Ev Icon Italy 2
While I am in Sicily, enjoying Villa Triscele in the land of sunshine (read the article here), Silvia has stayed in Tuscany and, after saying goodbye to Laura and Torre Ginestre (if you missed the last article, you can find it here), she left Arezzo and headed to northern Tuscany, arriving in Peccioli, in the province of Pisa.
Peccioli is one of those villages that manages to surprise without fanfare: a network of alleys and squares that house contemporary works of art, an open air gallery that interacts with the surrounding countryside. Here, tradition meets innovation, and village life flows slowly but vibrantly, framed by the intense colors of the Tuscan hills. Art often blends into everyday life: an installation next to a village bar, a sculpture watching children play in the square. It is in these details that Peccioli reveals its authentic soul, one of simple and spontaneous beauty.
It is in these details that Peccioli reveals its authentic soul, made up of simple and spontaneous beauty.
And if you stop to chat, you may find an elderly person telling you about when the town seemed destined to be abandoned, before art brought it back to life. Or a child smiling and pointing to a sculpture, calling it by the name he has given it, as if it were part of his games. Small moments that transform your visit into an encounter, rather than a simple stroll.
Silvia’s welcome at Podere Terranuova
Silvia is at Podere Terranuova: a beautifully renovated farmhouse, a perfect blend of modern design and traditional Tuscan charm; vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, gleaming marble… Outside, a fenced garden of over 4000 square meters on several levels embraces and envelops the villa, embellished with elegant bronze sculptures and a tennis court, for those who do not want to completely abandon themselves to the “slow life” that Podere Terranuova itself seems to invite you to live. A typically Italian lifestyle.
The property consists of a main villa and a charming annex, offering privacy and tranquility, suitable even for larger groups.
Silvia arrived at Podere Terranuova on a warm, pleasant morning in mid-September. Enrica and her husband, the owners of the villa, welcomed her in true Italian tradition. Feeling at home even when you are far away is always the unspoken aim of those who rent a property. Let’s just say that the conditions at Podere Terranuova were immediately ideal.
Day 1 at Podere Terranuova
After unpacking her bags and quickly settling in, Silvia begins to explore the main villa. She enters the kitchen and is immediately struck by the wonderful window overlooking the outdoor patio, embellished with a graceful geometric design that enhances, as if it were needed (editor’s note), the panoramic view that stretches to the horizon. Hills, cypress trees, cultivated fields, small ruins, open countryside… Silvia cannot stop staring at what lies before her. A rich, immersive, and authentic landscape.
She takes a moment for herself: she decides to sit on the outdoor patio and have breakfast. The sun is high in the sky, there are no clouds on the horizon, and there’s the sweet fragrance of grass wet with last night’s rain. She breathes. A sense of peace washes over her and she feels at home. Far from the daily routine, the noise, the speed at which the world now moves. A slow and authentic rhythm.
The day slips away gently, just as the ambiance at Podere Terranuova seems to suggest. In the afternoon, Silvia chooses to stroll through the garden: the intense green of the grass, the bronze sculptures reflecting the rays of the setting sun, the light rustling of the wind among the cypress trees. The tennis court is tinged with orange, while the gold of the sunset begins to settle on the surrounding hills, lighting up the soft contours of the countryside.
As evening falls, the villa is illuminated by a warm, almost intimate glow. Through the large windows, you can see the light dancing on the marble, while outside the sky fades from pink to purple to deep blue. Silvia sits once again on the patio: a light blanket over her shoulders, a glass of wine in her hand. The sounds of the Tuscan night mingled with the silence, creates a subtle concert that invites you to listen. It is a moment suspended in time.
Silvia’s farewell to Podere Terranuova
The next morning, Silvia wakes up early. The air is crisp and carries the scent of dew. The sky is clear and bright, and the sun gently touches the hills as they slowly wake up. A quick breakfast, once again outdoors: the aroma of coffee mixes with the green of the garden and the bright colors of nature.
With her suitcase packed once again, Silvia pauses for a moment on the door’s threshold. She turns to look at Podere Terranuova one last time: the stone walls, the exposed beams, the play of light on the windows. It feels more like a ‘see you again’ than a goodbye. She takes with her the feeling of having experienced a different time. The road ahead of her is long, but she’ll carry with her the wonderful colors of this corner of Tuscany: the gold of the sunset, the green of the fields, the deep blue of the starry nights. And the warmth of a home that, for a brief but intense moment, was truly hers.
Silvia leaves with her heart filled with images, sounds, and colors that only Tuscany can offer. Podere Terranuova was not just a stop along the way, but an invitation to slow down, savor every detail, and rediscover the authentic value of “slow living.”
But the journey doesn’t end here. The next stop for Ev Icon Italy 2 will be a new encounter, another villa capable of expressing, in its own way, the timeless beauty of Italy.
A journey to be experienced together, step by step, allowing ourselves to be surprised each time by a new horizon.
