Staying in a La Foce house in winter is a way of discovering an unusually intimate Tuscany.

In winter Tuscany reveals its most private qualities. Tourism is practically non-existant from November to March. This is the time when Tuscans take possession of their region again.

In the surrounding hill towns the cold wind tears down the narrow streets. You may catch a glimpse of a local villager rushing from his bottega (shop) to the nearest bar, to down an espresso laced with brandy or a hot cappuccino. You may meet the town band in full parade to celebrate the festa of the local saint. In Pienza a huge bonfire is kept burning for the week between Christmas and the New Year in the square in front of the Cathedral, while children stamp their feet and hold out their hands to warm up in its glow.

Restaurants serve hot heavy meals of wild boar and polenta, home made pasta with truffles, roasted pig livers, and hot garlic bruschetta drenched with the newly pressed olive oil, all washed down with generous amounts of local red wine. Monte Bianco, a delicious mountain of ground chestnuts covered with whipped cream is a typical winter dessert.

Each house at La Foce has an open fireplace with firewood from the cyclic cutting of our woods. Chestnuts and porcini heads, cappelle, that you have gathered in the woods, thick slices of bread to taste the new aromatic oil, thick slices of fiorentina (T-bone steaks) can be cooked or roasted over the embers in your kitchen or living room.

There is skiing on the Monte Amiata, with easy slopes for children. And after a day’s skiing what can be more relaxing than a good wallow in a volcanic hot water pool?

Come and share La Foce’s Christmas tradition! Our guests are enchanted by the lifestyle developed here over the last 50 years. During this season you will be welcomed with La Foce’s traditional Christmas decorations. In your house cypress and holly garlands, dried oranges, pomanders, pot-pourri, candles and, last but not least, a Christmas tree will make you share the Christmas spirit which has always been part of Origo family. All children are warmly invited to join the many Origo children at the family’s Christmas party in the main Villa.