FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

At what time should we arrive and depart?
Arrival time 16.00 if you arrive after 19.00 please telephone
Departure time 10.00 am
Can you help with travel arrangements?
For help on travel arrangements by car, by plane or by train select Reach Tuscany from the home page.
Are the prices per person or per apartment?
The price displayed are per apartment.
Are linen and towels provided or do I need to bring my own?
Yes linen and towels are provided and included in the price displayed, bring your own pool towel.
Is the central heating included in the price?
No, the central heating is charged on consumption when required.
Is there a swimming pool?
Yes, there is a heated pool of 14x7 meters open from Easter to October
Is there a telephone, fax, email connection available?
Yes, there is a telephone available. A fax and Internet cafe are available in the nearby town of Greve.
Are there local grocery stores?
Yes within  a 5 minute drive. 
How far are the airports?
Florence 45 minutes, Pisa 1 1/2 hours, Bologna 1 1/2 hours, Rome 3 hours.
When do I get road directions?
Directions are provided with your final confirmation, after full payment is received.
Where do I find the directions?
The directions can be found as a link on your final confirmation email. They can also be accessed by logging into your booking details using your useremail and password.

LA TANA HISTORY
The original La Tana was roughly a third of its current size and was part of the La Corte Estate, which was a farming estate.  It is thought that the property was originally either a lodge for huntsmen or for shepherds.  This oldest section can still be identified within the current structure as the middle section that is slightly lower than the buildings added either side of it in later centuries.  La Tana, as the hunting or shepherds lodge shows on maps from the 14th Century.
The link to the hunting and to the shepherds is in the name – La Tana means the wolves’ den or lair.  Huntsmen frequented the area to shoot these animals and shepherds were also needed in the area to protect the livestock from the wolves.
Huntsmen can still be seen in the area during the months of November to January, which is the wild boar season – there are no longer wolves.  As a thank you to the owners of La Tana for allowing the huntsmen to effectively ‘trespass’ on their property during ‘the season’, a gift of a wild boar for roasting is given.
The next addition to the lodge was in the 17th Century when it was extended into a farmhouse – this is the two thirds of the house nearest to the swimming pool.
The last addition to the property was in 1850 when the front part and last side of the house was added.
The current owners Aunt lived in the Arezzo area of Italy in the 1930s when she was working for the British Institute.  The owner used to visit regularly with her Aunt and whilst studying architecture in the 1950s she spent a lot of time in Italy.   One of their favourite places to visit together was the market held in Greve on Saturday mornings, this is where the owners love of this particular part of Italy came from and when, in 1999, she was looking for a property to buy as a family home, she happened upon La Tana one rainy day and decided to buy it there and then.
The attached Granary was used to dry grapes and hay and where the windows now are, were originally airbricks for ventilation.  The previous owner was granted permission to remove the crossed X-shaped terracotta bricks and replace them with windows, something that would never be granted now.
The previous owner had used the villa as three separate dwellings, but the current owner easily changed this so that the family had a large farmhouse to all live together in.  There are photo albums in the living room where you can see some of the changes that have taken place at the villa over the years.
On a clear day, it is possible to see the towers of San Gimignano in the distance.  Buzzards, deer, wild boar and many species of butterfly are regularly seen at La Tana as it is in a secluded spot surrounded by woodlands (also part of the property).
There are many reference books and guides that the owner would encourage you to use during your stay and she also recommends visiting the Salorni butchers in Greve which is over 150 years old and also has a great selection of cheeses and also the famous Dario Cecchini Butchers in Panzano where Elton John once paid £5000 for a T-bone steak (for charity of course).  He also runs a restaurant on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.