Dopolavoro La Foce

Welcome Dinner

La Foce

Wedding Day

Our Wedding

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

ARE THERE ANY DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS TO REACH THE VENUE BY CAR?

GPS COORDINATES: N 43° 1’ 27.78” / E 11° 46’ 46.2” - From Fiumicino Airport, Rome: take the main highway towards Rome, but be prepared to turn off after some 8 kms to north on the ring-road around Rome to join the highway A1 (follow the green sings to Firenze). Exit at Chiusi-Chianciano Terme, about half-way between Rome and Florence. - From Ciampino Airport, Rome: take the ring-road north, following the green signs to A1 Firenze. Exit at Chiusi-Chianciano Terme, about half-way between Rome and Florence. - Coming from Florence: highway Firenze-Roma A1, exit Chiusi-Chianciano Terme - Follow the directions for Chianciano Terme.- 1 km before Chianciano Terme you will pass a gas station on your right, across the restaurant “Rabarbaro”.- 100 metres after passing the station turn left on the road with the sign 'Monte Amiata, Via Cassia SS2.'- Almost immediately, 50 metres down the road turn right, always following the 'Monte Amiata' signs.- You are now on the road which winds around Chianciano Terme.- At the next two T-junctions turn left, following the directions for Monte Amiata. The road winds around for 4 and ½ kms., then you will pass through a section of the road that goes up a hill; this section is bordered by cypress trees.- At the top of the hill turn left at the sign 'Loc. La Foce'; marking the entrance to the La Foce estate.&nbsp;- Drive straight ahead towards the yellow building and the courtyard with a well in the middle. YOU HAVE ARRIVED.&nbsp;Park here, and walk towards the white windowed door leading to the La Foce office/reception.

Q + A

Travel Tips:

Nearest Airports: The closest airport is Florence Airport (FLR).&nbsp;- Florence Airport (FLR) 150km&nbsp;- Rome Fiumicino (FCO) 200km&nbsp;- Pisa (PSA) 220km Note: Do keep in mind that the Florence airport is significantly smaller than Rome, therefore flights may be more limited. Renting a car: Please note that public transport on the countryside is a little more limited than in the main towns. We recommend&nbsp;renting a car from the airport to give you&nbsp;the most flexibility and the possibility&nbsp;to enjoy driving through the beautiful Tuscan countryside.- From Florence: Approx 1 hour 30 mins&nbsp;- From Rome: Approx 2 hours&nbsp;- From Pisa: Approx 2 hours 30 mins&nbsp; There are many car rental options available from Florence, Pisa and Rome airports. Please find the links below to access car rental comparison sites, so that you can find the best deals and the type of vehicle you would prefer to drive.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.rentalcars.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.rentalcars.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.holidayautos.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.holidayautos.com</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoeurope.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.autoeurope.co.uk</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.travelsupermarket.com/en-gb/car-hire/italy/tuscany/pisa/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.travelsupermarket.com/en-gb/car-hire/italy/tuscany/pisa/</a> If you're traveling from the centre of Florence, then Tuscany by Car are usually competitively priced, friendly and a small independent company: <a href="https://www.tuscany-by-car.it/?lang=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tuscany-by-car.it/?lang=en</a> Renting a car with&nbsp;a sat nav/GPS built in for navigation purposes is highly recommended as some of the places you'll want to visit may be slightly off the beaten path.&nbsp; Note: It's much cheaper to pick rental cars up at the airport in Florence than in the town centre near the station Please also note: If you plan on spending some time in Florence and/or Rome prior to heading to Tuscany, hold off on picking up your rental car until you are ready for your drive to the Tuscan countryside. Having a car while staying in the city centre (Florence/Rome) is not necessary or recommended as mostly everything will be walking distance and easier to navigate to by foot or tram. If you plan on having a car while staying in Florence/Rome, ensure your hotel accommodation has access to a car parking garage. By Train: Electric fast lines link most major cities and are the quickest way to travel between major cities. The regional trains link smaller cities, but are very slow and often late. Fast trains and regional trains can be booked together on the National Trains website here:<a href="https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html</a> Or for fast line services between major cities you can also book via this private company who do good rates and service:<a href="https://www.italotreno.it/en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.italotreno.it/en</a> From Florence: Train from Firenze S.M.N to&nbsp;Chiusi-chianciano Terme (approx 1 hour 40 minutes). A taxi would then be taken from Chiusi- chianciano Terme to your accommodation.&nbsp; From Rome: Train from&nbsp;Roma Termini to Chiusi-chianciano Terme (approx 1 hour 40 minutes).&nbsp;A taxi would then be taken from&nbsp;Chiusi- chianciano Terme&nbsp;to your accommodation.&nbsp; Taxis: If you require a taxi at any other point during your stay then this must be booked in advance, as being a small countryside town, they are not available at all hours of the day. Additional Tips: - As a general&nbsp;rule, passports must be valid for 6 months beyond the date the traveler will depart the United States.&nbsp;- Most ATMs only allow you to withdraw €250.00 per card per day regardless of what card type you have, so it is best to bring some cash with you as it is sometimes easier to pay this way in Italy.&nbsp;- Tipping is not expected in Italy, although of course always appreciated.&nbsp;- Ladies, if you are wearing stilettos, it's best to bring some more comfortable or wider heels/wedges for walking on grassier areas at the venue. Heel protectors are always useful too.&nbsp;- Many hotels don't have a steamer or iron in the room so it's best to bring a good travel steamer just in case.&nbsp;- There are no Ubers! Just local&nbsp;taxi services or airport&nbsp;transfers services which usually need to be booked in advance.&nbsp;- If you rent a car, make sure to read the small print in the booking. Sometimes they ask for a credit card and not a debit card, or want to make sure you use the same card on the day, as for your online booking.

