Case Valdesi Casa Cares: peaceful oasis in the green for groups

Among olive trees, woods and vineyards just 35 km from Florence

A place devoted to hosting groups just 35 kilometers from Florence: among olive groves, woods and vineyards, stands an ancient villa that, for over thirty years, has been hosting Casa Cares. It sounds like the beginning of a fairy tale and, in a way, a good (true) story it is.

The mansion

Villa I Graffi sinks its foundations into the fertile soil on the slopes of Pratomagno, overlooking Valdarno and the Chianti hills.

The surrounding nature

Casa Cares, one of the Waldensian Church’s vacation homes, is based in the villa, which in turn is located within a park with cultivated terraces:

• 700 olive trees from which we get an excellent extra virgin oil
• a zero-mile organic garden that, in every season, supplies the kitchen with fresh produce (to the delight of our guests)
• medicinal and aromatic plants
• an orchard boasting some 40 trees of ancient and native varieties
• a small forest that gives us wood for the fireplaces in the villa and the adjacent farmhouse
• a chicken coop
• numerous nooks and crannies carved out in the green, where you can take refuge to recharge your batteries in contemplation of the Tuscan landscape. Yes, the very one known throughout the world.

This picturesque place is the ideal starting point for those who want to go on excursions to protected natural areas, such as the Balze, the Forest of St. Anthony and the Vallombrosa Reserve. A place where groups are able to spend moments of true harmony.

Groups, but not only

The doors of Casa Cares are open to anyone and everyone: families, singles, couples and groups.

In particular, groups seeking a quiet place that conveys positivity and promotes concentration, meditation, cohesion and sharing will find their ideal temporary home here.

Among our guests we count schools of translation, yoga, shiatsu and art; orchestras and choirs; within the walls of Casa Cares and in the beautiful theater (former chapel of the villa), courses and conferences are organized; in a family atmosphere we welcome groups of friends to celebrate an anniversary, celebrate a wedding or, simply, have fun in close contact with an almost unspoiled nature.

As with the other Waldensian Houses, the activities of Casa Cares are non-profit but are aimed at supporting social projects promoted by the Waldensian Diaconia.

In the recent past, the facility hosted refugees and asylum seekers who arrived in Italy thanks to the Humanitarian Corridors, organized under the project called Mediterranean Hope.

In the day-to-day management of the work, Casa Cares relies on the cooperation of volunteers, who work alongside a close-knit and motivated staff, ensuring top-quality service.

Casa Cares has 11 rooms with bathroom (2 to 5 beds), 8 rooms with shared bathroom every two or three rooms (2 to 4 beds), for a total of 58 beds. 2 apartments located in the farmhouse we referred to above should be added, for an additional 15 beds.

Common spaces are available for group activities.

Sometimes pictures speak more than a thousand words, so we wanted to give you a preview of the latest video shot at Casa Cares. To give you a taste of the atmosphere that could become the leitmotif of your next stay in Tuscany.