Agriturismo Il Gelso

Hotel Description

I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Agriturismo Il Gelso on Via Citerna, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The road winds through these rolling Tuscan hills just outside Pomaia, and you know what? That’s actually part of the charm. This isn’t some cookie-cutter hotel plopped down in a tourist zone. Il Gelso sits in proper countryside, where you can actually hear the wind through the cypress trees instead of traffic.

The whole place feels like someone’s stylish Italian relatives converted their family farm – which, honestly, might be exactly what happened. The rooms have that perfect balance of rustic touches (exposed beams, terracotta floors) without feeling like you’re roughing it. I mean, this is a 4-star place, so you’ve got proper bathrooms and comfortable beds, but everything feels authentic rather than manufactured. What really got me was the breakfast setup – they serve it on this covered terrace that looks out over their actual olive groves. The morning light hits just right, and you can watch the mist lift off the valley while you’re having your cappuccino. They do that thing where they grow or make a lot of what they serve, so the jam isn’t from some industrial supplier, it’s from their fruit trees.

Location-wise, you’re about a 15-minute drive from Volterra (which is gorgeous, by the way), and maybe 20 minutes to the coast if you want to hit the beach. Pomaia itself is tiny – basically just the Buddhist center and a handful of houses – but that’s the point. You’re not fighting crowds or hunting for parking. Actually, parking at Il Gelso is dead simple, just pull up to your room. The silence at night is almost startling if you’re used to city noise. During harvest season in fall, you might catch them actually working the olive trees, which is pretty cool to watch. The owners seem genuinely proud of the place without being overbearing about it – they’ll give you restaurant recommendations that aren’t tourist traps, tell you which hill towns are worth the drive, that sort of thing. Fair warning though: you’ll want a car here. This isn’t a place where you can just walk to shops or restaurants, but honestly, that’s what makes it special. With a 9.3 rating, clearly other people get it too. It’s for when you want to actually experience the Tuscan countryside rather than just Instagram it.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $124. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 single bed, 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $149. Studio with 1 single bed and 1 large double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $191. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 single bed, 2 × 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Exceptional – Sue from United Kingdom – 5 September 2024 (10/10)

  Lovely place, loved everything about it

• Great accomodation to enjoy the toscana even with a little baby. – Sandra from Germany – 6 July 2024 (10/10)

  We loved staying here. Julia is a great person caring much about her guests. We stayed with our 9 month old baby and the interior was perfect and more than we expected before.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing.

• Lovely owners, great service, would definitely return! – Kelly from Italy – 28 April 2024 (10/10)

  Great location, Volterra and San Gimignano nearby as well as being close to the coast 👍
  
  What could be improved: Quiet, nice outdoor space for children and for relaxing or dining outdoors.

• So pleased we found this place. If you want a relaxed time away from it all, this is the place. – Mandy from United Kingdom – 17 June 2023 (10/10)

  Julia was a fantastic host and extremely helpful. Lots of knowledge on the area, and around most mornings. Nothing was too much trouble and the area was so peaceful yet only a 20 minute drive from the coast. Cleanliness was very high and the small town was just what we wanted, well away from the commercial tourist areas but in lovely countryside. Traffic was virtually non existent, a bonus on the roads plus the non-toll roads were really good and quick enough. Do walk up to the Buddhist school, its a beautiful, peaceful place, like a park but you can take in the Buddhist enviroment, and the Nuns and Monks are very welcoming, plus they have a cafe, shop and you can also grab lunch.
  
  What could be improved: We were happy with everything 🙂

• Relaxing staying on the Tuscany hills – Diletta from Italy – 6 June 2023 (8/10)

  the silence and the garden

• Wonderful holiday house. We will remember this place. – Tracey from Germany – 12 April 2023 (10/10)

  The property was perfect for our family of four. The beautiful sun-drenched garden, with BBQ, outdoor furniture and children’s play equipment, kept the children busy and happy.
  Julia, the host, is so nice and helpful.
  The property location was perfect for our sight-seeing needs: easy drive to Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra and to La Spezia for the train to Cinque Terra.
  
  What could be improved: None.

• Very good – Elisa from Italy – 26 March 2023 (8/10)

  Bed is very comfortable.
  
  What could be improved: The room can be a bit dark as the only light comes from the door-window.

• Superb – Elisa from Italy – 23 March 2023 (9/10)

  The owner is really friendly and approachable. The location is lovely and convenient for the Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing!

• Exceptional – Jorick from Netherlands – 9 October 2022 (10/10)

  Such a beautiful location. Julia welcomed us with her home made wine and olive oil, absolutely delicious! Pomaia is a nice village and the local bar has excellent coffee, although that shouldn't be a surprise in Italy Highly recommended!

• Very good – Lina from Lithuania – 13 July 2023 (8/10)

  Everything was good, but it is not really Agriturismo (we believed). And many mosquitoes, as well…

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities