La Foce is a famed Tuscan estate surrounded by the rolling hills of the Val d’Orcia. Once a private residence, it has now been converted to beautiful accommodations. Famous for its manicured English gardens, La Foce allows garden tours for those not staying on site.
We hesitantly visited with our kids during our stay in Tuscany. The visit actually turned out to be great for the kids! This was all part of our time in Tuscany, during our twelve day trip through Italy.
History of La Foce
The villa at La Foce was originally built as stopping point for pilgrims and merchants, but had fallen into disrepair after hundreds of years of wear and tear. In 1924, newlyweds Iris and Antonio Origio bought the rundown property, along with the surrounding land and associated buildings, and began to restore it. Iris, being from a weathly English family, was used to beautiful English gardens and hired famed landscape architect Cecil Pinsent to design the grounds.
Things to Know When Visiting La Foce
Staying so close the La Foce at nearby Chiarentana, I really wanted to take advantage of the famous garden tour. I wasn’t sure how the kiddos would do on a guided tour, but, luckily, they did just fine with only a few hiccups.
The tour is only about 45 minutes long- a perfect time to keep their attention without boring them. It was fascinating to learn more about the estate and see the beautiful gardens. The kids loved looking at all of the flowers and birds we saw.
- Visits start on the hour on Wednesdays from 3pm-6pm
- Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30am, 3:00pm, and 4:30pm
- Cost 10 euro (kids 12 and under are free)
- The tour is free if you are staying at either La Foce or La Chiarentana
Dinner at Dopolavoro La Foce
After visitng La Foce, make the short drive down the road to Dopolavoro La Foce. The restaurant serves local Tuscan favorites and has great reviews.
For a more casual evening, go to the walkup counter, and order a couple of craft beers and some sandwiches. Then head out to the terrace and gardens for a laidback dinner. There are some scattered tables or you can sit on the ground. There are hammocks and ping pong tables under the shade trees, allowing a couple of hours entertainment.
For some other ideas from our trip to Italy, be sure to check out these articles:
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