Ottawa, Canada

Melissa Mech & David Cooper

The “road” to Borgo di Vagli began with several trips to Tuscany. We fell in love with the stunning landscape, quaint towns, friendly people, the food, the wine, and the Italian lifestyle. After seeing an advertisement for Borgo in UK Country Life magazine, we decided to book an inspection visit. We instantly loved Borgo for its history, rustic authenticity, the tranquility and beauty of its natural surroundings, and the staff.During our inspection visit, we had the opportunity to experience the beauty and magic of Borgo and to appreciate its ideal situation in the region: we took a long hike in the immediate area using one of Borgo’s many hiking maps; we made several daytrips into the surrounding countryside, including visits to the neighbouring towns of Mercatale and Cortona and of course, we had to try the Monday “pizza night” dinner. Our interest was certainly piqued, and to learn more about becoming owners of a one-bedroom unit at Borgo, we met with Lee who walked us through all aspects of the purchase process and patiently answered all our questions.For us the decision to become owners was a weighty one: did we want to visit the same place again and again? We knew we loved Italy, and Tuscany specifically, but we weren’t certain we wanted to restrict our travel to just one place. In the end, four considerations convinced us that purchasing at Borgo was the right choice for us: First, was the happy realization that there were an infinite number of towns, historical sites and activities to explore within a short radius of Borgo, and if we did want to venture further afield, we would have a good base. Secondly, we liked the familiarity and intimacy of returning to places and friends that we knew and loved. Thirdly, we wanted a home in Tuscany that we could share with our friends and family without being enslaved with maintenance costs and chores, and BVD’s flexible reservation system fulfils that desire. And fourth….the trattoria, where the menus are seasonal, with authentic Tuscan food prepared by Dina and her daughters. The food, service and atmosphere are so exceptional that we often don’t want to go anywhere else for dinner!The first time we returned as owners this past fall, the question of whether we had made the right decision hung over our heads as we flew across the Atlantic, but all doubts dissipated quickly. We instantly felt at home as soon as we arrived and were greeted with Stefania’s welcoming smile. One of the highlights of our last trip was getting to know many fellow owners while enjoying long, laughter-filled dinners together at the wonderful Trattoria.Another highlight, for Melissa in particular, who loves to cook, was Dina’s private pasta making course, and the opportunity for her to ‘volunteer’ in the kitchen to learn Dina’s recipes firsthand.During our fall visit, we had the pleasure of hosting several friends who came and stayed with us. It was a real thrill for us to take them around and show them parts of Tuscany and Umbria that we love, and to explore new places. Needless to say word has gone out about what a special place Borgo is, and this has generated a waiting list of people who want to visit with us! Our goal is to visit Borgo twice a year and to eventually experience Tuscany in all seasons. We are already counting the days until our next visit in the spring. We know that every day will bring happy discoveries and little surprises while we enjoy the comforting and the familiar: the mists rising over the Pierle fortress in the morning, the smell of Dina’s wood oven in the late afternoon, gazing at the Milky Way at bedtime… and hearing the snuffling of the wild boar late at night as they hunt for fallen nuts and figs … An authentic adventure in Tuscany!

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