The former one-room school at the summit of the hill, with an unmatched view of the skyline stretching to the coast. A paved shaded terrace, a fireplace, and a 32 m² upper bedroom where the classroom once stood.
Val di Cecina — Tuscany, Italy
A hamlet drawn
by Leonardo,
still standing.
Seven stone houses on a hilltop above the Cecina valley. A church, bread ovens, a century-old olive tree, and twenty kilometres of silence. Mentioned by Leonardo da Vinci in 1503.
Scroll
The hamlet
Tuscan holidays in an ancient village
The Gello hamlet, part of the Municipality of Montecatini Val di Cecina, was already mentioned in a Leonardo da Vinci map in 1503. Nine stone houses, a church with its bell tower and a small school rest on top of the hill. Among the houses grows a group of centennial cypress trees, farm fields and woods surround the hill, and the sea can be seen less than twenty kilometres away.
Case di Gello offers four rural, carefully furnished and renovated houses, each equipped with heating, wood-burning fireplaces, private terraces and a shared swimming pool with a view. The mild climate makes it a destination for all seasons - and an environment particularly suited to families with children.
Discover all houses →
Photo: Aia Meccanica Photography
7
Stone houses
17×6m
Shared pool
20km
To the sea
1503
On Leonardo's map
4
Seasons open
The story
In 1503, Leonardo put us on the map.
The dominant position of Gello and the circular arrangement of its buildings indicate that it was founded centuries before that. The town already existed in the Middle Ages, and the first map it appears on is Leonardo da Vinci's cartographic survey of the Val di Cecina (Windsor Royal Library 12683), where Gello is clearly marked.
"The etymology of the name Gello comes from Agellum, the Latin diminutive for Ager - field, or little field - hinting at its even more ancient origins."
Only one house, Casa dell'Arco, carries a definite date: a fireplace stone marked with the symbol of La Rocchetta and the year 1790. The land registry of 1821 still shows the old layout - a different Gello, before the arch existed.
By 1963, after the agricultural reforms of the 1950s had severed the borgo from its farmland, Gello was abandoned. The entire village was purchased by the current owners, who spent decades restoring it in the most non-invasive way: reusing original terracotta floors, alabaster stone architraves, chestnut beams, and cypress-wood windows pruned from their own trees.
Read the full history →
Leonardo da Vinci, Val di Cecina survey, 1503 - Windsor Royal Library 12683
Original facade colouring project, 1906
Land registry of Montecatini Valdicecina, 1821
The houses
Seven stone houses, one hill.
The largest house, closing the cypress grove to the north. Two terraces, a wood-burning brick oven, three bedrooms and a generous fireplace living room. Built and rebuilt with recovered alabaster stone, chestnut beams, and old terracotta floors.
Most popular
A two-floor farmhouse overlooking the central piazza, next to the old olive tree. Two fireplaces, a terrace shaded by acacia, three French-size bedrooms and the coolest position in summer - no air conditioning needed.
On request
The oldest house, dated by a fireplace stone to 1790 - once the village emporium. Three floors, a canopy master bed, a library with two sofa beds, and a grassy space shaded by a fig tree out front. Available limited seasons.
A single-level house with a small terrace between two low walls, shaded by the olive tree. A grand fireplace with masonry stoves, a Carrara marble kitchen, and two bedrooms - one with a view of the olive grove.
A compact cottage on the sunset side, designed for shorter stays. A private terrace shaded by wild figs, a wood-burning fireplace, a French-window living room and an antique curved iron bed. Terracotta floors throughout.
~90 m² across three rooms: a library with fireplace, a children's play and music area, and a studio with tables. Free and unlimited for all Gello guests; available for seminars and private events by arrangement.
Rent the whole hamlet
Weddings, retreats, family reunions.
All seven houses together sleep up to 28 guests, with Il Laboratorio as the shared gathering space. Centennial cypresses, two bread ovens, and three kilometres of gravel road leading only here. Available for exclusive week-long bookings from May to October.
