Gio Toscana

Hotel Description

So I stumbled across Gio Toscana during what was supposed to be a quick weekend in Castiglione della Pescaia, and honestly? I ended up extending my stay. This place sits on Strada delle Strette – which, if you know the area, is this winding little road that most tourists never find because they’re all crowded down by the main harbor area. Smart positioning, actually, because you get that authentic Tuscan countryside feel without being completely cut off from everything.

The first thing that hits you isn’t the building itself (though it’s lovely in that understated Italian way), but the smell – I mean, you’re surrounded by these olive groves and Mediterranean scrub, and there’s always this faint scent of rosemary and sea salt mixing together. The staff genuinely seemed to care about the place, which you don’t always get at four-star properties. Check-in was refreshingly normal – no pretentious marble lobby nonsense, just real people who knew their stuff about the local area. The woman at reception actually drew me a little map showing a back route to the beach that cuts about ten minutes off the walk and avoids the tourist crush near the castello.

What really got me was how they’ve managed to nail that sweet spot between comfort and authenticity. The rooms feel genuinely Italian – not like someone’s idea of what Italian should look like, you know? Terracotta floors that actually stay cool in summer, shutters that work properly, and bathrooms with those deep tubs that Italians somehow do better than everyone else. Parking was easy, which honestly surprised me given how narrow some of these country roads get. The breakfast spread was solid too – proper espresso, local honey, and they had this incredible pecorino that I’m pretty sure came from somewhere within a few kilometers of the hotel.

I think what sealed it for me was the evening routine. Most guests would head out for dinner around eight, and you’d have this peaceful hour where you could sit outside and just… listen. The cicadas doing their thing, maybe some distant laughter from the village, the occasional Vespa puttering down the strada. It’s that kind of place where you actually slow down without realizing it. The location works perfectly if you want to explore – Grosseto’s maybe twenty minutes if you need city amenities, but you’re also close enough to some of the better beaches that locals hit up instead of the main strips. September was ideal when I went, but I imagine July and August get pretty busy since it’s such a gorgeous area and still relatively undiscovered by the big tour groups. That 9.7 rating makes sense once you’re there – it’s not trying to be everything to everyone, just doing what it does really, really well.

Rooms

• Apartment with Garden View with 2 × 1 large double bed for 4 adults, 1 child
• Apartment with Pool View with 3 × 1 large double bed for 6 adults, 1 child
• Apartment with Balcony with 1 large double bed for 2 adults, 1 child

Reviews

• Matjaž from Slovenia (10/10)

  We had an absolutely magical stay at this beautiful facility in Tuscany. From the moment we arrived, we were struck by the incredible surroundings – a perfect blend of nature and comfort. The pool was a dream, pristine and perfectly situated, offering stunning views while we relaxed. Our room was incredibly spacious and well-appointed, providing the perfect space to unwind after a day of exploring.
  
  The garden was truly awe-inspiring, filled with vibrant plants and trees that made every corner feel like a peaceful retreat. What made the experience even more special was the presence of the many friendly animals. The horses, dogs, and cats on the property added such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We especially loved our horseback riding experience with Ariana – she was wonderful, and the ride through the countryside was unforgettable.
  
  Though the host Gio was away, he was incredibly responsive and attentive, ensuring everything went smoothly during our stay. His thoughtful communication really made us feel well taken care of. Overall, this is a magical place where nature and comfort come together seamlessly. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect getaway and can’t wait to return!

• Judith from United Kingdom (10/10)

  I wanted to write something here to say what an incredible place Gio Toscana is, I did a lot of research to find it, I was looking for a traditional Italian villa with beautiful views and one that had been renovated and decorated to a high standard. When I found Geo’s villa on booking.com I booked it immediately as it was everything that I was looking for, however, and this does not happen very often with me, it was even more gorgeous than the photographs and description. The location, villa, decoration I would give a 10/10 and Geo and his partner bent over backwards to accommodate us. They introduced us to horse riding, recommended some fabulous trips out band we had a private chef for a couple of nights. I could not recommend Gio Toscana enough, we will definitely be back.

• Simon from Switzerland (10/10)

  Most beautiful Agriturismo in Tuscany with the best hosts you can ever imagine. It was a perfect stay, in a wonderful environment and in a beautiful apartment with everything you need.

• Ágnes from Hungary (10/10)

  Beautiful and super clean apartment and swimming pool

• Ingrid from South Africa (10/10)

  The location is beautiful, the apartment very stylish and the host was very friendly and welcoming

• Zeina from United Arab Emirates (10/10)

  The property is amazing! The pictures don’t do justice. We had the best time at Gio Toscana and can’t wait to go back!

• Stacie from United States (10/10)

  This place felt like a dream! We stayed for the most relaxing week ever, and Gio was such an attentive host. He gave us the best suggestions for food, places to visit, massages (Stefania was wonderful!), a beautiful dinner for our first night, and we also ended up doing a daily breakfast, put on by the fabulous Cinzia, who was so nice and made the best breakfasts! She even taught my mom how to finally use a percolator haha. We felt so welcomed right away, from the moment we were greeted by Gio, Peter, and the dogs (my sister is usually afraid of dogs fwiw, but these are truly the sweetest dogs ever and we were all sad to say goodbye!) to when we left, we truly felt so comfortable. The whole staff was kind and made our stay feel special, and the apartment was so spacious and beautifully decorated. We really felt at home for the week, and it was so rejuvenating to take in the gorgeous views each day, casually walk around the grounds, and even get to purchase some olive oil to take home that’s produced right there. We all honestly felt a bit emotional leaving because this is the first time our family has done a trip like this, and it was more than we could have hoped for. Thank you so much to Gio for making our stay so lovely; we hope to come back again someday!

• Kirsten from Netherlands (10/10)

  Gio Toscane is just the absolute best place to be in Toscane and one of the best places we have ever stayed at. From the magnificent Tuscany views, the spacious, clean and luxurious apartment, and above all the great host Gio (he is the friendliest and supported us in all ways we needed) – Gio Toscane deserves a 12/10. I cannot recommend it more and we will be back for sure.

• Margherita from Italy (9/10)

  The garden and pool, the ranch and the horses, the stylish interior design and furniture, Gio’s kindness

• Dana from United States (10/10)

  The property and facilities were amazing. Our host was incredibly kind and helpful – helping me navigate where to get food or do an activity (like the beach). We will absolutely be back. It was so peaceful to stay and we wished we had booked for longer. Also my girls did horse lessons at the ranch and were completely in love with the experience!

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities