Val d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy · Entire Private Villa · Up to 18 Guests
One of Italy's most celebrated historic estates — a late 15th-century villa in the UNESCO World Heritage Val d'Orcia, with world-famous gardens designed by English architect Cecil Pinsent for Iris Origo beginning in 1925. Frescoed interiors filled with beautiful antique furniture, reflecting the unique Anglo-Tuscan taste of the Origo family. The winding cypress road depicted on postcards as the symbol of Tuscany is on the estate. Private swimming pool. The Dopolavoro La Foce restaurant eight minutes' walk away.
Villa La Foce was originally built at the end of the 15th century as a wayside hostel on the Via Francigena — the ancient pilgrims' road to Rome. In 1924, it was bought by Antonio and Iris Origo, who turned it into their family home, farming and developing the land and bringing prosperity to the Val d'Orcia. Iris Origo — one of the great Anglo-American biographers of the 20th century — described these years in her autobiographical books Images and Shadows and War in Val d'Orcia. The estate is an Italian Historic House and the gardens are considered amongst the most beautiful private gardens in Italy.
The world-famous gardens at La Foce were designed by the English architect Cecil Pinsent for Iris Origo over a period of fifteen years beginning in 1925. A series of terraced rooms divided by clipped box hedges surround the villa, decorated with fountains and stone benches. Lemon trees in terracotta pots line the formal garden. The rose garden and a long winding wisteria pergola bordered by lavender lead to informal terraces with cherry trees, pines, and cypresses. The winding cypress road on the La Foce estate is the image most associated with the Tuscan landscape worldwide.
The villa itself is a historic residence with twelve bedrooms, multiple dining rooms (including a frescoed balconied dining room and a breakfast room opening onto the private fountain garden), a library with fireplace, a music room, and multiple living rooms with antique furnishings and books throughout. The private swimming pool is opposite the limonaia (orangerie), surrounded by the walled garden. The Dopolavoro La Foce restaurant — eight minutes' walk away — serves farm-to-table Tuscan food using produce from the estate's organic vegetable garden.
Villa La Foce is a complete historic estate available for exclusive rental — the entire villa with twelve bedrooms across three floors, the world-famous Cecil Pinsent gardens, private swimming pool, limonaia, and full estate grounds. The airy frescoed interiors are filled with beautiful antique furniture reflecting the unique Anglo-Tuscan taste of the Origo family. A central frescoed and balconied dining room is available for very special evenings. The breakfast room opens onto the private fountain garden.
A delightful library with fireplace and sofas, a large music room with piano, and multiple comfortable sitting rooms with fireplaces provide ample gathering space. Two kitchenettes are available for guest use on each floor. The full estate staff provides daily breakfast and cleaning. Laundry service and extra meals can be arranged. Four gardeners maintain the estate year-round including the private swimming pool.
The Dopolavoro La Foce was built in 1939 as a meeting place for the estate workers — country dances, films, and evenings of bocce in the shade of the lime trees. Today it reopens as a restaurant and bar offering traditional Tuscan dishes prepared with La Foce's own extra-virgin olive oil and produce from the vegetable garden directly across the road. Guests of the villa receive special treatment on the dinner menu and wine list.
Villa guests have two kitchenettes available with electric kettle, induction cooker, microwave, and fridge. Tea, coffee, and tisanes are provided for self-catering breakfasts. The estate staff can arrange extra meals prepared in the main kitchen by the La Foce staff. Local wine estates — including Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino — are within a short drive for private tastings.
Four nights at Villa La Foce — Iris Origo's historic estate in the UNESCO Val d'Orcia, with Cecil Pinsent's world-famous gardens surrounding the villa. The winding cypress road. The private pool by the limonaia. A private tour of the formal garden. Dinner at the Dopolavoro. Brunello tasting in Montalcino.
All packages are fully customisable. Contact your Richseen specialist for tailored inclusions.
Villa La Foce is an Italian Historic House. The cypress road is on the estate — the image that appears on every postcard of Tuscany. The gardens were designed by Cecil Pinsent across fifteen years. Iris Origo described the estate in books that are still in print. The Dopolavoro is eight minutes' walk. The UNESCO Val d'Orcia landscape surrounds every view. Pienza is twenty minutes. Brunello di Montalcino is forty minutes. The private pool is by the limonaia. The frescoes are from the 15th century. The books are everywhere.
A 4-night exclusive stay at Villa La Foce — Iris Origo's historic estate in the UNESCO Val d'Orcia. The entire villa with 12 bedrooms, frescoed interiors, private pool, and Cecil Pinsent's world-famous formal gardens. Daily breakfast. Two dinners at the Dopolavoro La Foce. Private guided garden tour. Val d'Orcia scenic drive.
The winding cypress road. Morning light on the formal garden terraces. The limonaia opposite the pool. Brunello tasting in Montalcino. A private tour of the Pinsent garden. Dinner by the fireplace in the frescoed dining room.
All components are fully flexible — refined with your Richseen specialist prior to confirmation.