Enquire about full-hamlet stays →The Hamlet from Above
Explore the hamlet
Hover over any building to discover it - click to learn more.
The panoramic swimming pool
17 metres of water. On the horizon, the sea.
Built in 2021, the shared 17×6 m pool sits within the enclosed pastures 100 metres from the central lawn, surrounded by alabaster boulders and natural vegetation. Shared between Casedigello and Fattoria Antaura guests, and fenced for privacy.
Explore the pool →What to do in Gello
You will not run out of things to do. Or not do.
From mountain bikes to Etruscan ruins, natural river pools to the Tyrrhenian coast - Gello sits within reach of a remarkable range of landscapes and experiences.
🚴
Cycling
Shaded tortuous roads unsuitable for fast cars but perfect for cyclists. Ring routes to Montecatini Val di Cecina or the climb to Volterra. Four MTBs with child seats available free of charge.
🏖️
Beach & water
Marina di Castagneto Carducci and Marina di Bibbona within 30 km. Natural river pools at Masso delle Fanciulle/Masso degli Specchi, 20 minutes away. Thermal baths at Sasso Pisano or Casciana Terme in cooler months.
🏛️
Museums & towns
Volterra with its Roman theatre (35 km), the Mining Museum in Montecatini Val di Cecina, San Gimignano, Colle Val d'Elsa. Florence, Pisa and Siena within 90 minutes by car.
🥾
Walking
Forest paths connect Gello to the nearest centres on foot. If you feel too tired to return, call us - someone will come to pick you up.
👧
Children welcome
Bicycles and tricycles of all sizes, inflatable pools, a tree platform, toys. Stroller, changing table, cot and high chair on request. Gello is genuinely suited to families with young children.
🌿
Doing nothing
Our most coveted specialty. Comfortable sofas, deckchairs in the shade, hammocks under the cypresses in strategically ventilated spots. A library to explore at your own pace.
From the archive
A family, a bookmark, and seventy years of stories.
The owners have compiled a family book documenting the history and restoration of the Gello hamlet - available for guests to read in Il Laboratorio. A curated book exchange is also maintained: take a book, leave a book.
We also offer a hand-printed bookmark, made at Gello, which you can request by email or download from our website. A small object, made in a place that takes slow reading seriously.
Download the bookmark →
The family history book
The free bookmark at Il Laboratorio
What guests say
Verified reviews from
Booking.com & Airbnb
9.2
/ 10
Booking.com · Eccellente
4.92
/ 5
Airbnb · average across houses
“
Case di Gello is an absolute Tuscan gem, set in the most peaceful, postcard-perfect setting imaginable. The hosts were incredibly welcoming, and the views were simply breathtaking.
Evgenii · Poland
July 2025
10 / 10
“
Wonderful place immersed in the Tuscan hills with a fantastic pool. Peace and total relaxation. The house is very beautiful, fully equipped, and impeccably clean. We will definitely return.
In italiano
Posto meraviglioso immerso nelle colline toscane con una piscina fantastica. Pace e totale relax. La casa molto molto bella, completa di tutto l'occorrente, e pulizia ottimale. Torneremo sicuramente.
Patrick · Italy
August 2024
10 / 10
“
It was magnificent. The antique furniture adds undeniable charm to these beautifully restored old buildings. The views all around are breathtaking and peaceful. The pool is excellent too.
En français
C'était magnifique. Le mobilier ancien ajoute un charme indéniable à ces vieilles bâtisses bien remises à neuf. La vue tout autour est magnifique et paisible. La piscine est au top aussi.
Marie · Belgium
August 2025
10 / 10
“
Truly special and far from the ordinary. Fantastic atmosphere. Incredibly friendly and uncomplicated hosts.
Auf Deutsch
Sehr besonders und weit ab vom alltäglichen. Fantastisches Ambiente. Unglaublich nette und unkomplizierte Betreuung.
