We collect reviews directly from our clients via email and publish them here. We hope you enjoy reading through them as much as we do, they are a paper trail of happy memories!
We also have reviews on UpFront and on our Google page
Reviews
What our customers have said
Fagiano
“ A magical place to stay, unwind and enjoy the Chianti region with a group of friends or family. ”
Recently renovated and beautifully furnished house in quiet and picturesque location. Every bedroom had ensuite bathroom. Very thoughtful inclusions for use by guests including a welcome food hamper, bottled water, laundry detergent and other household consumables. Very friendly and responsive host who was available to assist and responded quickly to our requests.
Juliet, Australia staying in Borgo Castello. Oct 2024
Fagiano
“ Mr B ”
everything has been absolutely fantastic. nothing could be better xxxxxcxxxxxxxxxxccccxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bendt & family from Denmark staying in Borgo Castello. Jul 2024
Cardo
“ Very comfortable ”
We felt very comfortable in the apartment Cardo. The equipment is simple but functional. In the kitchen is everything you need for daily use. Sunbeds and umbrellas are available in sufficient numbers by the pool.
Stefan P. staying in Cardo. Aug 2022
Pinolo
“ Idyllic location ”
We had a very good stay in Pinolo. The location was perfect, we could walk into the beautiful village of Casole d'Elsa. There was a community supermarket very close opposite the petrol station which had everything you could want. 2 butchers in the village. Great restaurants and bar. We particularly like the little balcony where we ate supper, very private. We thought it was a great base to explore all the places of interest, Volterra, San Gimignano and Siena by bus from Colle di Val D'Elsa was so easy. Our host provided us with the timetable and all the info we needed. They couldn't have been more accommodating. We will recommend to our friends and family.
Alli Scott staying in Pinolo. Sep 2025
Pinolo
“ Lovely time in Casole d'Elsa ”
We had a really lovely time in Casole d’Elsa albeit extremely hot with the heatwave Europe is experiencing. Having a swimming pool was a must and greatly enjoyed. Seeing Elvira at nearly 90 years of age still looking so healthy and definitely the loved matriarch of the family was really lovely. I couldn’t understand a word she said but she was very welcoming as was her daughter-in-law, Katia who now manages the place. She even made us a cake which was so, so lovely😊
We did notice a few changes in the village although I would agree it still offers that authentic charm. We enjoyed walking into the village every day for a morning coffee. We really liked the Ristorante Pizzeria il Porrina – nice reasonably priced meals and the Ristorante Pizzeria il Colombaio di Cipressina (sit on the terrace so you get the view).
We have now experienced 3 of the 4 accommodation options at Agresto and each has their own charm. Loved the space of and the views from first floor Pinolo and the coolness of Rustico which was on the cooler side of the house. The layout of Rustico was certainly a bit different with no lounge other than the couch situated in 1 of the bedrooms and the ‘throne’ and shower at the top of stairs in the bathroom. Of the 2 options Pinolo would be our pick of the 2 bedroom options due to its layout and views. We got to see the new addition to the accommodation options (Mandorlo) – which is a lovely modern tastefully done 1 bedroom apartment on the ground floor which as ideal for a couple
Larkins from NZ staying in Pinolo. Jun 2025
Pinolo
“ Fabulous property in Tuscany ”
This was our second trip to stay near beautiful Casole d'Elsa - and this time at Pinolo just outside of the village. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there. The property was just beautiful and just what we wanted. Very peaceful and quiet - with wonderful views and a great pool to enjoy. We spent time relaxing at the property, walking the gentle walk into the village for coffee or meals - and also driving to nearby villages for further exploration. Pinolo met all of our needs and more - it exceeded our expectations. We even had the lovely caretakers leave us a freshly made tart one day to add to the wonderful experience. We would highly recommend this property and would stay there again.
Jason and Renee, UK staying in Pinolo. Oct 2024
Pinolo
“ A very pleasant apartment on an Agriturismo within walking distance of the village. ”
We enjoyed our stay at Pinolo. Well equipped apartment with amazing views and Katia was an excellent host. Within walking distance of the lovely village of Casole D’Elsa and there is a nice bar serving great pizzas even closer. There is an excellent pool and well equipped outside seating areas so you can relax after a day sightseeing in this superb area.
Drew, UK staying in Pinolo. Sep 2024
Pinolo
“ Lovely country location ”
Pinolo is situated in a beautiful picturesque location. It's an easy walk to the village (learning about the lift to the top of the town early is essential!). The setting is gorgeous with a lovely pool and countryside around. The accommodation itself seems a little tired in terms of furnishings, appliances and utensils and the bathroom is definitely utilitarian but if you don't mind quaint then this will be fine for you. Unfortunately the pool towels we had requested (and paid for) weren't left for us, and the single bed in the second bedroom wasn't made up (again as requested). These were attended once we raised it. All in all we had a lovely stay at Pinolo and would love to return - ideally after a bit of an upgrade of facilities.
Vincent from NZ staying in Pinolo. Jun 2023
Pinolo
“ Another glorious week! ”
My sister, a friend and I spent another wonderfully relaxing week here. We had stayed here last year and couldn't wait to return. Thank you to Katia and family for making us so welcome again. The wine that they produced was delicious and it was so nice to have the chance to try it. We had inadvertently timed our stay during the local Palio so we were able to enjoy the festivities too! I couldn't imagine a better location to stay as not only is it peaceful with beautiful views towards SAN GIMIGNANO , but it is a short walk into the little town of Casole d'Elsa which was a favourite place for morning coffee and breakfast. The kitchen facilities in the apartment are perfect which also enabled us to prepare simple lunches before returning to the beautiful pool.
We definitely plan to return to Pinolo and find it difficult to make any suggestions which could improve our stay next time !(perhaps bigger, softer pillows?)
Claudine & friends from UK staying in Pinolo. Jul 2023
Pinolo
“ Being able to walk into Casole D’Elsa is a big bonus ”
Had a great last minute stay in Pinolo and received fabulous service from Dan – he came up with exactly what we were looking for. The apartment is in a superb location – being able to walk into Casole D’Elsa is a big bonus plus there are lots of great restaurants to choose from. There is also a supermarket within walking distance that is well stocked (not obvious from the road that it is actually a supermarket!). Apartment is well kept and has everything you need (no oven so need to bear that in mind) and has great views. The pool area is another added bonus. Overall this is a great base to visit the beautiful Tuscan countryside.
C.S. and family staying in Pinolo. Sep 2020
Pinolo
“ A peaceful, tranquil and restful stay in Tuscany ”
Our second stay at Pinolo only confirmed what we always felt about the place, the location, accommodation and amenities are, without doubt, exactly what is required for a peaceful, tranquil and restful stay in Tuscany. The first floor entrance is adjacent to the rear door to the owners accommodation and their kindness and generosity of spirit was wonderful, they gave us homemade cake, wine and ice creams and were always on hand for help and advice. The kitchen could perhaps do with being a little better equipped and the size of the drinking glasses a little small for beer drinkers, but on a score from 100 we would give it 99.5!
C.B. and family, UK staying in Pinolo. Jun 2013
Pinolo
“ ...everything one would need for a holiday ”
Stayed at Pinolo in Casole d'Elsa - good sized apartment for 4 people, very clean and tidy and everything one would need for a holiday. Pool was a nice size with plenty of loungers/ seats around - and my favourite, a hammock hanging between 2 olive trees! 5 mins walk to nearest pizza house (which did pastries for breakfast too) and the local produce stocked supermarket and about a 15 mins walk to the town - which is beautiful with a good handful of restaurants and bars. Invitation to Tuscany - Very helpful in terms of booking and finding us something that would suit us and our small-ish children. Would highly recommend
H.B. and family, UK staying in Pinolo. Dec 2017
Pinolo
“ Fantastic holiday made even better by the welcoming owners ”
We were heartily welcomed by the owners, whose grasp of English was only marginally better than our Italian, but after creating a raport with suitable "thumbs up" hand signals to indicate our pleasure with the appartment, she moved on to describe the operation of the dishwasher in Italian, which was probably a little over-optimistic.
The Apartment was just perfect for 4 and had plenty of space in the lounge/dining area for relaxing out of the sun. Breakfast was often taken on the patio area overlooking the countryside - just fabulous. After a quick swim in the "its alright once you are in" pool, it was down to some serious sunbathing on the loungers - and there are more than enough for everyone. Lunch by the pool on a table conveniently located under a shady pergola with even better views and San Gim in the background. Afternoons spent relaxing - although sometimes interspersed with awesome thunder and lightning over the valleys!
Locals towns provide a good evenning entertainment, even Casola D'Elsa seemed to have enough going on to keep us going back, despite its small size. This place has everything you need for a quiet week or so, but a car is a must for getting about and shopping, the local supermarket and shops are limited.
Fantastic holiday made even better by the welcoming owners - even turned up with free homemade pizza and wine at 11pm one night, which we ate and drank in the moonlight! We would return tomorrow.
C.B. and friends, UK staying in Pinolo. Dec 2009
Pinolo
“ Charming hosts, beautiful, quiet, relaxed setting ”
You know that scary feeling you get when you book accommodation on the internet that looks wonderful in the photos, but you're sure it couldn't possibly be that wonderful? Well, rest assured, Pinolo is wonderful! Charming hosts, beautiful, quiet, relaxed setting, yet still close to village. We stayed in the two bedroom upstairs apartment. Very clean, rustic and charming. I will always remember the view from the upstairs window - you can see the towers of San Gimignano in the distance. So many beautiful places to visit nearby, beautiful Tuscan countryside. We'll be back!
Mr. A.G. and family, Australia staying in Pinolo. Dec 2010
Pinolo
“ Looking forward to returning ”
Situated in the heart of Chianti in Tuscany, this villa is in walking distance of a lovely village with restaurants and a weekly BBQ on the village plaza which is a must! The hosts are most welcoming and the Pinolo villa offers excellent views! Great sightseeing in the region. The hosts wine is worth the purchase. The outdoor pool is large and always clean. We are looking forward to returning.
