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5.19.2010

{Under the Tuscany Sun}



Sunday I spent the entire day with two of my best friends and their families.

Barbara and Loretta are my friends since 1995. We lived toghether in Brussels for 9 months. We studied at the University there and we had a lot of fun. It was one of the best period of our time ever. We had our home, we had a lot of friends and we traveled a lot from France, England, Holland.

Unfortunately we don't live in the same city and it's very difficult to stay toghether but , almost once a year we organize a reunion weekend. Usually we go to visit Barbara in Tuscany but this time we went to Senigallia were Loretta lives. They have beautiful children, I haven't but I adore to stay with them 'cause it's always funny and we talk and talk...



Barbara, her husband and their two children lives in one of the most beautiful place in the world: Bagno Vignoni, near Siena.



A very small cosy village famous for its thermal baths. The ancient square pool at the centre of it is no longer in public use. It is forbidden to swim in there...


*photos by me*

Toghether with her sister Sabrina and her husband Luca, she's the owner of a fantastic farmhouse "Villa Pienza - Podere Prugnenello" .

They found it in 2000 but it took them two years to persuade the owner, an elderly Tuscan wheat farmer to part with it because it had been his first married home and he was sentimentally attached”. Barbara told me that “It took more then 7 years to completely renovate the farmhouse. Four years to obtain all the necessary planning consents. Because of all the red tape bound up in EU regulations and the fact of being a highly prized conservation area - part of what Italians consider to be of universal historical importance, being allowed to build a swimming pool was our third miracle. Then it took another year to complete the building work.

And the results is fantastic. I've personally visited and it's really beautiful with a breathtaking view...








The home has 6 bedroom and 6 bathroom. They rented weekly and even for weddings. A perfect location for an informal wedding with friends! (actually, they are planning their wedding there... Barbara and Luca consider themselves married but hey aren't ..Not yet! She asked me to help for her big day when it will be!!!)

All the materials they used to restore the building were reclaimed. Some they found lying around in the fields, and others came from the bric and brac shops, builders stores.
They found old beams, doors, bricks to lay in a herringbone pattern for the ground floors and upstairs they found old oak floor boards in various widths and lengths. So it feels and looks like a very old building...









Barbara and her sister (with their at the time boyfriends ...not the same anymore) started with a cosy wine bar and a small bed and breakfast in Bagno Vignoni. "La Locanda del Loggiato" a very charming b&b in the center of the village.

What do you think? Won't be amazing to spend a week, or even more, in this beautiful place with all of your friends?

If you need any help or more informations just write to Barbara!

Now is time to announce the winner of my Petit Rococo Giveaway, but before let me thank Maddie for this amazing oppotunity. You are such a sweet girl!

I'm glad to announce that the winner is Nellie from McCarthy Designs

Congratulations Nellie, I really hope you'll enjoy your gift! Please contact me to receive your prize!



If you desire to be featured in my Etsy project or do you have an online store and do you want me to write about you and host a giveaway feel free to send me an email at gaia.borzicchi@gmail.com


Have a great week!

17 commenti:

  1. Hi Gaia! Thanks for your comment about the snow here...We do live in a Polar Bear Country, believe me!!!
    I luuuuuve this and thanks for sharing these amazing story and pictures.
    I'll definatly save on my favorites her link for the day I'' go visit Italy.
    Ciao Bella,
    Li

    RispondiElimina
  2. Oh Gaia, your weekend with your friends sounds so lovely! I am jealous! I would love to stay there if we ever are fortunate enough to come for a visit!
    Thank you so much for the giveaway!!! I am so excited to have won the prize. The bracelet is gorgeous! I will email you my details when I get home! xx

    RispondiElimina
  3. Gaia..che posti meravigliosi.Ho vissuto a Siena per 4 anni e la Toscana è nel mio cuore per un milione di motivi.
    un bacio
    claudia C

    RispondiElimina
  4. che invidia... quando penso al mio lavor in un posto come questo la vita sarebbe ancora più bella...eh, non si può aver tutto dalla vita! Un bacio

    RispondiElimina
  5. Oh wow Gaia,
    se esiste il paradiso assomiglia a questo posto!

    RispondiElimina
  6. Oddio ma che posto splendido! Grazie per avercelo fatto conoscere. Mi piacerebbe un giorno, magari quando le bimbe saranno più grandi, organizzare una bella vacanza in questa delizia di posto!
    Tanti complimenti alla tua amica!

    Un bacione,

    Sarah

    P.S. Com'è andata ieri dalla nonna? :)

    RispondiElimina
  7. Segno subito il nome di questo posto sulla moleskine per uno dei prossimi viaggi!
    Grazie per le meravigliose foto, un abbraccio

    RispondiElimina
  8. Che posto meraviglioso, mi piacerebbe andarci, mi sono rilassata solo a guardare le foto! In pieno contrasto con la giornata che abbiamo qui oggi, non trovi??
    Baci
    Mela

    RispondiElimina
  9. Ciao Gaia!!! il tuo week end mi sembra sia proprio andato alla grande!!!! io mi sono persa tra mille corse: piastrelle, camino, cucina da ordinare, ikea e persino fiera!!! Mi sà che una volta finito di costruire casa avrò bisogno di una vacanza e questo posto che ci mostri è proprio meraviglioso!!!

    Un abbraccio!
    Mara

    RispondiElimina
  10. Che Bella!
    We had so many of the same troubles building our house but it was worth it in the end. (I think it's the same for your friends if your beautiful pictures are anything to go by!)

    RispondiElimina
  11. What a beautiful renovation. It's given me some ideas for my own home renovation. I've been to Bagno Vignoni a few times - it is beautiful. I'd love to live there.

    RispondiElimina
  12. oh my gosh!! that house, that place is beautiful! Beautiful!!

    RispondiElimina
  13. oh my what a place!!
    Im good Gaia, how are you? How is the new home? hope everything is going well :) xxx

    RispondiElimina
  14. WOW! these photos are breathtaking. i would LOVE to visit sometime! what an amazing reunion..so fun!

    RispondiElimina
  15. Ciao Gaia, che fortuna vivere in Toscana!!
    Fai i complimenti ai tuoi amici per l' ottimo risultato ottenuto, fantastico questo posto!!
    Chissà un giorno...
    KISS, Anna.

    RispondiElimina
  16. Your friend's home is so perfect, I could cry just looking at it! I've been to Siena but not for long enough. This is such a dream home...
    ~ Clare x

    RispondiElimina

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