Tuscany’s Best Kept Secret: A Quiet Retreat in Castiglion Fibocchi
If you’ve ever looked at photos of Tuscany and thought, “It looks lovely, but I’d rather not spend my holiday elbowing people out of the way for a photo,” then I’ve found the place for you. Castiglion Fibocchi is exactly that. It is a small, medieval village that manages to offer all the rolling hills and cypress trees you want from a Tuscan trip, but without the tour buses and the overpriced gift shops.
Finding The Real Soul Of Tuscany
If you are looking for a base that allows you to explore the famous parts of Tuscany during the day and retreat to total silence in the evening, this is it. It is the kind of place that reminds you why people fell in love with Italy in the first place: simple food, incredible views, and a sense of calm that is getting harder to find.
Staying in Castiglion Fibocchi, just outside of Arezzo, felt like stepping into a different version of Italy. It’s a tiny, cobblestoned village where the pace of life doesn’t just slow down…it practically stops. To give you an idea of the vibe…we saw more cats than people there.
Where We Stayed: La Luna nel Pozzo
We booked an apartment at La Luna nel Pozzo, and it was exactly what you want from a Tuscan countryside escape. We visited in April, and while the Italian sun was trying its best, the evenings were still quite chilly.
The highlight? Our bedroom had its own fireplace. Now, being Irish, I’m used to an open fire or a stove being the heart of the home, but it’s actually not that common to find them in Italian, which is what made it so special for me. There is something incredibly cozy about lighting a real fire and watching the flames from bed before going to sleep.
The property also has an outdoor pool which looked gorgeous. If you’re heading there in the warmer summer months, I’d imagine that’s where you’d spend most of your time.
Check this property out here: [La Luna nel Pozzo booking.com]
A cost to note about the heating
One thing to keep in mind if you’re visiting in the cooler months: you have to pay extra for your heating usage and settle the bill when you check out.
Breakfast & Dinner at Ristorante La Luna nel Pozzo
Breakfast was included each morning in the restaurant downstairs. It was a great it had: eggs made to order, fresh bread, fruit, and plenty of tea or coffee to kickstart the day.
Even if you aren’t staying in the apartments, you have to eat dinner at Ristorante La Luna nel Pozzo. The atmosphere is intimate and traditional, with the fire lighting inside during the cooler months.
- The Food: We started with the mixed bruschette (simple, but the olive oil in this region is liquid gold). For mains, we went for the steak with peppercorns and the stinco di maiale (pork shank). The meat was incredibly tender and exactly the kind of hearty nonna-style cooking you hope for in Tuscany.
- The Wine: Morellino di Scansano 2022, della cantina Poggio al Lupo.
- The View: If the weather is on your side, try to snag a table outside. The views over the rolling Tuscan hills are world-class.
Why It’s a Great Base
Castiglion Fibocchi feels cut off from the world, but it’s actually very practical. You definitely need a car if you stay here, but once you do, you’re in the perfect spot to explore the rest of the region. It’s quiet, safe, and significantly cheaper than staying in the heart of Florence or Siena.
The Nearest City: 20 Minutes to Arezzo
One of the best perks of staying in Castiglion Fibocchi is that you’re only about a 20-minute drive from Arezzo. We spent an afternoon there and honestly, it’s a crime that more people don’t visit.
We wandered through the Piazza Grande (which you might recognise from the film Life is Beautiful) and checked out the antique markets. It has all the charm of the bigger Tuscan cities but feels much more ‘lived-in’ and local. If you’re staying at La Luna nel Pozzo, Arezzo is your go-to for a bigger selection of shops and some incredible evening strolls.
The Verdict: A Proper Hidden Gem
In my opinion, Castiglion Fibocchi is a proper hidden gem.
In a region like Tuscany, where it’s becoming harder and harder to find places that haven’t been completely taken over by tourism, this village feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s authentic, it’s quiet, and it has just enough home comforts, like that bedroom fire to make it feel like a retreat rather than just a place to sleep. If you’re looking for the Tuscany you see in the movies (but without the crowds in the background), this is it.
Ready to see more? If you can tear yourself away from the fireplace and the village cats, there is so much to see nearby. Check out my [48-Hour Ultimate Tuscany Itinerary] where I show you how to use this quiet base to explore the very best of the region!
