Our trip this year was the completion of the "Trilogy of Tuscookany," and it's hard to believe that each villa is more beautiful than the last. We began with Torre del Tartufo in 2015, continued with Ombuto last year (2016), and decided to try Bellorcia (on Laura's recommendation) this year. One of the frequent questions we get is "Which is the best?" My response is always that it is like asking which is your favorite child. While I absolutely loved Torre and Ombuto, the quiet beauty and lovely amenities of Bellorcia were also outstanding. The scenery cannot be described adequately, and the view from each and every window is breathtaking. The bedrooms are lovely and unique, and more modern than the other two villas--relatively speaking. The location can't be beat--you are 20 minutes from Pienza, a charming town that we visited three times, and Montepuciano is about 35 minutes away. One of the real pluses of the villa is the lovely living room with fireplace, which became a regular gathering place for our group of 12. Still, each villa has its own charms. You'll not be disappointed with any choice you make.

The reason we've come back three years in a row, though, is our love of cooking--and of meeting new friends and "classmates" who have the same passion that we do. We've also immensely enjoyed the chefs (especially Laura Giusti, who taught both Mediterranean program last year at Ombuto and Italian this year at Bellorcia) and the staff--Alex was our very competent, caring, and generous host who made sure we all felt pampered and spoiled. We laughed, we cooked our hearts out, and we went on a lovely excursion to an olive farm, cheese farm, and winery. By the end of the week, we were all friends who hated to say goodbye.

Thank you, Laura, Alex, Carmella, Antoinella and all of the other staff who took such good care of us. Ciao until we meet again!