Locanda in Tuscany has 9 rooms total and is an approximate 15 minute drive from our venue, La Foce. 3 x&nbsp;<a href="https://www.locandaintuscany.it/suite/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Suite</a>&nbsp;- €570,001&nbsp;x&nbsp;<a href="https://www.locandaintuscany.it/superior-grand-deluxe-in-tuscany/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Superior Grand Deluxe</a>&nbsp;- €420,002 x&nbsp;<a href="https://www.locandaintuscany.it/grand-deluxe-room/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Grand Deluxe Room&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;- €390,001 x&nbsp;<a href="https://www.locandaintuscany.it/superior-double-deluxe/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Superior Double Deluxe</a>&nbsp;- €330,002&nbsp;x&nbsp;<a href="https://www.locandaintuscany.it/double-deluxe/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deluxe Room</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;- €290,00 The above rates are per room per night and include&nbsp;breakfast, choice of bed linen (cotton or linen), use of their 20mts long swimming pool, internet Wi-Fi connection, parking, services and taxes.&nbsp;City tax of €1,00 per person per night is not included. All 9 rooms from the 21st-23rd August 2024, will be held under room block until the 31st of January 2024. Until then, guests can contact the hotel directly to make a reservation, they just need to make reference&nbsp;to 'Veronica Davila &amp; Mark Azer - Room Block' in the subject line. Guests will be able to cancel their reservation with no penalties until 60 days prior to arrival. Any room cancelled after this period will be charged the full amount as a penalty.

Locanda in Tuscany

Podere Gonzaga has 6 available rooms, and it is an approximate 8 minute drive from our venue, La Foce. Available rooms:- Mozart - max occupancy of 2 people- Puccini - max occupancy of 3 people- Jobim - max occupancy of 3 people- Beatles - max occupancy of 2 people- Miles Davis - max occupancy of 2 people- Ravel - max occupancy of 3 people Rates: Approx €260,00 - €280,00 per night Tourist tax of 1 Euro per night per person over 12 years of age to be paid on arrival

Podere Gonzaga

L'Olmo Podere in Pienza has 5 available rooms and is an approximate 15 minute drive from our venue, La Foce. Rates: Approx €450,00 per room per night Each room includes American breakfast, air-conditioning/heating, Wi-FI, private parking, heated infinity pool and hotel amenities. Fees do not include vat and taxes.