Mrs. J.G. and family, Canada staying in Pinolo.
Pinolo
“ We will definitely return ”
We stayed at Pinolo last summer and would highly recommend it. The location is excellent - within walking distance of the local village, and right in the heart of Tuscany. The family who own the property were incredibly welcoming and one evening we were brought homemade cake and a bottle of their own wine. Delicious. Having the pool also helped hugely on hot days. We will definitely return.
Mrs. C.J. and family, UAE staying in Pinolo. Feb 2011
Pinolo
“ The owners are lovely and produce their own wine and olive oil ”
The farm house is a little outside the village which is uphill and easily reached by car, bike or by foot. The latter will maybe take 30 mins. The apartment is on the first floor in the main building with its own entry. The two bedrooms have sufficient space for 5 and the living & dining room as well. In case you like outside dining you need to take note that you have to go downstairs, which is not very practical. There is a small outside sitting area, good for two and a glass of wine in the evenings. The pool is nice and the gardens (vineyard, olives) are lovely. The farm is a on a hill itself which allows for a cooling breeze and nice views. The owners are lovely and produce their own wine and olive oil. A good price compared to many other locations we saw on-line.
Mr. R.V.W and family, Switzerland staying in Pinolo. Feb 2013
Pinolo
“ ...beautiful views of the Tuscan countryside ”
Our apartment, Pinolo, was spacious and well equipped with beautiful views of the Tuscan countryside from every window. The building is a traditional farmhouse which added to it's charm and there were plenty of outside spaces to relax in. We found it a very convenient base to explore Tuscany, not far from San Gimignano, Siena, Orvieto and Florence.
Mr. K.M. and family, UK staying in Pinolo. Dec 2014
Pinolo
“ .....we liked it so much, we would consider hiring the entire complex the next time ”
We knew we wanted to stay in Tuscany but could not find the ideal location. After stumbling across 'Welcome to Tuscany', the helpful staff recommended we stay at a charming, converted Tuscan farm house in the heart of Tuscany upon the outskirts of the small village of Casole'd Elsa. Father and sons the three of us set off from Carcassonne, and thus arrived late at Pinolo and Rustico after a beautiful, but winding drive through the Alpes and across the fateful Rubicon. Upon arrival the owner kindly stayed to greet us, which set the scene for the rest of the holiday; as the owners who lived on site worked tirelessly to ensure the accommodation and surrounding grounds were kept immaculate whilst remaining innocuous but there to help if needed. Both apartments well equipped with original features and large luxurious bedrooms. The complex was landscaped throughout with thoughtful touches like flowers and charming Cypress trees which framed the gentle descent from farmhouse to pool. The Village was a short walk on foot and although small it was a lovely example of some of the bigger and more impressive Casole's situated in Tuscany. With a great selection of Restaurants - in particular the Enoteca which runs a set course that changed each night of the week and friendly English speaking owners. Beware of 'White Tuesdays', when the whole towns descends to paint the town, 'white' (called so because they do not sleep - like another day and something of a tradition in much of Tuscany) In terms of location Casole d'Elsa was perfectly situated to explore the well known likes of Sienna, Florence and San Gimignano (recommend Quattro Gatti for super!) but also the lesser known, and less spoilt towns such as Volterra (see the Etruscan tombs - utterly fascinating - like steeping down through the gates of Hades explored in Homer's literature), Montalcino and the medieval walled city of Monteriggioni. For those who love red wine, not more could be asked in this delightful region; and a pilgrimage to Saasicaia and the aforementioned Montalcino is well worth it. We like it so much, we would consider hiring the entire complex the next time and bringing all our friends!
Mr T.H. and family staying in Pinolo. Dec 2014
Pinolo
“ highly recommended ”
We stayed in the upper floor of the farmhouse (Pinolo) at Agriturismo Elvira. The accommodation was great for our family of 4. A lovely large room for living/dining/cooking, plus 2 bedrooms and bathroom. There are pretty garden areas and terraces around the house where you can sit or eat al fresco with amazing views of the Tuscan and Chianti hills. The outdoor swimming pool and surrounding garden was great too! The hill town of Casole d'Elsa is a 15 - 20 minute walk with a good range of small shops plus some excellent places to eat and drink. Highly recommended
Mr. T.J. and family, UK staying in Pinolo. Dec 2015
Pinolo
“ ...it has my highest credentials ”
We duly returned from Casole Saturday. There were no problems /breakages, the accommodation was perfect and the hosts very charming. All in all I would recommend to anyone and it has my highest credentials. We visited all around and had a great time. Thanks again for all your help
Mr T.H. and family, France staying in Pinolo. May 2014
Pinolo
“ A fantastic stay at Pinolo ”
We had a fantastic stay at Pinolo - beautiful part of the country. The accomodation was great, very authentic Tuscan farm feel while providing most of what we needed. The only suggestion would be for them to improve the WiFi reception within Pinolo itself. It was a bit hit and miss at times. Also to provide basic soap and shower gel. It was a bit of a surprise to us that this wasn't provided. Otherwise it was superb, and we really enjoyed having the private pool available to us. We also really enjoyed the local town of Casole d'Elsa. The pizza restaurant in particular was very good for lunch - great value for money and excellent service. We also had an amazing dinner at the restaurant attached to the local hotel. Can't remember the name of the hotel but it's on the main road to the left as you leave the housing estate area. Thanks for making this property and experience available to us.
Mr R.D. and family, UK staying in Pinolo. Dec 2014
Pinolo
“ On a score from 100 we would give it 99.5! ”
Our second stay at Pinolo only confirmed what we always felt about the place, the location, accommodation and amenities are, without doubt, exactly what is required for a peaceful, tranquil and restful stay in Tuscany. The first floor entrance is adjacent to the rear door to the owners accommodation and their kindness and generosity of spirit was wonderful, they gave us homemade cake, wine and ice creams and were always on hand for help and advice. The kitchen could perhaps do with being a little better equipped and the size of the drinking glasses a little small for beer drinkers, but on a score from 100 we would give it 99.5!
Mr C.B. and friends, UK staying in Pinolo. Feb 2013
Pinolo
“ ..Stayed there...and we loved it ”
I stayed here with my family when our son Ben was around 2 years old and we loved it. I know the village well, as it's where I grew up, so it was great to be able to walk in every morning - Ben and I would go in to buy breakfast for mum from the local cafe. The living room/ kitchen is large and comfortable, and the little loggia perfect for an evening drink with an ear out for sleeping children.
Dan R. and family staying in Pinolo. Dec 2012
Pinolo
“ ...just right for a small family holiday ”
We felt so comfortable in this spacious apartment, with its lovely light and generous spaces just right for a small family holiday. The good-sized pool and the views of the vines to one side and the valley to the other are delightful. Strolling into Casole d'Elsa was so convenient for picking up supplies or going out for a good meal - truly an ideal location.
L. and L. staying in Pinolo. Dec 2015
Enofila
“ Breathtaking location and fabulous building. ”
Beautiful rustic accommodation set in a winery and surrounding grape fields. Such a good view and enjoyed cheese and biscuits washed down by the owners wine made from the grapes we were viewing. Quick drive down into the village to catch the train to Florence, 20 minutes. Beautiful swimming pool for sunny days. Great hostess.
Ian, UK staying in Enofila. Oct 2024
Enofila
“ Peace, relaxation, disconnection ”
The location was excellent. although there are several apartments in the building, each one has its own terrace. The view from the pool is extraordinary. There is a lot of peace around and I think it is the ideal location for relaxation and rest. Especially if you like old things and country life maybe as it is located in a vineyard that has its own winery, it would have been nice to be offered a style of wine from the house (even if it was included in the price without us knowing), it was an important thing for hospitality
Ruja, Romania staying in Enofila. Oct 2024
Enofila
“ Dan's visit ”
I visited this little wine estate in May 2021 so we have no reviews yet - these are my impressions. As always, my main focus on a first visit is on the owners and the caretakers - they will be the people looking after you when you visit so much rests on their shoulders. I met both caretakers and the owner, they couldn't have been more charming so I'm confident you'll be well looked after here. The estate has 8 apartments, we have listed three to start with, our favourites. This one, the "Wine Lover" has disabled facilities so I thought it would be a great addition.
The buildings are surrounded by vineyards that are run by the little estate, producing their own wine. THe swimming pool is set higher up the hill than the buildings so you get great views across the Arno valley towards the Chianti hills. You can walk - or drive - down to the local train station and get into the centre of Florence in under 30 minutes, which is a lovely way to explore the city and then come back to your pool and spacious apartment.
Dan Wrightson staying in The Wine Lover. May 2021
Modernista
“ Modernista's location is perfect ”
11 days, 2 families, 4 adults. Large 1950's stylish family house with super, airy living/ dining space and well equipped kitchen. Suite of beds and bathrooms in two wings giving good separation and privacy. Fantastic views, fabulous olive orchard and garden, good sized pool, seating everywhere, complete privacy, quiet, peaceful, 360* sun/ shade facing all day. Just a stroll away from a small, beautiful, (non-touristy, non-commercial) village centre with cafe-shop for basic amenities (bread and pastries, etc) and great restaurant, Le Cantine. Arezzo is full of character with more excellent restaurants and a hypermarket. Modernista's location is perfect for the many touristy sights but we couldn't really drag ourselves away from such a chill-out space.
Nigel S. staying in Modernista. Jun 2024
Modernista
“ I cannot recommend it enough ”
Let me start by saying that I have had the pleasure of staying in many villas throughout Italy. I have to say my stay at Modernista was joyous the property was better than I anticipated. The rooms were airy and modern and the pool was a great resource. The location in the small town of Peregine Valdarno was perfect enabling us to walk into the town for basic shopping and the bar in the evening and the restaurant. Yet it was only a short drive away from Florence and Siena. Our hosts were attentive and helpful and in no way intrusive. The whole region is wonderful and for me Certona was an unexpected bonus as was Civitella. Modernista helped me connect with Italians and the Italian ways in a way I have not been able to from other tourist type villas. I cannot recommend it enough.
