Casa vacanze Raggio di Sole

Hotel Description

You know what? I’ve stayed at a lot of places in Tuscany over the years, but Casa vacanze Raggio di Sole genuinely surprised me. It’s tucked away on Via Renicci in this tiny hamlet called Grotte – and I mean tiny, like blink-and-you’ll-miss-it tiny – but that’s exactly what makes it special. The name translates to “ray of sunshine,” which honestly felt a bit cheesy until I woke up to actual golden light streaming through those traditional shutters at dawn.

The location is sort of genius, actually. You’re about fifteen minutes from Pistoia’s center, but you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere – in the best possible way. The owner clearly knows what they’re doing because the restoration work is incredible. I mean, they kept all the original stone walls and terracotta floors, but everything else feels completely modern without being sterile. The bathroom had this amazing rainfall shower that I definitely didn’t want to leave, and the kitchen – well, let’s just say I ended up cooking way more than I planned because it was so well-equipped. There’s something about using actual Italian olive oil in an actual Italian kitchen that just hits different, you know?

What really got me was the attention to detail. Fresh herbs growing right outside the door (I may have “borrowed” some basil for my pasta), and the beds had these crisp white linens that smelled like they’d been dried in the sun. The Wi-Fi was solid – important if you’re trying to work remotely – and parking was right there, which is honestly a miracle in most Italian villages. Evenings were incredibly quiet except for the occasional church bell from the next village over, but that just added to the charm. The 9.6 rating makes total sense once you’re there; it’s one of those places where every single thing seems thoughtfully considered. I actually extended my stay by two days because leaving felt wrong – and trust me, I’m not usually that spontaneous with my travel plans.

Rooms

• Two-Bedroom House with 2 × 1 double bed for 4 adults
• Two-Bedroom House with 2 × 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for 5 adults

Reviews

• Gail from Australia (10/10)

  Neat, tidy, clean apartment and very comfortable beds in a beautiful quiet wooded area with valley and mountain views.
  A lovely bottle of local red wine and a plate of delicious mixed biscuits to welcome us was a nice touch. Elisa also bought us milk for the fridge as requested.
  The pool was delightful as was the sauna and hot tub to fully relax. Fireflies at night and plenty of outdoor living space made for a perfect retreat.
  Closeness to Bagni di Lucca meant options for eating and ideal for a day trip to Lucca or Florence.
  We had a very late arrival due to flight delays, but we were still met at the road to show us the way and welcome us to the villa.

• Chris from France (10/10)

  The location is amazing with incredible views. Marco & Elisa are incredible hosts who went above and beyond to ensure that we had a wonderful stay in a property that they are rightly very proud of. We were a family of 4 with 2 small dogs and all of us were made to feel very welcome. They were on site every morning to care for the garden, clean the pool, etc and took care to make sure that they were available for any question or suggestion for local amenities we might have without being overbearing.
  To be able to visit Pisa, Florence, Maranello, Modena, etc from such a stunning central location was superb, although we didn't always want to leave the apartment and its serene location. Just a 5 minute drive across the valley is a medieval village with another set of stunning views and towns within a 10 minute drive for restaurants and supermarkets. A 30 minute drive takes you to Spider Park, a tree climbing experience which me and my daughters loved, my wife and dogs enjoyed the forrest walks.

• Jeannette from Germany (10/10)

  Die Unterkunft ist an einem wunderschönen Ort mit viel Liebe zum Detail. Elisa und Marco sind sehr fürsorgliche Gastgeber. Es war alles Perfekt 👌

• Onofri from Italy (10/10)

  Casa accogliente, i padroni della casa gentilissimi e sempre a disposizione, immersa nel verde, perfetta per un po' di relax e scappare dalla città. La consiglierei a chiunque, veramente la vacanza perfetta.

• Jelte from Netherlands (9/10)

  Erg vriendelijk ontvangen. Kleinschalig en van alle gemakken voorzien. Luxe verblijf.

• Emmanuel from France (10/10)

  L’accueil d’Elisa et de Marco, les petites attentions, la maison est magnifique, le cadre, en plein milieu de la nature .

• Miriam from Italy (10/10)

  Bellissima struttura immersa nel verde e nel silenzio, ma a pochi minuti di macchina da Abetone e Cutigliano.
  Marco ed Elisa sono 2 host gentilissimi e sempre disponibili.

• Dominik from Germany (10/10)

  Ein wunderbares Ferienhaus in einer ruhigen und tollen Lage. Super Pool und Außenbereich sowie gute Ausstattung. Der Blick in die Natur/Berge ist genial und zudem waren die Vermieter sehr nett und hilfsbereit. Aus dem kleinen Kräuter und Gemüsegarten durften wir uns auch bedienen.

• Rossella from Italy (10/10)

  Incantevole

• Florian from Germany (10/10)

  Alles!

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities