Best. Week. Ever.

The year 2011 was going to be a year of celebration for our family. My parents in New Jersey were having their 50th wedding anniversary. My husband was turning 50. My son was turning 16. My sister and husband in India were going to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. My brother’s family in Michigan had many milestones to celebrate. When we met the previous Thanksgiving weekend, I proposed that we all go to Italy, rent a villa, and celebrate all our milestones together as a family.

Everyone agreed. I had already done my research on the easyreserve.com site on villas in Tuscany that could accommodate our 13 family members. We finally decided on the Fonte Al’Oppio nestled in Pienza, Italy. It had 4 separate apartments, perfect for our 4 families, a private swimming pool overlooking the Tuscan hills, and from what I could guess from the photographs, an incredible view.

We all arrived in Rome on separate flights and met at the villa. The week was filled with family outings to Florence, Siena, Perugia, Montepulciano, and of course, Pienza at the top of the hill. One day, the entire family enjoyed a competitive and fun-filled game of Marco Polo in the swimming pool. We visited the historic town of Pienza on several occasions, enjoying gelato and espresso in the café near the central plaza.

Every evening, we cooked and/or ate as a family, enjoying the fresh produce, bread, and olives of Tuscany. After dinner, we would watch movies projected onto the kitchen wall or played games. My brother, the entertainment coordinator, had even created a customized Jeopardy game involving family-related trivia.

We still recall that week with fondness and will always cherish the experience. It was the first and perhaps the last time that the entire family was together—a true bonding experience.