Our stay at Cretaiole the our highlight of our trip. Our apartment was perfect with every amenity you could imagine. Isabella, Luciano, Carlo, Carlotta, Marta and team, you are absolute lovely. Thank you so much for making our 7 days with you so memorable. Words cannot do justice to this experience, an incredible Tuscan experience.
We were immersed into daily Italian life and this added to our stay. Carlotta is a wonderful presenter and provided, warmth, humor and insight.
We opted for the Dolce Vita package (do it, it's worth every penny), and our room was full of fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt, juices, cake, nuts, cheese, bread, jam, meats, etc. Really, it was amazing. Everything was tasty too. We had enough for breakfasts for 4 days and used things for a dinner cooked at home. A big plus was being able to forage thru the vegetable garden.
Isabella's book about the surrounding area is a masterpiece and so informative. There is a book to tell you everything you need to know about Cretaiole, and another one full of things to do in the area and a guide for restaurants as well. It's priceless!
The Moricciani family are welcoming hosts, have extensive regional and cultural knowledge, and plenty of activities available for the traveler.
Luciano, The patriarch of the family, had the foresight and vision many years ago to restore La Cretaiole and to create the first Agriturismo in the area. He loves to visit with his guests in the evenings, and shares his grappa and vin santo with them while swapping stories. Because of his dream and the hard work of the Moricciani family, we were treated to the most amazing Tuscan vacation.
One of my favorite activities is the Hermitage tour. This site is on land that the Moricciani’s own. Carlotta will walk you through the tour and explain the Etruscan history and religious symbolisms of the place. Additionally, there is the weekly pasta class with Isabella, where you are instructed on how to make pici, a regional dish done only in the Val D’Orcia, This is something that should not be missed. You will learn the history of pici during the class – which is fantastically fun, and you will finish with a gastronomic delight of pici, sausages, pork ribs, bread, wine, grappa, vin santo. Cretaiole is spectacular. - Most notable is the attention and passion you receive from Isabella, Carlo, Carlotta, Marta and of course Luciano - GRAZIE!