1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Picking the juiciest oranges I've ever come across from the trees outside our cottage, cycling round the medieval city walls of Lucca, eating too much ice cream, looking down onto San Gimignano from one of the towers, the kids climbing olive trees in the grove around the cottage....I can't choose just one!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

This is a wonderful place for a family holiday. Luisa, Colin and their son Max (the family who own the two holiday cottages on the farm) are wonderfully generous and welcoming people, and we really enjoyed staying with them. The views from the cottage are amazing - throw open the shutters in the morning and gaze across the olive groves to the valley below with the leaning tower of Pisa in the distance - just fantastic! The olive grove was a wonderful place for the kids to play - climbing trees, playing games, letting off steam and seeing nature close-up. The farm is midway between Pisa and Lucca, both about 20 mins drive away. We enjoyed exploring both, but especially Lucca, which had an amazing atmosphere (despite a lack of parking spaces!). Renting bicycles for a lap of the city walls was a perfect way to spend the afternoon for adults and kids alike!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

The cottages have solar panels on the roof; the water comes from a private spring; fruit (amazing oranges!), salad and herbs are available to be picked by guests from the gardens; and the waste is re-cycled, so hopefully the environmental impact is as small as possible. We certainly ate-out a lot in small, family-owned restaurants.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

The holiday was just what we were looking for. The cottage was wonderful - perched on a steep hillside (6 hairpin bends to negotiate on the way up through the olive grove!) with fantastic views. The children were constantly entertained by the nature around them. The accommodation made a practical base for exploring northern Tuscany, with Pisa and Lucca very close by. Florence was only an hour away by toll-road. We also did a couple of day-trips to Vinci and San Gimignano (worth it, despite being quite a long drive).

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

We went this Easter with our one and five year olds. We loved watching our children running around the yard and olive groves, playing with Max and his friends and listening to the bells ringing form down below. Eating out in the sunshine and walking up the olive groves through the wild flowers were especially memorable. The farmhouse is in a great location to visit Pisa, Lucca and Florence. We really felt that we were able to relax and chill out for the week.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Transport is pretty essential. We hired a car from Pisa airport and drove there which took about 30 mins. Be aware that the driveway is steep and has 5 hairpin bends. our car coped well but a think that in bigger cars it can be a little hairy!! We were glad to arrive during the daytime! However - do not let this put you off. You gain some serious height and therefore get fabulous views down to Pisa, the surrounding countryside and ill and even the sea.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

The owners are very much part of the local community, and they run the farmhouse and land as ecologically as possible.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

A lovely escape to a fabulous region of Italy. The owners are very kind, friendly and accommodating. They have a special kind of energy - and lots of it which makes the stay so much more comfortable. The actual accommodation is very generous in size and very well equipped including an outside pizza oven and open fire in the kitchen. In the summer there is a pool which the children must adore. We would recommend visiting in spring/early summer if you have little children as the wild flowers are at their best and the temperatures are warm enough to eat outside but cool enough to enjoy visiting Florence, Pisa and Lucca.