Mr. T.M. with family and friends, UK staying in Modernista. Feb 2015
Rustico
“ A Week in Paradise, everything was perfect: the apartment, pool, Casole d'Elsa, the local bar. ”
Thank you to Inv. to Tuscany, Katia, Italy Car Hire. We shall come again. The views, pool and garden are stunning.
Joseph Alston staying in Rustico. Jun 2026
Rustico
“ I can't understand why it has taken us 17 years to return here. ”
My wife and I stayed here 17 years ago and loved it. We have now returned with our son and daughter in law and it is just as wonderful as it was then. The pool and its vineyard location are stunning and the welcome from Katia and the family made us feel at home and relaxed. Casole d'Elsa is a beautiful Tuscan village. There are a few more bars, restaurants and shops than there were 17 years ago which have added to its attractiveness without spoiling its character. I can't understand why it has taken us 17 years to come back to this beautiful place. The Rustico apartment comprises two large bedrooms and a large kitchen, all with original brick vaulted ceilings. The pool, garden, barbecue and views are fantastic. We would recommend it to anyone.
Joseph and family from UK staying in Rustico. Jun 2024
Rustico
“ Beautiful Location ”
Rustico is in a stunning location and the views are incredible. Elvira, Katia and the rest of the family were so welcoming and helpful the whole time we were there. The pool is perfectly located and there are plenty of sunbeds to use.
We would definitely return again !!
Jane staying in Rustico. Aug 2022
Rustico
“ We stayed at Rustico the last week of May ...it was HEAVEN!!! ”
We stayed at Agriturismo Elvira - Rustico the last week of May in Casole d'Elsa. It was HEAVEN!!! Elvira was warm and welcoming and took care of us as if we were part of her own family. I stayed there with my husband, friend and toddler and it was a place never to be forgotten by any of us. The grounds are immaculately kept, the apartment (Rustico) was super clean and had everything we needed to enjoy our stay. It was cold but we even used the great swimming pool. My son loved running around the property and we loved sitting out in the sun and having a meal. This is a place that we will be going to for years to come! It is also a fairly short drive from Siena and an hour and a half drive from Florence. I recommend renting a car as it makes it a whole lot easier to see the beauty that surrounds this home. This home exceeded our expectations. Thank you Elvira!
Mrs. S-J and family, USA staying in Rustico. May 2015
Rustico
“ ...really enjoyed our recent stay at Rustico ”
We really enjoyed our recent stay at Rustico. We thought the property was in a beautiful setting with spectacular views. The owners were lovely and very helpful and certainly made us welcome. The pool was one of the highlights of the property and was perfect for our 8 yr old daughter.
The villa was as described on your website apart from the TV was missing and it took 3 days to get this setup to watch. We felt the villa was also missing a few basic supplies, like kitchen roll, oven glove, toilet rolls, soap, which we had to purchase. I think the most useful information that would have been nice to know at the beginning of our vacation was that there was a supermarket less than a mile down the street. There was no mention of this in the folder in the villa or in the information emailed to us. We only found out from the owners towards the end of our visit, after spending almost a whole day driving to the PAM supermarket several miles away. I appreciate this is a much larger supermarket but the local one had a good selection of basic supplies and groceries.
We enjoyed the peaceful location of the villa without being too far from restaurants and the village. We would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to stay in the Tuscan countryside and is interested in visiting the larger, more touristy towns like Siena and San Gimignano, which are only a short drive away.
We hope these comments are helpful to you and future visitors to Rustico.
Mrs. J.T. and family, USA staying in Rustico. Dec 2014
Rustico
“ Excellent location ”
Excellent location, really nice house, the owners are really helpful and nice.
Mr. C.H. and family, Sweden staying in Rustico. Dec 2011
Rustico
“ Clean property good facilities ”
Clean property, good facilities at both property and local town. Only thing we could pick up on is that the printed directions given from Pisa airport were incorrect for the last couple of miles or so (they erroneously jump to directions from south). Confusion added half hour to journey but figured out eventually. Didn't detract from a great week.
Mr. C.G. and family, UK staying in Rustico.
Erno
“ Great location ”
The property is exactly as advertised. Great location, beautiful property, everything was in perfect conditions. The owner is fantastic, always ready to help out with any requests. He helped organize a fantastic party (catering, tent, music etc.). Although his own house is very near, he always leaves you your privat space, while at the same time always being available to fulfil your requests. We had a great time and highly recommend this property. The region around the property (lago maggiore) is beautiful, the nearby village Arona is picturesque and offers nice cafes and restaurants. The owner is able to provide many recommendations.
Manuel staying in Erno. Sep 2013
Pilastri
“ Blown away by the villa and all the facilities ”
I wanted to email and say a BIG thank you for all your help in enabling us to have the most wonderful holiday at Pilastri. We really did have the best time in the most incredible setting. We were honestly blown away by the villa and all the facilities. The pictures do not do it justice and we were very pleasantly surprised by how much bigger everything was in real life. The size of our private pool was fabulous and even the shared pool looked much larger in real life. The house had everything we needed and there was a lot to explore too.
Your tips were very helpful and Francesca was also amazing and made us feel very welcome. We actually have almost too many good things to say about the place. The dinner cooked for us by the chef was wonderful and they were very accommodating of our likes/dislikes. It was most definitely a worthwhile experience especially after travelling. The setting where we ate was really lovely too.
The small poolside bar was well stocked and reasonably priced and it was great to be able to have cold beer on tap and the knowledge that we always had a wide variety of drinks and snacks available there.
With regards to activities, we did the wine/olive oil tasting at Palagina which was well run and they did a great job of making it an interesting experience for both adults and also the children too. We also went there one evening for dinner amongst the vines. This was probably our favourite night of the trip with music, food and of course wine. We had a lot of fun chatting to everyone at the table and the scenery was gorgeous.
I think my only criticism would be that it isn’t clear which bedrooms are part of the building and which are ‘extra’. I had been hoping we would be able to sleep in the beautiful four poster room but that is one of the rooms that gets added to villa when more than 4 bedrooms are requested. Perhaps a plan of the villa can be added to the listing (or something similar). However, we were not very disappointed as the whole place was amazing.
Thank you again for all your help with the booking. We will definitely book through you again.
Andrew & Family, UK staying in Pilastri. Jul 2024
Pilastri
“ The situation of the Borgo is excellent ”
The situation of the Borgo is excellent- peaceful and very rural with pleasant country walking within a 100 metres or so.The village is a few minutes drive away with friendly shops and the big supermarket only 15 minutes drive. There are beautiful remote villages in every direction.
The big town, Figline, has the benefit of a railway station only 10 minutes from the Borgo, with the delightful town of Arezzo well worth a visit.The staff were exceptionally kind and helpful and we have already booked a return two weeks in 2024!!
D.G. from UK staying in Pilastri. Sep 2022
Sangiovese
“ ...excellent location in Tuscan countryside ”
Lovely, spacious and interesting accomodation for 4; excellent location in Tuscan countryside (although only good view from inside house from shower room); great access for Siena and Chianti towns; good local restaurant. Beautiful gardens for relaxing, and great pool. Kitchen equipment OK, but would have preferred electric kettle and toaster. Main drawback was patio area; access via very steep outside staircase proved tiring re need to carry food/drinks/glasses/crockery etc for every meal/snack for 2 weeks. Of particular concern, patio area did not, as described in brochure, feel very private. As directly in front of wine tasting room, lots of visitors milling around, and our "private" patio used regularly, mainly by guides/drivers I think, for smoking and telephone conversations. Unfortunately, my husband was unwell during most of our holiday, as a result of which we stayed around the property more than planned, hence more aware of patio issues. He did however enjoy and benefit from sitting reading in lovely garden under umbrella. Many thanks for your help.
Mrs. J.H. and family, UK staying in Sangiovese.
Villa San Miniato
“ An amazing experience ”
We booked our trip to Tuscany though Invitation to Tuscany. This was our 2nd time going through them and once again we were very pleased with their excellent communication, suggestions for activities (the cooking class was SO much fun for all), help with getting rental cars, etc.
We stayed at the Villa San Miniato from August 10th to the 17th. It was an amazing experience for our family of 19! Francesco, the host, met us later than we'd hoped on Saturday night, due to our car problems. He was so gracious to be there just past 10 pm. He gladly showed us around, made suggestions about places, and let us know he'd be there every day if we needed anything.
The Villa was just what we needed, plenty of space (4 separate spacious apartments), that worked well for us, our kids and 11 grandkids. The location was just what we'd hoped for, centrally close to the cities we wanted to see. The pool was a big hit with all. After a day of sightseeing, it was so nice to unwind there with it's lovely views of the town in the background. Francesco came twice with lots of fresh vegetables from his father's garden.
Our last night there we had a catered meal put on by Francesco and his family, celebrating our trip and a birthday. It was a great way to end a wonderful week! We'd highly recommend Villa San Miniato to anyone planning time in Tuscany, and Invitation to Tuscany for planning, you will NOT be disappointed!
Villa Bartolomeo
“ Simply great ”
Great views, great location, supermarket only 5 minutes away
Richard, UK staying in Villa Bartolomeo. Jun 2024
Castelonchio
“ Great holiday with wonderful hosts ”
Our family of four, including two grown up children, enjoyed a fabulous 10 day holiday at Castelonchio. The property is superb and immaculately clean, and the saltwater pool with its stunning view of the lake is a particular highlight.
It's also ideally located close to the good local facilities in Tuoro, and with easy access to the many historic nearby towns. We particularly enjoyed the great variety of restaurants and bars in nearby Passignano.
