Through Tuscany & Umbria with Merel
At Nice2stay, we believe the only way to know a property is to experience it yourself. Merel, our product manager for Italy, travelled through Tuscany and Umbria to visit some of our properties in person, staying, exploring, and getting a real feel for everything we offer, sometimes pulling on a pair of boots to walk a site still taking shape, because that too is part of the job.
"Tuscany feels like coming home. Umbria was a true discovery."
A familiar road
Tuscany has always felt personal to Merel. Summer holidays as a child left her with vivid memories of hilltop towns, the freshness of every meal, and the way ingredients seemed to speak for themselves. Returning felt effortless, like picking up an old conversation.
Her first stop was La Cenerentola in the heart of Chianti, where she fell in love with the vintage interiors. She then headed to Casale di Cellole just outside Siena, where the garden was a true testament to the care and dedication of its owners.
Further north, Villa Gelsomino and MonteChiaro placed her close to some of her favourite cities, such as Pisa and Lucca. She ended her time in Tuscany at Senza Fine, tucked between the medieval towns of Arezzo and Cortona, perfectly secluded, a place she could easily imagine as a setting for a yoga retreat.
Umbria: quietly extraordinary
Crossing into Umbria, something shifted—deeper greens, quieter roads, a pace that invites you to slow down. For Merel, it was a first visit, and it won her over completely.
"It is sometimes overlooked," she says, "and that is exactly what makes it so special."
At Il Casale delle Rose Etrusche, the views over the Umbrian hills were breathtaking. She ended at Il Mandorlo, close to Lake Trasimeno and Chiusi, a property that no photograph can quite capture, and where the on-site service was simply impeccable.
The food, always the food
If there is one thread running through the whole trip, it is the one that ended up on the table. In Tuscany, Merel visited local butchers for bistecca alla fiorentina, freshly cut and full of flavour.
In Umbria, it was handmade ravioli with truffle, earthy and generous. Almost every evening closed the same way: a glass of local wine, a sweeping view, the light fading slowly over the hills.
"Those are the moments you remember most," she says. "A glass of wine, the last light over the hills, and nothing else asking for your attention."
Curious to find out more?
These two regions each leave a lasting impression in their own way. Take a look at our collections in Tuscany and Umbria, and if you have any questions, Merel is always happy to help.