L'Olmo

Grand Hotel Terme is an approximate 8 minute drive from our venue, La Foce

Grand Hotel Terme

Villa Ambra is an approximate 15 minute drive from our venue, La Foce Rates: Approx from €102,00 - 134,00 per room per night

Villa Ambra

Grand Hotel Admiral Palace is an approximate 10 minute drive from our venue, La Foce. Grand Hotel Admiral Palace has a total of 111 rooms available. Rates: from €89,00- 259,00 per room per night

Grand Hotel Admiral Palace

Airbnb

Airbnb's are another great option to consider for your stay. However, prior to booking, please reach out to the Airbnb host in order to double check the location, as sometimes they say that they are based centrally, but are actually in the middle of nowhere. So please ensure with the host that they are in fact within a close driving distance to our venue, La Foce.

Travel

Welcome to Val d'Orcia!

Welcome to&nbsp;Val d'Orcia;&nbsp;one of Tuscany's six World Heritage sites, recognised&nbsp;for the picturesque landscape of rolling hills and lines of cypress trees. This region is a beautiful valley in the heart of Tuscany, where you can experience&nbsp;rural Tuscany at its best.&nbsp; Our venue is surrounded by the small towns of&nbsp;Montepulciano, Montalcino, Bagno Vignoni and the 'ideal town' of Pienza, all of which are rich in culture and history, so definitely worth visiting&nbsp;should you find the time. Here is a list of recommendations to make the most of your experience whilst here.&nbsp;

Pienza is a quaint hilltop town, famous for being a UNESCO world heritage site and the producer of Pecorino cheese.&nbsp; The renaissance town has a beautiful and historical square that features sites such as the stunning Cathedral and&nbsp;Palazzo Piccolomin. The walk through the town's bastions offer incredible countryside views as well as authentic spots to stop for an aperitivo and a taste of the famous cheese.&nbsp;

Visit the ideal town of Pienza

Montalcino is another hilltop village overlooking Val d'Orcia, surrounded by vineyards that have produced some of the most renowned and delicious&nbsp;wines in Italy such as&nbsp;Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino.&nbsp; The town is filled with small wine shops and bars which sell&nbsp;products from the local wineries which makes it a perfect tasting spot for wine lovers. Local shops will even provide tastings without bookings in advance, so it is a really convenient&nbsp;way of exploring the different wines without travelling to a vineyard.&nbsp;However if you are looking to organise a private tour or tasting at a vineyard there are places where this can be arranged too.&nbsp; Some great wine tasting spots include:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.padelletti.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Padeletti&nbsp;</a>WineryInside the fortress&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.enotecalafortezza.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Enoteca La Fortezza</a><a href="https://www.grottadelbrunello.it/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Grotta del Brunello</a>&nbsp;- the oldest wine bar in Montalcino<a href="https://www.enotecapierangioli.com/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Enoteca Pierangioli</a><a href="https://www.poggioantico.com/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Poggio Antico</a>&nbsp;(outside of the centre) Please note that although Montalcino is best discovered by foot, it is one of the steeper towns in the region and so a good pair of walking shoes would come in handy!&nbsp;