Karen and Barry are excellent hosts, providing a warm and friendly welcome while providing the ideal balance of being readily available with helpful advice, without being intrusive.
Rob Webb staying in Castelonchio. Sep 2026
Castelonchio
“ Wonderful ”
I have just spent two fantastic weeks at Castelonchio.. my second stay this year ! The location is fantastic, the apartments are incredibly well equipped and Barry and Karen, the owners, are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. I can’t wait to visit again next year. Paul from Surrey.
Paul from Surrey staying in Castelonchio. Sep 2026
Castelonchio
“ The location was perfect ”
As far as our stay at Castelonchio is concerned it was a lovely two weeks. The location was perfect for seeing that part of Umbria and for whatever wanted to do. The villa was clean and comfortable and very well equipped. The master bedroom in particular was extremely comfortable.
The gardens and outdoor spaces were so well thought out and the pool was perfect. The views from the house and terraces of Lake Trasimeno were stunning.
We cannot find any fault with the accommodation at all. In addition, what made our stay so special was our hosts, Barry and Karen. They were so welcoming and generous in every way. The thoughtful provision of wine and groceries for our arrival, their concern to make sure we were comfortable and had all the information we needed for maximum enjoyment of our holiday and our time spent with them and being included in an evening with their neighbours.
Thank you Karen and Barry so much. We are quite seasoned travellers. We have never experienced hosts who perfectly balanced being helpful and attentive and also unobtrusive.
Claire Potter staying in Castelonchio. Sep 2025
Castelonchio
“ Lovely place to stay ”
Barry & Karen are excellent hosts with a wealth of knowledge of places to visit while staying.
The property is beautifully restored with lovely gardens to explore. The pool is refreshing and well maintained. The absence of chlorine a benefit.
Well equipped kitchen.
The ceiling fans work excellently and I see no need for air conditioning as these fans kept us cool overnight with temperatures of 24+ on some nights.
Justin Kempson staying in Castelonchio. Jul 2025
Castelonchio
“ Barry and Karen are the consummate hosts ”
Barry and Karen are the consummate hosts. Attentive. Caring. And still provide the privacy. The house is well appointed and situated.
Beth Dickstein staying in Castelonchio. Jun 2025
Castelonchio
“ Beautiful Umbrian house with a view ”
We had a truly wonderful two week stay at Castelonchio and we highly recommend this beautiful house. The house is set in the hills, close to the olive groves, with spectacular views of Umbria and Lake Tresimeno before it. We arrived in the heatwave of July so we were very grateful for the overhead fans in most of the rooms. The bedrooms were all a good size, with nice furniture, while the kitchen is small but functional, with everything you need in it. And the owners gave us a great starter pack, which included local wine, olive oil, butter, milk and juice amongst other things. It's all very tastefully kitted out, and the insect screens on all the windows were especially appreciated. The saltwater pool area is just beautiful, with lavender bushes on one side and the olive groves on the other. Perfect place to relax with a book :-) The lovely owners, Barry and Karen, live onsite (the villa is semi-detached - the rented side looks out to the lake view, whilst their side looks out to the pool and olive groves), and they were so kind; eager to help with suggestions about where to visit and eat out, and they shared some delicious locally grown vegetables with us from their neighbours. They also gave our son a card and a bottle of Prosecco for his 21st birthday, which was very thoughtful indeed. In terms of the region, there is just so much to see and do. Highlights: 1) Taking the small ferry out to Lake Maggiore, walking up to the church, then having a swim at the small beach before enjoying a lovely lunch overlooking the lake at L'Oso. 2) Visiting all the old medieval towns in both Umbria and Tuscany such at Assisi, Montepulciano, Pienza (stunning views across the D'Orcia Valley), Gubbio, Cortona and the most local towns of Passignano sul Trasimeno (fun lakeside town about 15 mins drive away) and Castiglione del Lago (hillside town about 20 mins drive away). We loved all of them. 3) We drove from England so we also enjoyed stopping off at Colmar in France, then Lucca and Sienna en-route to the house. 4) We had many lovely warm evenings eating out on the terrace, playing games, and enjoying the wonderful views, the beautiful sunsets to the west, and all of the fantastic Italian wine and food! 5) A standout day for our kids was a trip to the Frasassi Caves over on the east side of Umbria - they were blown away by the magnitude and beauty of these grottoes (about 1hr 15 mins drive).
All in all, it was a very successful holiday - thank you so much, Karen and Barry :-)
Louise and Family staying in Castelonchio. Jul 2025
Castelonchio
“ An idyllic stay in lovely rural Umbria ”
We had an idyllic stay in lovely rural Umbria. The villa was perfect for our rough and tumble family with 2 little divas.
Daniel and family staying in Castelonchio. Oct 2024We have had a very nice time, we saw a lizard city! We loved Assisi and Isola Maggiore, the gelato was yummy (from B)
Castelonchio
“ A real haven ”
We have had such a special, relaxing time in your wonderful place. It has been well worth travelling 18,441 km (Hamilton New Zealand to Perugia). Thank you for being the perfect hosts, with welcoming food & delicious wine, not to mention the fantastic olive oil. I shall miss your lovely pod, the garden and such a well-designed house. A real haven.
Many a Guardian crossword was solved under the beautiful holm oak, thank you.
Wendy & Mark, NZ staying in Castelonchio. Aug 2024
Castelonchio
“ A perfect spot for a relaxing stress-free Italian holiday ”
Castelonchio is a lovely villa for a family or small group of friends. It is conveniently situated near Lake Trasimeno, only half an hour from Perugia. The little local town of Tuoro is walkable and the grocery store/supermarket is conveniently close by. There are stunning hill top towns nearby and many other wonderful tourist sites in the vicinity. The villa itself is a beautiful two storied stone building, an old farmhouse that has been re-built sympathetically, with very good layout and lots of space. The house has lovely furnishings and a kitchen equipped with all you could need. Also very welcome, were the insect screens on all the windows. Best of all, there are lots of outside areas with comfortable chairs and tables for dining and lounging. We spent a lot of time lazing under the old holm oak near the kitchen. The grounds are spacious and lovely, set among the wider olive groves, and the pool is a great size: big enough for serious lap swimming, or just for soaking. Barry and Karen, our hosts, were very welcoming and discreet, but helpful when we asked for information, and good company when we wanted it. Their olive oil is spectacularly good, and in ready supply. We bought lots of tins to carry home. This was a memorable holiday, and just the place for quiet rest and recuperation. We will definitely be back!
Ms M.R, NZ staying in Castelonchio. Aug 2024
Castelonchio
“ A Wonderful Place ”
Can't say enough good things about this property and the people who own it. It is such a great spot. The villa is spacious and well equipped with great beds, overhead fans in every room and two full bathrooms. It's nestled in an olive grove (they make their own olive oil!) on a quiet road that doesn't get much traffic. The salt water pool was amazing and a great place to hang out on some of those super hot days.
Barry and Karen are wonderful hosts, available when we had questions, and full of local information and recommendations for places to visit and restaurants to get a good meal.
The location is absolutely perfect if you want to spend time in some of the medieval villages in the area. Cortona is 20 minutes away, Montepulciano is about 30 minutes away. Orvieto, which has an amazing cathedral, is about 50 minutes. The nearby village of Tuoro is a short drive, or a 20 minute walk away...
Lago de Trasimino is about a 25 minute walk from the villa, and there's a ferry you can catch there to Isola Maggiore...a small island with some churches, restaurants and very good gelato. We would happily return when we visit Italy again.
David & family staying in Castelonchio. Jul 2024
Castelonchio
“ Our stay was wonderful ”
Our stay was wonderful. The house works perfectly for a family of adults with plenty of outdoor areas to have individual space plus communal areas to dine and play. The large pool and table tennis table were much appreciated by us all and the grounds of the house are beautifully maintained under the guidance of Karen’s expert eye. The peace and views from Castelonchio are very special and we fully appreciate why our hosts chose this particular plot.
We must say a special thank you to Barry and Karen for their care and attention during our stay. Barry was like a personal concierge and having insider knowledge of the area meant we made so much more of our time in Umbria. We enjoyed meeting them both and appreciate how hard they work behind the scenes (no doubt in full olive harvest mode as I type).
The temperatures were hot during our stay and perhaps air conditioning in the upstairs rooms would have been a bonus but the ceiling fans were indeed a relief and we understand the prohibitive cost and practicalities of aircon.
As with our holiday in 2023 we very much appreciated your help in choosing a location that worked for us. Villa Castelonchio is in a superb spot for accessing local villages and also in easy distance of many Umbrian and Tuscan gems. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
Julie & family, UK staying in Castelonchio. Jun 2024
Castelonchio
“ Beautiful farmhouse in great location. ”
We really enjoyed our stay at Villa Castelonchio, from the moment we arrived until the day we left Barry and Karen made our stay extremely comfortable and their thoughtful touches throughout enhanced our enjoyment. There was a very generous welcome pack of food stuffs, extremely useful info in a binder about day trips with valuable info about where to park in busy Tuscan towns! They even left the equivalent of a nectar card for the local supermarket (excellent Gala, 2 mins drive away) attached to a key ring for extra discount on our shopping. I went with two young grandchildren and B&K had organised two cots and a high chair for us.
As our stay went on we really appreciated the location of the villa more and more. Tuoro itself is a sweet little town with Passagano and its island ferry trips and lovely lake walks and cafes/gelaterias and restaurants only 10 mins max by car., a trip up the hill to the Squirrel a must for stunning views! Cortona only 20 mins, Siena an hour, Assisi 45 mins and Florence 1h30m makes the villa extremely well situated, I even drove my daughter to Rome airport one Sunday morning and was back by 11:30am.
