 6: Chill Day at the Villa & Packing Snafu
- Morning: Lounging by the pool. Reading. Letting the sun soak into my bones. I have an early attempt to pack – and realizing I still haven't worn half the clothes I brought. I have to make some serious choices and ended up leaving almost all the clothes behind.
- Afternoon: A final stroll through Pescia. Another gelato. A desperate attempt to buy souvenirs (and somehow ending up with a bottle of grappa I'll probably never drink).
- Evening: A final pasta dinner, I'm ordering my favorite dish. The food is perfect: the light, the smell of herbs, the people. The sadness of leaving Italy begins to settle in.
Day 7: Farewell & The Promise to Return
- Morning: The dreaded packing attempt. Saying goodbye to the villa owner. That feeling of knowing that Italy has gotten under your skin.
- Afternoon: The flight home. Looking out the window as Italy fades from view. Already planning my return.
- Evening: Post-travel blues. But also, the blissful, lingering taste of Italy. The pasta. The wine. The laughter. The imperfections. The memories, already beginning to blur but just as beautiful. And the promise to come back.
Final Thoughts:
Italy is messy. Italy is loud. Italy is chaotic. Italy is also, I think, about as close to perfect as it gets. And Pescia, and the Olivi Rosso, were the perfect starting point. Viva Italia!
Notes on Imperfections:
- I probably ate too much pasta. (No regrets)
- My Italian is still atrocious.
- I burned my hand on an espresso machine.
- I got sunburnt.
- I tripped over a cobblestone.
- I bought way too many souvenirs.
- I missed my flight home. (Just kidding… mostly.)
- There were so many times I didn't know what was going on, yet everything was still wonderful.
And that, my friends, is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (as I see it) about my Italian adventure. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find some more gelato. Ciao!
Escape to Tuscany: Unforgettable Belvilla Stay in Dicomano!
Escape to Tuscany: Your Dream Belvilla Awaits – Pescia Edition! (Ask Me Anything... Seriously)
Because let's be real, the brochures don't tell you *everything*.
Okay, so... Pescia. Is it actually *Tuscany* Tuscany? Like, rolling hills, cypress trees, and endless sunshine? Or is it just... *kinda* Tuscan?
Alright, let's get real. Yes, Pescia is *definitely* Tuscan. Think... Picture postcard material. Okay, maybe the rolling hills weren't *completely* endless, but there were enough. And the cypress trees? Oh, the cypress trees! They're like, strategically placed sentinels of beauty. I swear, I spent a good hour just leaning against a particularly majestic one, feeling all philosophical and dramatic. (Don’t judge. The Chianti was kicking in.) The sunshine? Mostly. We had a glorious week but, and this is the messy part, one epic thunderstorm. Like, biblical levels of rain. Which, honestly, was still kinda magical, watching the storm roll across the valley from the safety of the Belvilla. So yeah, Tuscan enough. 10/10 would recommend for the scenery alone.
Belvilla, huh? Are these places actually *nice*? I've seen pictures, but you know… Photoshop. Tell me the TRUTH.
Okay, this is a GOOD question. Belvilla. The name sounds… fancy, right? Well, the one we stayed in? It *was* pretty darn nice. Of course, the pictures online were, shall we say, *optimistic*. The pool? Smaller than it looked in my overly-excited planning phase. I had visions of graceful dives and leisurely laps. Turns out, it was more like... a slightly-too-long paddling pool. (The kids didn't seem to mind, though, which, *sigh*, is the important thing.) But! The *bones* of the place were fantastic. Think exposed beams, a HUGE fireplace (which we didn't use because, hello, Tuscany in summer!), and a kitchen that actually had decent knives. A *miracle*, I tell you! Seriously, the knives. Made chopping vegetables a pleasure, not a battle. (I've got a thing about dull knives. Don’t ask.) So, yeah. Solidly nice. Manage your expectations re: Olympic-sized pools and everything should be golden.
What's the deal with the food? I'm picturing endless pasta and gelato, and I'm already drooling. Is that...realistic?
Oh, the food. Let me just… *swoon*. Yes, the pasta is real. (Handmade!) The gelato? Glorious, artery-clogging, completely worth it. But here's the thing. Pescia isn't, like, *overrun* with tourists. Which means… the food is *authentic*. We found this tiny trattoria tucked away down a cobbled street. Didn't speak a word of Italian, but the nonna in the kitchen made us a pasta dish that changed my life. Truly. Changed. My. Life. (It was simple, just a tomato-based sauce with fresh basil, but the flavors...oh, the flavors!) And the gelato? Forget what I said about artery-clogging. It’s pure, unadulterated bliss. Pro tip: learn a few basic Italian phrases. It really does make the experience better. And leave room for the gelato. Always. Always. Did I mention gelato? Because… gelato.
Is it easy to get around? Do I need a car? (Because driving on the left terrifies me).
Alright, driving in Italy is… an experience. You definitely *can* get around without a car. But if you want to really explore the surrounding area, and trust me, you *do*, then a car is your friend. (Unless you're completely terrified of driving on the right side of the road, in which case… consider the bus. Or, you know, a chauffeur. No judgement.) The roads can be narrow, winding, and occasionally, a bit… *lively*. I witnessed a near-miss that involved a Fiat 500, a Vespa, and a very dramatic Italian man waving his hands. (It all ended in laughter – mostly). But honestly? The adventure is part of the fun. Just take it slow, breathe, and embrace the chaos. (Oh, and learn to parallel park. Seriously.) Public transport exists, but it's not as readily available as you might be used to. Plus, you want the freedom to find those hidden trattorias, the little vineyards...? Yes, a car will be your best bet.
What about activities? Is there stuff to DO, or is it just a week of sitting around looking pretty? (Which, honestly, doesn’t sound so bad…).
Okay, the perfect balance, right? Sitting around *is* fantastic. We spent *plenty* of time by the pool, reading books (well, *attempting* to read books with kids running amok). But there's also *loads* to do. Florence is a day trip (a long, but worthwhile, one). Pisa (the leaning tower, duh) is relatively close. Lucca is adorable – walled city. We took a cooking class (hilarious, messy, delicious). There are vineyards everywhere for wine tasting. (Essential. Don’t skip the wine tasting.) We even went hiking! (Okay, *I* attempted hiking. The kids lasted about 30 minutes. But the views were incredible.) Pescia itself has a charming historic center. Pro tip: go to the flower market! (Weirdly, Pescia is known for its flowers.) The point is, you can be as active or as relaxed as you want. Or a mix. That’s the beauty of it. Just… don't try to fit everything in. You’ll burn out. Embrace the slow pace of Tuscan life. It's the best part.
Any tips for first-timers? Anything you wish you'd known *before* you went?
Oh, so much. First, learn some basic Italian phrases. "Grazie" (thank you), "Buongiorno" (good morning/hello), "Ciao" (hello/goodbye - casual). It goes a long way. Seriously. Second, pack light. You'll be doing a lot of walking. And buying souvenirs. (I bought *way* too many things I didn’t need. But they were pretty!) Third: embrace the chaos. Things don’t always go to plan. The train might be late. The restaurant might be closed. The kids might throw a tantrum. Roll with it. It’s all part of the adventure. Fourth: pack comfortable shoes. Forget the heels. You'll be on cobblestones. Fifth: bring a refillable water bottle. Stay hydrated, especially in the summer heat. Sixth: book restaurants in advance, especially during peak season. Seventh: Download a good translation app. Eighth: Don't be afraid to get lost. That's when you discover the best stuff. Finally:Quick Hotel Finder