Markus · Germany
July 2024
10 / 10
“
Silence and peace, with beautiful views. Swimming in the pool at sunset - fabulous. Rustic interiors in the typical Tuscan style. The service - brilliant. We recommend it wholeheartedly.
Po polsku
Cisza, spokój w towarzystwie pięknych widoków. Kąpiel w basenie o zachodzie słońca - bajecznie. Rustykalne wnętrza w typowej dla Toskanii zabudowie. Obsługa - genialna. Polecamy z całego serca.
Marzena · Poland
September 2023
10 / 10
“
Fantastic location and the hosts are super kind and helpful. Every small problem that arose - for example when we couldn't turn off a tap - was solved incredibly quickly and with a smile.
På dansk
Fantastisk beliggenhed og værtsparret er supersøde og hjælpsomme. De enkelte problemer som opstod blev løst superhurtigt og med et smil.
Helle · Denmark
July 2025
10 / 10
Frequently asked questions
Prices include use of water, power, and final housekeeping. Two additional charges apply: (1) Gas consumption from heating and hot water is measured on the individual meter at arrival and departure and billed at the local supplier price - in the coldest months approximately €15–20/day depending on the house. (2) A local tourist tax of €1.50 per person per night applies for the first 7 nights, for guests over 12 years of age (children 12 and under are exempt). The tourist tax is collected in cash upon arrival and is a municipal requirement of the Montecatini Val di Cecina Township.
Yes. All cottages come with sheets, blankets, towels, tablecloths and dishcloths. Kitchens are fully equipped including a dishwasher, and stocked with basic ingredients (sugar, salt, coffee, pasta) and a small selection of local produce. Please bring your own beach towel or ask us for a specific one.
Yes. In 2021 we completed a 17×6 m pool (1.40 m depth) located 100 metres from the central lawn in a shared area with Fattoria Antaura. The pool is fenced and seasonally open depending on the climate of each year.
18 km east, about 20 minutes by car. A wide range of beaches - with and without bathing facilities - is available along the coastline between Rosignano and Bolgheri. The Gulf of Baratti is 40 minutes away.
Two washing machines and a tumble dryer are available in a shared common area for all guests.
Casedigello is a registered tourist residence recognised by the Tuscany Region, listed on the Region's official website and that of Montecatini Val di Cecina Township. It is a registered commercial activity at the Chamber of Commerce in Pisa. The experience is effectively that of an agriturismo - entirely self-catering, no meals provided, but we can help with everything.
In Ponteginori, 5 km away, you will find a bakery, grocer, newspaper stand, tobacco shop, pharmacy and petrol station. Larger towns with supermarkets are within 15–20 minutes.
It is so quiet you can hear the small local train passing 3 km away. Nightlife is not our forte - but then, you did want to rest. There are hammocks under the cypresses.
How to get here
A hill above the sea, twenty minutes inland.
From the coast (Livorno highway)
Exit at Cecina Nord. Take SR68 toward Volterra for approx. 15 km, through Casino di Terra. After a second blue "GELLO 3" sign, turn left and follow a road flanked by cypresses uphill for 2.5 km, past three farmhouses. At the top take the red gravel road left. After a wide U-turn, reach the dead end at Casa dell'Arco. Walk through the archway.
From Florence (A1 highway)
Exit at Colle Val d'Elsa. Take SR68 through Volterra, Saline di Volterra and Ponteginori. 4 km after Ponteginori, turn right at the blue "GELLO 3" sign. Follow the cypress-lined road uphill. We recommend ignoring GPS for the last kilometre.
GPS coordinates
43.345316, 10.703424
Pisa airport
80 km
Florence airport
110 km
Cecina station
18 km
Livorno station
40 km
Sea
18 km
Volterra
25 km
frazione Gello, 56040 Montecatini Val di Cecina (Pisa) · GPS 43.345316, 10.703424