There are stunning views of lake Trasimeno from the gardens and patio too! The beautiful salt water pool area is stunning and spacious altho unheated. I think the villa represents great value for money and the area on the Umbria/Tuscany border is stunning. Karen and Barry will make your stay very enjoyable! Peter
Peter and family staying in Castelonchio. Sep 2023
Castelonchio
“ Fantastic week at Castelonchio ”
We had a fantastic week at Castelonchio in August. The house is airy and spacious and well equipped - Barry and Karen seem to have thought of everything. The saltwater pool is lovely and was a hit with all of us - we also enjoyed the barbecue and eating outside with the spectacuar views. The house is well situated, just on the Umbria/Tuscany border. within easy reach of towns such as Cortona and Orvieto, and Barry and Karen were always happy to suggest ideas for places to visit (we also enjoyed going to the island in the lake). Although perhaps a but less well known than Tuscany (which is very close by), we found this corner of Umbria charming, with warm and friendy people rightfully proud of their region - and of course the delicious and ubiquitous Umbrian truffles! Many thanks to Barry and Karen for a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing week.
Alex and family staying in Castelonchio. Aug 2023
Castelonchio
“ The Perfect Place ”
Karen and Barry have created a place for true relaxation. Whether you are single or bring the family Castelonchio is memorable. The home is comfortable and has sunsets that are unmatched. They sense the amount of privacy each guests wants and are completely lovely.
Beth from US staying in Castelonchio. Jul 2023
Castelonchio
“ Wonderful 2 weeks ”
Thankyou for a wonderful 2 weekss! 3 generations of our family all happy, relaxed and wanting to come back. We loved the pool of course, but also the fabulous views, the serenity and your discrete care. You certainly live in paradise here.
Beate and family staying in Castelonchio. Aug 2022
Castelonchio
“ The perfect place ”
This simply is the perfect place you've given us, we have unwound, relaxed and immensely enjoyed our stay here - Dan gave it the big sell and he wasn't wrong. The views, the house, the area, absolutely perfect. The lovely welcome pack in the fridge, your beautiful garden and pool and even the warm welcome from the cats and both of you.
You couldn't have been better hosts - your place is absolutely beautiful and we can't wait to come back again.
Jill & family from UK staying in Castelonchio. Jul 2022
Castelonchio
“ Exactly what we wanted ”
Castelonchio is in a beautiful hillside location with great views. The house, gardens and pool are all of very good quality and well equipped. The owners live next door and managed a perfect balance of being available and helpful without intruding on our holiday. The local area is full of interesting places to visit and things to do. There is no downside to staying here. We will definitely return.
Peter staying in Castelonchio. Aug 2022
Castelonchio
“ Perfect house and pool ”
We had a fantastic week at Castelonchio. The house was lovely, authenic, clean and everything was just perfect. The saltwater pool was the best, we have experienced in a rented house. It was nice to arrive to the house where the host bid us welcome and even had provided food and wine in the frigde. The host was very helpfull, informative and kind in a most friendly way. We already miss the beautiful view from the house and the lovely evenings at one of the terraces.
Hanne staying in Castelonchio. Jul 2022
Castelonchio
“ Castelonchio the Umbrian Idyll ”
Wonderful welcome, fabulous setting, Five star with bells, a real treat. We loved it Alla prossima B&T x
B & T from UK staying in Castelonchio. May 2022
Castelonchio
“ A real home from home ”
We have had such a lovely time here, a real home from home, and amazing views. Thank you for your help and hospitality.
Tracy and family from UK staying in Castelonchio. May 2022
Castelonchio
“ A delightful Villa with large airy cool rooms ”
Castelonchio it self was a delightful Villa with large airy cool rooms. The owners Barry & Karen made us very welcome and I hope we were no trouble to them.
We visited Assisi and viewed the Basilica of St Francis, the Cathedral and the Basilica di Santa Chiara and had an excellent meal outside on the street at Trattoria Da Erminio on Via Montecavallo.
Also took the boat trip to Isola Maggiore, I was quite tickled that the boat was run by Italia Bus, again had a local meal at Albergo Ristonant da Sauro.
We were were taken with the "Walled" adjacent town of Castiglione del Lago. We had a lovely outdoor meal on a very hot afternoon at "Osteria Calandrino" on Via Vittorio Emanuele not far from the local Hospital. Hope spelling is correct all taken from Google Street view!
On our last night out we saw 2 wild boar when dining at the "Squirrel" "Lo Scoiattolo" restaurant up in the hills, we were on the balcony!! Very unexpected! The locals were throwing food to them from the balcony!
P.E. from UK staying in Castelonchio. Sep 2020
Castelonchio
“ A great place, highly recommended. ”
We had a fantastic time at Castelonchio. The property is really impressive with lots of space, a wonderful pool and large grounds plus the hosts are incredibly accommodating and helpful.
The accommodation is nice and spacious for 6 people with big and airy bedrooms. Everything is modernised, comfortable and the kitchen is well equipped. The large eating area outside is amazing with great views over the lake and a lovely spot to spend your evenings.
We walked down to the town on a couple of occasions for meals and the local restaurants are great. There is so much to do in the area both around the lake and beyond so you will have no trouble filling your time between enjoying the property and getting out and about. The property also has good access so you can get out to places really easily.
The owners are on hand to help if needed and are full of good suggestions on what to do and where to go. The accommodation is at the side of the property and the grounds are spacious so it’s nice and secluded from the main house.
A great place, highly recommended.
D.A. from UK staying in Castelonchio. Jul 2020
Castelonchio
“ The views from the pool and eating areas are spectacular ”
We had a wonderful holiday at Castelonchio. The views from the pool and eating areas are spectacular. We never tired of the marvellous panorama over lake Trasimeno and the surrounding hills. Being up the hill also meant we had pleasant breezes in the heat of August.
Barry and Karen are very kind and thoughtful hosts. They were so kind providing things for us (a praying mantis in a jam jar was a particular favourite of our 8 year old and we have our lavender pouches, made with lavender from the pool, at home to remind us.). They are full of useful info which they happily share - our trips to Sienna and Cortona were made so much easier with Barry’s great directions and helpful places to park for instance.
We enjoyed many meals out locally on recommendation from Barry and Karen. We enjoyed ambling into Tuoro to eat (but weren’t so keen on walking back up the hill afterwards!!). Barry and Karen really know everything so there is little we can add. There are a lot of local dishes made from fish from the lake which are great.
The house is very comfortable, very nicely decorated and spotless!
The area is brilliant. Really easy to get around and we loved Perugia and Sienna (on Palio day!) which are easy drives. I cycled the 65kms round lake Trasimeno early one morning and it was fun and interesting.
W.D. and family, UK staying in Castelonchio. Aug 2019
Castelonchio
“ ..Villa Castelonchio was the highlight of our trip ”
We are just back from a very enjoyable 5 week European holiday, which included 2 weeks staying at Villa Castelonchio, Tuoro Sul Trasimeno, in Umbria.
Our stay at Villa Castelonchio was the highlight of our trip and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there.
Barry and Karen where the perfect hosts and couldn’t have been more helpful and friendly. Their input on what to see and do in the area was fantastic, the only downside was that on the first night they introduced us to……Aperol Spritzer which we have developed a real taste for and now stock the ingredients ready for the coming summer in New Zealand and also sent us to their favourite local restaurant where the Pizza is superb and we will be hard-pressed to find anything close to in NZ.
The villa was everything that your website said it would be and we couldn’t have been happier. The fact that it had a full kitchen was a godsend for us as we like to prepare our own meals for some of the time we are away. It was well appointed and the 2 level layout meant that the other couple we had staying with us for some of the time could have their own space.
The villa’s location just a couple of minutes out of the Village meant that it was lovely and peaceful in a rural setting surrounded by olive groves and being just over the Tuscan/Umbria border meant that all the amazing tourist destinations were a short drive away, or as we did on a couple of occasions, a short train journey from the local station.
Barry and Karen keep the place immaculate and between the Aperol Spritzers, the Pizza and the swimming pool we didn’t want to leave. We would have no hesitation in recommending Villa Castelonchio to anyone wishing to have a superb holiday in this location.
M&J P. from New Zealand staying in Castelonchio. Feb 2019
Castelonchio
“ We had an absolutely lovely time at Castelonchio ”
We had an absolutely lovely time at Castelonchio. Barry and Karen our hosts greeted us most warmly and invited us to coffee the morning after our arrival to tell us more about the fascinating area around Lake Trasimeno. Our little grandchildren ran to the pool in their bathing costumes before we had even unpacked the cars and from then on it was the pool or nothing for them so it was with difficulty that we explored the endlessly intriguing small towns around the Lake. The immediate area is fascinating and the property is well within reach of the more major towns of Siena and Florence, Perugia and Arezzo - that is if the children will leave the pool and the grown ups will leave the beautiful garden with its amazing views.
P.C. staying in Castelonchio. Dec 2018
Castelonchio
“ Very comfortable house ”
Very comfortable house.Excellent out side space. Very well situated for exploring or in our case returning to favourite places. One new place this year a little further afield was Pienza.Would recommend for a visit. Trattoria Dardano in Cortona is a good place for lunch.Always busy.
J. L.W. staying in Castelonchio. Feb 2018
Castelonchio
“ We had a fabulous time at Castelonchio ”
We had a fabulous time at Castelonchio. The villa was immaculate & had everything you could possible wish. Sitting outside on the patio with a glass of local wine & looking at the views was beautifully relaxing & the children in particular, loved the fabulous pool. Barry & Karen were great hosts & recommended places of interest and were incredibly helpful researching how we could do a park/ride to Rome on our last day. We had beautiful day trips to Siena, Orvieto, Gubbio & San Gimignano as well as a very enjoyable boat trip out to one of the islands in Lake Trasimeno. All in all, it was a fantastic week & we hope to visit Barry & Karen's beautiful house again sometime.
