Enchanting Tuscany Vacation Rental in Medieval Fortress Town Panoramic Views

About Cindy Harding

Born and raised in California, I relocated to Tuscany in 1979 after meeting my Florentine husband on a vacation the year before. I fell in love with Tuscany and especially Barberino Val D’Elsa. For an American, the village was a fairytale spot. I was bound and determined to own something in that fortress town. It took 10 years, but finally in 1989 a small tower property came up for sale. We bought it within 10 minutes of seeing it. It took nearly two years of restoration (binding laws, thick walls and slow workers) to finish our home. Initially it was to be our vacation spot. But, after the renovation I insisted we move in and live the authentic life of Tuscan villagers. And that we did for 4 years. Once our boys became of school age we moved to Florence where sports and school trumped the serene village life I preferred; keeping our small tower apartment in the Chianti wine region for our weekend retreat. Although we live in Florence, the first sixteen years of my Italian life were spent in this region. The first twelve years in a two hundred year old farmhouse near the hamlet, then in the hamlet. Thanks to the women in this area (moms and grandmothers) who took me under their wings, I soon became a Tuscan mother myself. Knowing my passion for food and cooking, they shared their culinary secrets with me, shared their kitchens, and shared their stories. Once I relocated to the city, I decided to share my Tuscan life by writing a food memoire/recipe book in honor of what these ‘fine’ chefs taught me: La Mia Toscana - A collection of food tales and recipes can be found on - id 14474353. Coupled with my hands-on experience in the culinary field, I now conduct Tuscan culinary workshops in and around Italy and occasionally in the US.

Cindy Harding purchased this Apartment in 1989

Why Cindy Harding chose Barberino Val d'Elsa

Set in a unique spot, the fortress town is surrounded by Tuscany’s patchwork vineyards and silvery olive groves. As a writer and lover of nature and history, I was swept away by the area and the hamlet's authenticity. So, in 1989 when this property came up for sale, I knew I had to have it. It took over two years to complete the restoration of the apartment. We were careful in keeping the authenticity of its architectural makeup but at the same time wanted to give it a bit of modernity.

What makes this Apartment unique

The views from our master bedroom are simply breathtaking. Every time I open the bifora window in our bedroom, or walk out onto the cozy rooftop terrace, a smile crosses my lips... 'this is Tuscany,' I think. I am truly blessed to have relocated to this enchanting corner of the globe some four decades ago.