Toronto couple turns centuries old farmhouse into a stunning Tuscan villa

If you're ever in the mood to ditch the noisy streets of Toronto for the sun-soaked serenity of Tuscany, there's a hot new property you'll want to bookmark with a strong local connection.

Nestled in the rolling hills of Castellina in Chianti – the area known for its world-famous wine — this newly renovated luxury villa belongs to Toronto couple Peter Kalen and Serena Ho Kalen, who initially purchased the property in 2012 and began its transformation in 2023.

Rather than opting for a traditional engagement gift like jewelry, Peter made a move that would make any romantic swoon: he bought the villa and named it after his fiancée. Originally called Podere Isola (meaning "farm island" in Italian), the estate became what is now known as Isola Serena.

"This amazing, incredible place became our most favourite in the world to travel to together," Serena tells blogTO about Italy, and now she wants Isola Serena to be a home away from home for other Canadian travellers.

It's hard to imagine that this stunning, sprawling property set on four acres of land was, as Serena recalls, "literally just rocks on the ground" when they first laid eyes on it, over a decade ago. As they explored further, Serena discovered something quite remarkable about the land now in their possession.

"We found that this farmhouse ruin was actually part of a castle that dated all the way back to 1077, so we thought that was so unique, it provided all this character to this property," she explains.

A lot of blood, sweat, tears – and, yes, a lot of money – went into zhuzhing up this villa. But back when they first bought the property, Peter admits they got lucky.

"We picked it up for around half a million euros [C$640,000, roughly]. I honestly didn't know what I was getting into. I had a really good Italian day at the bank, and they gave me a renovation loan that helped get things moving," he says. "At first, it was just enough to fix up the main house. Since then, we've poured a lot into it, so it's worth way more now — plus all the sweat equity."

Aside from all the luxe upgrades like the two extra guest rooms and the infinity pool, the real showstopper is the view.

"That's the thing that really takes your breath away," Serena says. "It really grounds you, resets you and recharges you when you are sitting on that terrace and looking out at these panoramic views that don't even look real."

But as dreamy as the views are, you haven't seen the inside yet.

The 5,700-square-foot villa, which they call a "self-contained private resort," boasts 10 bedrooms, each with its own ensuite, plus two additional bathrooms throughout the property.

Every piece of furniture is either imported from Italy or custom-made locally, so the interiors feel authentically Tuscan.  

On the main floor, features include exposed wooden ceiling beams, terracotta tile floors, and soft, ambient lighting from hanging fixtures.

Isola Serena is so big, the owners pretty much call it a "self-contained private resort." It's got a lot of amenities on the property, including a children's playground, multiple BBQ areas, a gym, and a fully-equipped kitchen where you can channel your inner Italian chef. 

For the past two years, Peter and Serena worked with local contractors to build two new guest houses so that large groups vacationing have enough space to relax and sleep comfortably. The newly designed suites are named after their children, Oliver and Mateo.

With capacity for up to 23 guests, Peter notes that the revamped villa is ideal for family reunions, birthdays, weddings and other celebrations. Beyond personal events, the property is versatile and perfectly suited for corporate retreats and even a backdrop for reality TV (hello, Real Housewives!).

A lot of us, myself included, dream of one day owning an investment property, like the Kalens', in a faraway country of sentimental value. 

Peter says it can be "a lot of effort for the return," but if it's a place you love — even if it's a chalet in Whistler or a cottage in Muskoka — it's worth it. As he puts it, "put a foothold there," especially as more people are valuing experiences these days.

Isola Serena is available for booking through third-party sites like Expedia and VRBO, as well as the owners' official website. Weekly rates start at $28,000 (if you're booking with 14 other friends, that's just $1,866.67 per person. Not too shabby!) 

Already, the summer months are almost fully booked. But luckily, Italy is just as beautiful of a visit in the fall. Buon viaggio!