D.R. family staying in Castelonchio. Nov 2018
Castelonchio
“ I am jealous of your Italian paradise ”
I am jealous of your Italian paradise. If you need extra help with the pruning of the olive trees or grass cutting, do give me a ring! Free labour ;o) Wonderful relaxing week, good to see medieval towns and churches. Great history and good food. The pool is the icing on the cake and Castelonchio is a retreat from the hurly burly. As John Wayne said, 'I shall return."
Mr. N.C. and friends, from U.K. staying in Castelonchio. Feb 2014
Castelonchio
“ We have loved every minute ”
Karen and Barry - Thank you so much for lending us your beautiful home! We have loved every minute. Over our two weeks we have visited Florence (by train - very easy), Siena (our favorite city - so gorgeous), Cortona, Assisti and Isola Maggiore (almost by peddalo!). We've also had lovely relaxed days reading by and playing in the pool and making delicious food to eat on the super verandah. You have been most hospitable and have made our wonderful stay even more special! Many, many thanks...
Ms. C.B. and friends, from U.K. staying in Castelonchio. Feb 2015
Castelonchio
“ The setting is idyllic, so relaxing ”
Thank you Barry and Karen for sharing your beautiful home with us. The setting is idyllic, so relaxing. Thank you for your advice and recommendations and a fridge full of provisions. A wonderful holiday to celebrate our ruby wedding anniversary, will remember it always.
Mr. R.B. and friends, from U.K. staying in Castelonchio. Dec 2016
Castelonchio
“ ...a relaxing and pleasant experience ”
Thank you so much for you kind hospitality and letting us stay at your wonderful house. We've had a brilliant time exploring the area and coming back here to wind down has been a relaxing and pleasant experience. I even managed to surprise my beautiful girlfriend (now fiancee) with a marriage proposal in the olive grove. I'm sure we'll be back again at some point.
Mr. D.B. and friends, from U.K. staying in Castelonchio. Dec 2017
Castelonchio
“ ..another amazing holiday! ”
Thank you, Barry and Karen, for another amazing holiday! Gorgeous house, with a perfect pool and perfect hosts. We all hope to see you again soon!
Mr. T.E. and family, from the U.K. staying in Castelonchio. Feb 2017
Castelonchio
“ Umbria for us from now on ”
Thank you very much Barry and Karen - Very nice. I apologize for not doing my research before I arrived, Umbria for us from now on. Amongst all the culture, history, leather and wine shops, there was the lake. Treat yourself and hire that paddle board Barry, the best €10 per hour you'll spend for a sore back. ... and the house/ the view / the pool - if only Fife were warm (or even saw the sun), it could be this good. ... and what a surprise, there's we thinking that my summer C90 tape mix would be useless without my walkman - the next time, I'll bring a few more cassettes. Wonderful!
Mrs. F.H. and family staying in Castelonchio.
Castelonchio
“ ....really great personal service from Invitation to Tuscany ”
We all had a fantastic time thanks, and I can’t believe that it was a week since we left to come home!
The villa was beautiful and really well fitted out. Barry & Karen were the prefect hosts – there for advice if you wanted it but left you space for yourselves the rest of the time. The welcome drink and restaurant recommendations were most appreciated, together with all the food and drink in the Welcome Pack.
All of the local restaurants we went to were ones recommended, and we enjoyed really good local food, at a very treasonable cost.
We went to Siena and Cortona whilst we were there, and some of the smaller towns around the lake – all very easy to get to thanks to Barry’s instructions in the villa.
The big hit with the most important person, our 11 year-old granddaughter, was of course the huge pool. In fact our son and daughter-in-law used it quite a lot as well.
I will, and have already, recommend it to friends, and I hope that we can go back as a family someday.
Finally, a big thanks to you and Dan for all your help in the year since we first booked it, really great personal service from Invitation to Tuscany.
Bob D. staying in Castelonchio. Feb 2017
Castelonchio
“ Castelonchio more than lives up to its reputation ”
Castelonchio more than lives up to its reputation. Excellent accomodation,wonderful salt water pool in substantial well kept grounds and easy walking distance to shopping and the village. And a plus--charming and most helpful hosts.
Anonymous staying in Castelonchio. Sep 2011
Castelonchio
“ ..stayed at Castelonchio 2 years ago and loved it so much we returned ”
We stayed at Castelonchio 2 years ago and loved it so much we returned again this year. The English owners Barry & Karen are super hosts (they live next door) and are able to offer sound advice on all things local together with a warm welcome. The accomodation is lovely with 3 big bedrooms and 2 'well appointed' bathrooms. Bed linen from 'The White House' and everything really comfy and clean. Kitchen well stocked with the necessary implements if you want to practice your Italian cookery skills as we did. Beautiful view over Lago Trasimeno from your little balcony outside the main double bedroom and the outside terrace which is perfect for breakfast. There's a decent supermarket nearby - within walking distance if you run out of wine but 5 mins by car if you need heavier supplies. Good local (and cheap) rail links to tourist towns ie Assisi if you don't want to be a slave to the car. Passignano 10 mins away for some lovely restaurants near the lake. If it’s convenient then we recommend flying to Perugia as it's an easy drive. Enjoy!
Anonymous staying in Castelonchio. Oct 2010
Castelonchio
“ I can see us going back soon ”
The house was comfortable and spacious, it felt fresh and everything we needed was there, inside the house and out; lots of garden, ample parking, we enviously eyed the pool but were there too early in the year for a swim, so contented ourselves instead with wandering around the olive grove, enjoying the views of Lake Trasimeno and beyond. And to misquote someone, the angels were in the details: a bottle of home grown olive oil in a kitchen cupboard, some fresh milk and cold wine waiting in the fridge when we arrived, and joy of joys, the kitchen knives were properly sharp! It is a house that has been thought through, and through again.
The hosts Barry and Karen were helpful and friendly - even when our 5 year old sneaked off and hid behind the wintering lemon tree, for a full 20 minutes, enjoying our increasingly frantic flapping. (It was reassuring to realise that small adventurous children cannot escape without the key to the gate.) They gave us suggestions for things to visit and see which were perfect for our family, with genuinely useful and detailed information; like knowing exactly where to park on our trips to Assisi and Cortona, or printing off the ferry timetable for Isola Maggiore on the lake, and which of the local train stations to choose for the best services to Orvieto (with its funicular, extraordinary double helix well, caves: a perfect day out for both adults and kids.)The local village - in walking distance - had everything we needed. A pizzeria - delicious pizza, good value and welcoming, a well-stocked supermarket, and much more that we didn't get to explore. It is a really rich and interesting part of Italy to visit, with more to see and visit than is possible in a week, or even two. I can see us going back
Mr. D.D. and family, Italy staying in Castelonchio. Mar 2010
Castelonchio
“ My favourite thing was the swimming pool ”
The hosts, Barry and Karen, were very helpful and attentive. The villa was in excellant condition and fully equipped. Location was good and having a supermarket a mile away was very convenient. The panoramic view of the lake was fantastic from Castelonchio. My favourite thing was the swimming pool, surrounded by lavender bushes. Great to smell whilst you were swimming and listening to the bees was relaxing too. Great summer holiday memories. Honestly can't think of anything negative to say about, maybe the only thing is that you would need a car to get about. Public transport not near farmhouse.
Anonymous staying in Castelonchio. Dec 2010
Castelonchio
“ The location here is incredible - very quiet with stunning views ”
The owners, Barry and Karen made our family feel so welcome. We arrived late, after the shops had shut and there was even pasta and provisions left to fill our rumbling tummies! The location here is incredible - very quiet with stunning views. There's a handy shop nearby and a few local restaurants. We were even invited to help pick olives in the next door grove. The beautifully restored farmhouse is immaculate and comfortable. I hope we can visit again sometime!
Ms. M.K. and family, UK staying in Castelonchio. Feb 2010
Castelonchio
“ ...everything in the property is five star ”
The location is great, overlooking Trasimeno, with outstanding evening views. But what is exceptional about staying here is that everything in the property is five star. It is really well designed, and furnished and looked after and comfortable. So when you get there it exceeds the promise of the pictures. Every part of the proerty so well-cared for - and that makes for a better holiday. Add to that that the hospitality (we were really well looked after - far and away beyond what we might have expected) and it made for a fantastic week. We'd happily go back there and can recommend it without reservation also - excellent location - Trasimeno a walk away, Assissi nearby, cycling round the lake etc...perfect. We'll be back.
Anonymous staying in Castelonchio. Dec 2011
Castelonchio
“ ...a high standard with extras as well ”
We could not fault the service we received from the initial booking to the stay in the villa. The owners made sure everything was provided to a high standard with extras as well. They were very friendly and helpful when needed but remained discreet during our stay. The farmhouse was wonderful itself with amazing views and the grounds gave us lots of space to spread out. The pool was beautiful, very refreshing and surrounded by fragrant lavender. The location was wonderful and quiet being in a rural setting outside the small town with views of Lake Trasimeno. You can easily visit several famous cities and local historic towns. We particularly enjoyed being able to walk to local restaurants (slight hill involved on homeward route). We also enjoyed discovering for ourselves the local area.
UK visitors staying in Castelonchio. Feb 2012
Castelonchio
“ It is the only home we would consider going back to ”
My friend and I vacation in Tuscany/Umbria every summer in a different home for two weeks for the last 12 years. By far, this was the nicest home and best experience. The hosts are wonderful; the home comfortable and is truly well located. The breeze from lake makes every day a nice one! It is the only home we would consider going back to.
