Casa Al Sargente

I stayed at Casa Al Sargente for a week at the end of June/​beginning of July 2013, and it was the absolute perfect place for someone who wants to experience real Tuscan living. Me and my friend had a two-​bedroom apartment with a full kitchen, completely stocked with dishes and any tools you’d need to cook a delicious Tuscan meal. The place was spotless, and the views of the countryside right out our windows were breathtaking. The view only gets better from the pool, which is up a level from where the house sits.
I absolutely recommend renting a car if you’re going to stay here, because the surrounding tourist attractions (Siena, Lucca, Florence, etc.) are all within a manageable drive, which makes Pistoia a great central location. There is a huge supermarket just about 2 miles away where you can get anything you need, and the town center has lots of great restaurants and shops if you want to stay close to home.
The owners, Marco and Agatha, are extremely gracious hosts. Agatha speaks fluent English, so if you don’t speak Italian, don’t worry! They live on site with their adorable German Shepherd, Giada, so if you need anything they are always there to help. They gave us lots of great recommendations on activities we should do, and always came out to see how our day was when we returned at night.
I can’t say enough about this place, and I will be returning as soon as I can – it’s truly a Tuscan paradise!