Villas in Palaia
Palaia works for families and groups who want a private pool in quiet farming country south-east of Pisa. Nearly all the homes here have a pool and a garden, and many sleep six or more, but you will drive to reach anything.
- Villas
- 21
- From, per week
- £334
About Palaia
Palaia is a hill village in the Valdera, in the province of Pisa, standing at about 240 metres. Its origins go back to the 4th century BC, and the castle, first recorded in 986, was fought over by Pisa, Florence and Lucca. The 13th and 14th centuries were its high point. The Church of San Martino, completed in 1279, stands outside the walls, and a clock tower in the centre was once a civic gate. The municipality includes villages such as Montefoscoli and San Gervasio, which have small museums on Pisan farming life, and Toiano, now uninhabited. Walking, cycling and riding routes cross the countryside. The homes are spread across a few kilometres, nearly all with a private pool, most with a garden, and many with a fireplace. A typical one sleeps six, and some sleep much more.
Is Palaia right for you?
- Best for
- Groups wanting pool-and-garden days in quiet farming country
- Not for you if
- You want the sea or restaurants on foot, as this is rural hill country where you drive everywhere.
Near Palaia
San Miniato
A hill town on the Via Francigena, a few kilometres from Palaia.
Pisa
About 30 km north-west, the usual route in and out for flights and the Leaning Tower.
Florence
About 45 km north-east of Palaia, within day-trip range by car.
Montefoscoli and San Gervasio
Two villages in the municipality with museums on Pisan farming life and rural civilisation.
Getting to Palaia
Pisa airport is the one to use, and the drive takes around 50 minutes. Public transport means a train from Pisa Centrale to San Romano-Montopoli-Santa Croce followed by a taxi, which takes closer to an hour and a half. Hire a car for the whole stay.
When to go to Palaia
Summer brings open-air theatre, music and opera evenings around the village, and the pool is the main event. Autumn is truffle season: white truffles ripen from September to December and Forcoli holds a truffle and porcini exhibition every October. Winter is quiet, and the fireplace that many homes have is more use than the pool.
Villas in Palaia
2-Bedroom Home, Palaia
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
6
2
0
Air ConBBQParking+7 more
2-Bedroom Home, Palaia
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
4
2
0
BBQParkingDishwasher+8 more
4-star property
2-Bedroom Home, Palaia
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
4
2
0
Air ConBBQParking+11 more
2-Bedroom Home, Palaia
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
6
2
0
Air ConBBQParking+10 more
from£236
per night
1-Bedroom Home, Palaia
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
1
1
0
Air ConBBQParking+8 more
4-Bedroom Home, Palaia
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
8
4
0
Air ConBBQParking+7 more
7-Bedroom Home, Palaia
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
16
7
0
BBQParkingDishwasher+10 more
11-Bedroom Home, Palaia
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
22
11
0
BBQParkingDishwasher+9 more
4-star property
Podere Rasenna
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
9
5
0
BBQDishwasherFireplace+11 more
3-star property
Mattonai
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
9
4
0
BBQDishwasherFireplace+11 more
from£142
per night
5-star property
2-Bedroom Home, Palaia
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
6
2
0
Air ConBBQDishwasher+9 more
from£199
per night
3-star property
Carbonaia (PAA134)
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
5
2
0
FireplaceGardenParking+6 more
from£59
per night
4-star property
Fienile (PAA132)
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
3
1
0
GardenParkingPool+6 more
from£50
per night
4-star property
Favilli (PAA130)
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
9
4
0
FireplaceGardenParking+8 more
from£103
per night
4-star property
Carbonaia (PAA133)
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
4
1
0
FireplaceGardenParking+6 more
from£53
per night
3-star property
Casottino (PAA131)
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
2
1
0
GardenParkingPool+5 more
from£48
per night
4-star property
Terra Bianca (PAA136)
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
9
3
0
FireplaceGardenParking+6 more
from£87
per night
5-star property
2-Bedroom Home, Palaia
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
4
2
0
Air ConBBQParking+9 more
from£90
per night
10-Bedroom Home, Palaia
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
22
10
0
Air ConBBQParking+11 more
3-star property
di Alica
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
4
1
0
DishwasherParkingPool+6 more
from£52
per night
3-star property
di Alica
Palaia, Lucca, Pisa and surroundings, Italy
2
1
0
ParkingPoolFridge+3 more
from£51
per nightPalaia villa holidays: questions answered
Is Palaia good for a large group?
Yes, if you want space. Many homes here sleep six or more and some sleep far more, and nearly all have a private pool and garden. Isolation is the cost: shops and restaurants usually mean getting in a car.
How far is Palaia from Pisa?
About 30 km. By road that is around 50 minutes from Pisa airport. Florence is about 45 km away, so both cities work as day trips from a base in the hills.
When is truffle season near Palaia?
White truffles ripen from September to December. The Truffle and Porcini Mushroom Exhibition at Forcoli, in the Palaia area, has been held each October for more than 30 years.
What is there to see in Palaia itself?
The medieval centre has a clock tower that was once a civic gate, the Palazzo Comunale on Piazza della Repubblica, and the 13th-century Church of San Martino outside the walls. The countryside has walking and cycling routes.
Is there anything to do in Palaia in the evening?
Summer brings theatre, music and opera nights in the area, and Montefoscoli hosts a peasant-culture festival. Outside those weeks evenings are quiet and mostly spent at the home.
Nearby towns to Palaia
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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