Ms. B.D. and friend, USA staying in Castelonchio. Feb 2012
Castelonchio
“ Wish we could have stayed longer! ”
We thoroughly enjoyed our week's stay here. Wish we could have stayed longer! The villa is gorgeous, the pool is lovely and both have amazing views of the lake and surrounding countryside. The owners were very kind and helpful. It was a truly amazing stay! Highly recommend to anyone
Mrs. S.L. and family, UK staying in Castelonchio. Dec 2012
Castelonchio
“ Reading through all the reviews there is not one negative comment ”
Reading through all the reviews there is not one negative comment. That's because this is a perfect holiday, a real home away from home in an idyllic setting. We had a 2 and 4 year old with us and we felt very relaxed knowing they could safely explore the lovely grounds, swim in the great pool, pick grapes and olives and spend hours trying to catch grasshoppers and lizards. We enjoyed sipping wine at sunset overlooking the stunning view of the lake, visiting the beautiful towns of Cortona, Assissi , Perugia etc. A great little supermarket is close by, a winery at the bottom of the hill, gorgeous ice cream shops by the lake .... all very easy and stress free holiday. Thanks Barry and Karen - keep up the good work and we hope to return one day.
Mrs. L.W. and family, UK staying in Castelonchio. Dec 2012
Castelonchio
“ Our recent stay at Castelonchio was superb ”
Our recent stay at Castelonchio was superb. The villa was first class and the owners really know how to make their guests feel welcome. Their knowledge of the local area and the little tips on how to get around were immensely helpful. We were a family of 6, which included myself, my wife, 2 grandparents and 2 Daughters of ages 10 & 14 and we found enough variety during the 2 weeks to keep everyone happy. We swam and used the facilities at the local lake, Parco Del Lago Trasimeno, sunbathed around the Villas pool with its beautiful surroundings, went site seeing in many of the local towns, all soaked in history and tradition, and ventured out to Rome: only a 2 hour train journey.
Enjoying a good meal was an important part of our holiday and we had great experiences at the local restaurants with one particularly nice tavern within walking distance. Catering for ourselves was also easy to do as the Villa was fully equipped with all the utensils we needed, including the most important thing a BBQ.
I wholeheartedly recommend staying at Castelonchio if you are looking for a holiday that encompasses traditional Italy whilst staying in total comfort.
Mr. M.C. and family, UK staying in Castelonchio. Feb 2014
Castelonchio
“ This house is always a delight ”
This house is always a delight, the rooms are clean, crisp and comfortable, the views of the lake so pretty, breakfast, lunch and dinner on the terrace always has a stunning backdrop. We enjoyed exploring the area including the lakeside town of Passignano sul Trasimeno, just a 10 minute drive from the house, where we enjoyed seafood in some new favourite restaurants. You can take boat rides to the islands or just paddle on the shore, there is something for everyone.
L.& L. staying in Castelonchio. Sep 2015
Castelonchio
“ Barry and Karen were great hosts ”
We had a fabulous week at Castelonchio. Barry and Karen were great hosts. I was perhaps a little apprehensive about the "shared" aspect of the accommodation, particularly with 3 fairly small and noisy children, but I needn't have been. The annexe was large, comfortable and private. The pool was beautiful, as in fact was the location generally, and although we were effectively sharing Barry and Karen's home, we did not feel like we were intruding. They were there, but somehow not! (If that makes sense?!)
Barry recommended places to go and see, which were all worth the trip (again we had been slightly apprehensive about sightseeing with small children in the height of Summer). We ate out a couple of times at Da Silvano's, a pizza place in the village, which had good food and a friendly owner (Omar). We also tried a more up market fish restaurant in nearby Passignano, which was also good.
All in all, highly recommended. We would definitely go back.
Mrs. S.H. and family, UK staying in Castelonchio. Feb 2013
Aceronina
“ Aceronina ”
A lovely apartment in a delightful setting with views across the valley to the delightful hill town of Citta della Pieve. Charming family - very helpful. It was great to have food (and wine!) laid in on arrival, by arrangement with Olivia. Excellent and detailed instructions and suggestions for restaurants and services in the folder. The kitchen perhaps the best provided of any place we have stayed at. Nice quiet pool. Lots to do in the area.
Some suggestions: A sign to indicate Aceronina on the final turning on the white road - it is not labelled as such! We found that entering Borgo Montefreddo on the satnav worked well. The final ~200M of track is a bit of a nightmare- would be tricky for a small or low vehicle- so could be improved!
Thanks Nigel, I've changed the directions to make them more helpful!
Nigel and family staying in Aceronina. Aug 2025
Aceronina
“ We are all hoping to return again in the future ”
We had a party of five people at the villa for 5 nights - it was perfect. We could not have asked for a more tranquil, relaxing, and private holiday destination. We had the beautiful grounds and pool to ourselves for the entirety of our stay at the villa, and we thoroughly enjoyed this. We made use of the lovely big pool daily - playing pool volleyball as well as doing laps. It is meticulously maintained, as are all of the outside grounds of the property.
Inside the villa is a beautiful large kitchen which allowed all five of us to prepare food at the same time. In fact all of the rooms in the villa are large which gave us ample room to relax inside when it was too hot to be outside. The kitchen is well stocked with all utensils and spices needed to create meals. The bathrooms were very clean and ample bath and pool towels were provided.
The villa is air-conditioned, with controls in all rooms, and in conjunction with the shutters on all windows the villa was kept lovely and cool even on the hottest days that we were there. The view from the outside balcony/patio was absolutely breathtaking, clearly seeing across the valley to the hilltop village on the other side, many kilometres away.
We were welcomed by Olivia, the owner, and her daughter who allowed us to check-in early. It was comforting knowing that Olivia lives at one of the other houses on the property, however we were also given complete privacy.
We highly recommend this villa for a restful holiday, and we are all hoping to return again in the future.
Guy and family staying in Aceronina. Jul 2025
Aceronina
“ A genuine old stylish Tuscany villa in a magical setting ”
This is a big villa for six people - ideal for a family or group of friends. Each stylishly decorated bedroom is spacious and has its own luxurious bathroom. We had three generations of the family staying, and there was always space for everyone to do their own thing, with a large sitting room/lounge/dining room, a big country well equipped country kitchen, and a convenient loggia/verandah for outdoor meals overlooking the spectacular scenery down the Val di Chiana and across to the medieval hilltop town of Citta della Pieve. We loved the original farmhouse tiles, the beamed ceilings, comfortable furniture, art and stylish furnishings. Olivia provides a lot of tourist information, and fantastic art, literature and picture books on the area and Italy in general, as well as personal recommendations for local restaurants. We took her advice and went to a spectacular restaurant in Citta della Pieve, and another in San Casciano dei Bagni, both within 20 minutes drive. There are also small groceries within a short drive away, where you can buy a grand selection of local cheeses, hams, prosciutto, olives and other vegetables.
The pool was a good size for lap swimming as well as lounging about. We appreciated the tote bag gifts and pool towels. We all enjoyed the beautiful setting, except for one problem: near the villa on this large estate, there was a horse paddock surrounded by forest (with deer!), and this proved ideal conditions for horse flies which are a terrible scourge in hot weather, as they have a painful bite (they can even bite through clothing or sunbed mesh), leaving a swollen itchy sore for days. Some of us suffered more than others, who were able to fend them off with insect repellent. Fortunately, the flies were restricted to one area and did not come near the house, which was high up on the first floor, and also had screened windows.
We all loved this villa and would highly recommend it. Olivia and her adult children were very helpful and responsive hosts, providing lots of information and sorting any problems very quickly. We only encountered one difficulty, which was in initially finding the villa because the coordinates given in our instructions were incorrect, and our GPS led us almost 15 kilometers away down an almost impassable track, before we realised there must be a mistake in the directions. The local village of Piazze was not mentioned in the instructions, and although we were told the villa was called Aceronina, no one used this name, and it was always called Montefreddo. Eventually after phone calls to our host, Olivia, her daughter rescued us, and came to meet us in Piazze to lead us to the villa. However, the instructions need to be corrected to save others a wild goose chase. This is a beautiful villa in a lovely peaceful spot, with wonderful tourist sites in the vicinity, and gave us a relaxing and happy holiday.
Wendy and Mark from New Zeland staying in Aceronina. Aug 2024
Aceronina
“ An Italian Gem! ”
This is our first stay here. Having stayed in the area previously, we were taken aback by the panoramic views from the terrace. The accommodation is superb! It is very comfortable and well equipped. Our hosts were charming and helpful, especially about the restaurant recommendations in the local towns. All of which we found to be very charming. The lasagne from the local butchers in Piazze is a must!!
Heather & family from UK staying in Aceronina. Jun 2024
Aceronina
“ A great week in the Tuscan countryside ”
We recently spent a week at Aceronina with members of our family, celebrating major birthdays and important anniversaries. We could hardly have chosen a better location! The views go on for ever in several directions, and never failed to delight, even on the day when storm clouds came sweeping in from the south.
The accommodation is spacious and extremely well equipped and comfortable, and the kitchen has everything you could ask for if you want to cook for yourself. However, you would be denying yourself a great deal if you didn’t explore at least some of the fine restaurants to be found in the area. We really enjoyed dinner at Osteria Rinaldi, in Piazze, just 5 minutes down the road, and the carnivores in the group raved about the mixed grill enjoyed at the restaurant at the castle in Radico-fani. However, the highlight was the celebratory dinner prepared and served for us “at home”. We really appreciated all the help received from Invitation to Tuscany in booking the week, and spe-cially in helping organise our special dinner.
Lounging by the pool was an important part of our stay, but there is also a great deal of interest in the surrounding area. A week was way too short a time, but besides Radicofani and Piazze, we were also able to visit San Casciano dei Bagni and Montalcino, (home of the famous Brunello wine, but also home to a very interesting leather goods store). Siena was also within easy reach for a day’s outing.
Altogether it was a wonderful week, and special thanks must go to Olivia, the owner, for providing such comfortable, well equipped surroundings.
Neville & family from Canada staying in Aceronina. May 2023
Aceronina
“ The villa was even better than expected ”
Our stay at Aceronina was the favorite part of our trip. The villa was even better than expected....Very spacious and lovely...especially the view. We got lost (followed the GPS) on the way and Olivia, the owner came to get us and lead us to the villa. We also had someone recommended by Olivia come in one night to fix a wonderful dinner for us.