Visit the wine town of Montalcino

Experience firsthand the many tours and activities the region has to offer, from wine tasting to truffle hunting, there is something for everyone, particularly&nbsp;in the towns of Montalcino and Montepulciano. Here are some of our favourite spots:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.castellobanfiwineresort.it/en/borgo/winery-tours" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Castello Banfi</a>&nbsp;- A very impressive winery and estate that offers both wine tasting and vineyard tours. (Montalcino)<a href="https://www.laciarliana.it/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">La Ciarliana</a>&nbsp;- A family run company, perfectly suitable for little ones too!&nbsp;(Montepulciano)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.capannamontalcino.com/en.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Capanna Farm</a>&nbsp;- Amazing cellar tours followed by tastings of wines, grappa and olive oil. (Montalcino)<a href="https://icario.it/?lang=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Icario</a>&nbsp;- A modern estate offering wine tastings as affordable as €20pp to fine dining experiences.&nbsp;(Montepulciano)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coldorcia.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Col d'Orcia&nbsp;</a>- An organic farm with biodynamic practices that you can explore firsthand.&nbsp;Different package options available.&nbsp;(Montalcino)<a href="https://www.argiano.net/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Argiano Cantina</a> - A stunning 14th century villa with an amazing spiral staircase to die for (Montalcino)

Guided tours and tastings

As previously mentioned we do very much recommend renting a car to give you flexibility to explore the nearby areas more easily, and to enjoy the incredible&nbsp;landscape Val d'Orcia has to offer. If you are looking for a more unique and exciting way to enjoy driving through the countryside, perhaps you can consider renting a vintage vehicle to truly live out the La Dolce Vita lifestyle. Our top recommendations for this would be:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.vintagetours.it/web/eng/newwelcome/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vintage Tours</a> (Pienza)<a href="https://www.tuscany-by-car.it/en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tuscany By Car</a> (Florence based but able deliver/pick up)

Hire a vintage car and take a drive!

There is so much to see and touring everything can be almost impossible by foot (especially in the hilly areas), so whilst in Montepulciano, we recommend taking a visit to <a href="http://www.urbanbikery.it/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Urban Bikery</a> to rent&nbsp;an electronic bike for a different way to explore Montepulciano and the surrounding areas.&nbsp;

Rent an e-bike

An absolute must do whilst you're in Italy! Some recommendations include:&nbsp; <a href="https://podereilcasale.com/en/activities/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Podere il Casale</a>&nbsp;(Pienza)&nbsp;<a href="https://montalcinocookingschool.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Locanda Demetra</a>&nbsp;(Montalcino)<a href="https://www.agriturismolabruciata.it/en/activities.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Agriturismo La Bruciata</a>&nbsp;(Montepulciano) &nbsp;<a href="https://www.ristorantedaria.it/en/tuscan-cooking-class/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ristorante Daria</a>&nbsp;(Monticchiello di Pienza)&nbsp;

Take a local cooking class

Val d’Orcia is a calm and tranquil region, so the perfect spot for a staycation if you are looking to escape the crowded and lively nearby cities. We recommend making the most of your stay by booking accommodation with a pool and restaurant on site so that you can take time out from the August heat to simply relax.

Relaxation

There are so many amazing restaurants and bars where you can meet with friends to enjoy the traditional&nbsp;tuscan foods together, so much so that the list is hard to narrow down, but here are a few of our favourite spots: <a href="https://www.laterrazzadelchiostro.it/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">La Terrazza del Chiostro</a>&nbsp;(Pienza)&nbsp;<a href="https://idylliumpienza-it.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=it&amp;_x_tr_tl=en&amp;_x_tr_hl=it&amp;_x_tr_pto=wapp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Idyllium</a>&nbsp;(Pienza)<a href="https://www.lagrottamontepulciano.it/main.php" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">La Grotta</a>&nbsp;(Montepulciano)<a href="https://lavineriadimontepulciano.it/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">La Vineria di Montepulciano</a>&nbsp;(Montepulciano)<a href="https://www.locandaintuscany.it/taste/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Locanda In Tuscany</a>&nbsp;(Castiglione d'Orcia)<a href="https://www.boccondivinomontalcino.it/web/en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Boccon di Vino</a>&nbsp;(Montalcino)<a href="https://www.ristorantedaria.it/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ristorante Daria</a>&nbsp;(Monticchiello di Pienza)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.osterialaporta.it/en/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Osteria La Porta</a>&nbsp;(Monticchiello di Pienza)

Veronica & Mark

Veronica & Mark

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