Our stay in the treehouse was a delight – it feels very much like a boutique hotel, except for the being surrounded by the Tuscan countryside – magnificent! We had a hire car, which I strongly recommend, as the drive from Florence to Casa Barthel is stunning. The Tuscan countryside is breathtaking as you wind your way up the hill. The treehouse itself looks out over the olive groves on the property and neighboring farms in the distance. You can also see Florence if you walk to the side of the property a little.

As we wanted to try lots of good Italian food during our stay we didn't make use of the kitchenette (Except for some espresso) and drove 20 min to a restaurant outside of Florence for dinner. There are some closer options in neighboring towns but again, we were glad to have the car as none were particularly walkable.

We stayed during late November so it was definitely cold but the treehouse was warm enough even with all those windows! We didn't really see anyone during our stay – the property is remarkably quiet. Elena was a friendly and welcoming host, and I hope to stay here again one day in the future.