One of the lovely things about our villa is it's central location in Tuscany we're within 45 minutes of Florence, Siena, San Gimignano and much more.
The historic owners were able to maintain the estate based on a sharecropping system. The owners got 70% of what their workers raised and the workers got 30%. After WWII the sharecropping system was banished and the family could no longer afford to maintain it. A local working-class family had a dream and took a chance. They purchased the estate with massive loans which they paid back over 10 years at 17% interest. Everyone pitched in, reconstructed the war damage and today manage this welcoming oasis.
The historic owners were able to maintain the estate based on a sharecropping system. The owners got 70% of what their workers raised and the workers got 30%. After WWII the sharecropping system was banished and the family could no longer afford to maintain it. A local working-class family had a dream and took a chance. They purchased the estate with massive loans which they paid back over 10 years at 17% interest. Everyone pitched in, reconstructed the war damage and today manage this welcoming oasis.
 Hotel Villa Lecchi from a distance |  A little closer |
One of the larger rooms
 | Saturday morning we traveled a short distance to Siena to visit this charming town. It is most famous for it's twice annual paolo, a horse race 3 times around the city square where the 17 neighborhoods compete for the glory of winning for the Virgin Mary. Of course, we weren't there during the paolo, so here's a photo from the internet. |
We enjoyed our of the town's dramatic cathedral, a stunning example of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. Then down to the town square for lunch and a bit of shopping.
 Duomo di Siena |  Oh, oh - Where's Randall? We found him. |
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We returned to your villa where some of us enjoyed a couple hours of R&R and others hiked the nearby countryside. This evening we visited a farm for a winery tour and delicious dinner of local products. The setting was so perfect, it could be a movie set.
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 | This morning someone found the remains of last night's TnT dinner. Oh, my we must have had fun! |