Also thanks to Dan of Invitation to Tuscany for all your help. Any time I had questions, they were promptly answered and much help was offered. Would definitely do this again.
S L S from NC, USA staying in Aceronina. Sep 2018
Francesca
“ Stunning location and wonderful house ”
We loved our stay here. The views from the house - and of course from the tower - were amazing.The house was characterful and comfortable. The garden and grounds were beautiful and the hot tub very well used.
Rosado was the perfect host We all appreciated the delicious buffet waiting for us in our arrival. He was helpful and informative and answered all our questions about the area.
Highly recommended villa
Liz and family staying in Francesca. Oct 2025
Francesca
“ A real experience of the Italian lifestyle ”
Our stay at Francesca was beautiful. Big property with a refreshing pool after a day of exploring Tuscany were the perfect combination. We had a real experience of the Italian lifestyle. The owner, Rosado, was very welcoming and helpful with his tips about places where to go. He was also available 24/7 which is very generous. The organized vine tasting and the delicious breakfasts were a beautiful experience. We are greatfull on his hospitality during our stay. We are definitely coming back.
Antonija, Germany staying in Francesca. Aug 2023
Francesca
“ Even more beautiful than the pictures ”
Francesca is even more beautiful than the pictures. There was plenty of space and our group was very comfortable. The en suite bathrooms and air conditioners are a huge luxury. The pool area is beautiful and the landscaping is wonderful. Rosado the owner is amazingly hospitable, kind, knowledgeable, and very responsive. We loved our stay and will definitely be returning.
Thomas C. staying in Francesca. Jul 2023
Villa Alessandro
“ Lovely house and tremendous swimming pool - great for families. ”
The location is superb. The host arranged for good bicycles and we enjoyed exploring the surrounding countryside.
Colin and family, US staying in Villa Alessandro. Aug 2026
Villa Alessandro
“ A wonderful week in Tuscany ”
This was a great villa for three generations - my husband and me, our two sons and their wives and 3 grandchildren aged 3, 6 and 8.
The pool was incredible and the provision of already inflated rings and lilos was much appreciated by kids big and small. There were plentiful sun beds and cushions, although limited shade by the pool - just one umbrella, the other was shading a table. The view from the pool was stunning, I could have (and did) spend hours looking at it.
The airconditioning was invaluable (cost around EUR250 for the week) but half the family are Americans and they can't live without aircon!!
It was convenient to the airport (just 45 minutes from Pisa) and provided a few local outings. Lucca is outstanding, Montecatini Alto via the funicular was also wonderful - an interesting church and history, with some excellent restaurants. We also went to Vinci, but were less impressed but had a lovely meal in a small cafe. We could have gone further afield but the villa pool was too inviting!
The local town had the best icecream we have had for years and 68 flavours - including chocolate orange. Bliss.
If I had any criticism, it was that there was no where for all 12 of us to sit and the outside seating adjacent to the kitchen was not shaded from noon onwards. That and there was no bread knife - there is now!
Overall a really super holiday in a fabulous villa and great location.
Alison and family, US and UK staying in Villa Alessandro. Jul 2026
Villa Alessandro
“ Stunning views ”
We absolutely loved Italy and the children had a wonderful time. They especially loved the large swimming pool. The pool and surrounding countryside were stunning! Thanks again for all your help in making it such a smooth process.
Kate and family from UK staying in Villa Alessandro. Aug 2023
Casa Etrusca
“ A little slice of heaven in Castelmuzio! ”
This beautiful villa does not disappoint. From the moment you walk through the large double doors, you are greeted with stunning furnishings, a stocked kitchen, incredibly comfortable bedding and plenty of bathrooms. The patio, landscaping and plunge pool just add to the allure of this little slice of heaven. We did not want to leave. But when we did, we were just a short drive from vineyards, restaurants and other gorgeous towns located in the area.
Karlie, US staying in Casa Etrusca. Jul 2024
Casa Etrusca
“ A fabulous house in a great location to make the most of your time in Tuscany ”
Great location that allowed us day trips to more than 10 different towns and cities. Excellent design and decoration of the house and all amenities. Air con worked, very functional kitchen and all bedrooms and bathrooms very comfortable. Easy to access washing and various relaxation areas made it a pleasure to stay in. Concierge Paola was a huge help in arranging restaurants and all her recommendations were fabulous!
Mark, Australia staying in Casa Etrusca. Jul 2024
Valdorcia
“ Lovely Villa with Magnificent View ”
Villa d’Orcia is an elegant older house overlooking Val d’Orcia. It offers good bedding, a well equipped kitchen, functional bathrooms, a variety of herbs, Gelasio who oversees the house during the owner’s absence, two dogs and two cats who will make you feel right at home! Oh, and a stunning, private swimming pool.
It would be good to develop more shaded areas with good garden furniture. The dirt and gravel road needs work.
All in all, very delightful!
Carol & family staying in Valdorcia. Jul 2023
Valdorcia
“ Peace, tranquillity, no neighbours, a lovely garden with the most beautiful view. ”
This is very much "borrowing" a much loved but probably 1970s lovely Italian family holiday house, once a farm, on a remote hillside - not a standard holiday rental property with pristine white walls and health and safety certificates in abundance.
So you get a real experience of Val d'Orcia as published by Iris Origo. It is a very happy house with a lovely well-tended garden that grows on you as the week progresses but you need to dispense with some modern comforts and just relax into the beautiful scenery and exist with the wild things that live in the forest!
Plenty to do within a short drive including Al Foce gardens and if you start missing the high life you just pop up to the spanking brand new Monteverdi hotel (and wellbeing centre) for evening negronis or Aperolspritz's in the sunset and let the car just roll back down the hill when satiated! Some great local restaurants too but why not take the River Cafe Italian cookbook and try some things out using local produce? Arezzo , Pienza etc all an hour's drive away for cultural intake.
If you are at home in the countryside, like animals and want to do the real Italy off the beaten track with a bit of adventure thrown in then this is a jewel. If you are at all high maintenance, prone to complaining about the facilities, dislike driving off-road, with kids who won't sit still for 2 seconds then you should be in Rome not Val d'Orcia... or get a life!
PS. The secret of finding the property, which isn't easy on arrival, is to use Google Maps and drop a pin. An option is to get cheaper BA flights on Thursday, stay at Wine Resort Dievole in Chianti on the saving, and then drive to Val d'Orcia on the Saturday in plenty of time - well stocked up with mixed crate of Dievole chianti rose & olive oil to last the week.
Simon et al. staying in Valdorcia. Jul 2023
Valdorcia
“ ...a jewel in the Tuscan countryside ”
We had a really lovely time in Valdorcia - all the family thought the house and location was great - a jewel in the Tuscan countryside. Our daughter and son in law would like to revisit with friends at some point in time. All yours and Sarah's assistance was much appreciated with the wonderful catering we had one night and all the travel instructions. Matteo the owner was charming and helpful also on the 2 occasions we had to reach out to him . We spent most evenings either having a barbecue or other in house cooking as we had the grand kids with us but obviously we were out three nights with the family wedding and also tried a recommended restaurant in Sarteano on the Valdorcia house list which was great.
L.R. and family, UK staying in Valdorcia. Jan 2019
Valdorcia
“ ... a beautiful old stone farmhouse ”
Valdorcia is a beautiful old stone farmhouse sitting high up on a sloping property overlooking the valley of the same name. Access is partly via a bumpy, unpaved road for just over a kilometre, which some may find challenging but we found added to the charm and deterred unnecessary traffic. The house is quite remote with no neighbours close by. Because of the altitude of the property, we found it breezy when we were there in September, but that didn’t stop us enjoying the magnificent view from the front of the house.
Rooms are large with high ceilings. Downstairs is an enormous kitchen/dining room with a large table seating eight, as well as a small area with a table for four. The kitchen is “rustic” but well equipped with six gas rings, a wall oven, a large old fireplace for grilling, and a new dishwasher. The pantry, which contains the fridge/freezer (and adjacent powder (cloak) room) is around 15 paces from the kitchen sink which makes for lots of walking. However, given the quality and quantity of Tuscan food, lots of walking is a good thing.
The main floor also has a small sitting area at the end of the dining/kitchen and a bedroom with en suite bathroom.
Upstairs there are five bedrooms, two with en suite bathrooms, and one particularly charming “library” bedroom. The communal bathroom is enormous and its anteroom has a washbasin and a washing machine. There is a lovely sitting room with comfortable sofas and chairs and a huge stone fireplace. A good place to sip Limoncello after dinner.
The caretaker lives on the property with his two friendly dogs. He brought us fresh figs, huge fresh eggs from his chickens, dark red, sweet tomatoes from the garden, as well as lettuces and onions. He is a real asset to the property, putting out garden chairs in the morning and maintaining the grounds beautifully, including the large swimming pool.
Sarteano, the local town, has a small but well-stocked supermarket, as well as some superb restaurants. We were given a list of recommended restaurants in the area by the owner of the farmhouse and every one was wonderful. On two occasions, Rita from Sarteano arrived with her bags and made three-course dinners of typical Tuscan food – enough for the eight of us for lunch next day as well.
The autostrada was fairly close (20 minutes drive) so visiting other areas from this property is relatively easy.
J.G. with Reid Party, Canada staying in Valdorcia. Sep 2017
Valdorcia
“ ...a place to be treasured ”
We have just returned from a wonderful visit to Valdorcia. This lovely house sits high up, with a magnificent view over the Val d’Orcia, which was a constant source of pleasure and inspiration. The house is large, with six bedrooms, but occupancy is limited to 8 people, which means that there is plenty of room for all. There are four shower rooms (two en suite, and one of the others has a bathtub too), and there is the added convenience of a separate toilet on the ground floor.
The kitchen is large and exceptionally well equipped, with more than enough pots and pans to satisfy even the most ardent cook. The dining table seats eight comfortably, and there is a very convenient seating area just off the kitchen, ideally placed so that those not involved in meal preparation can provide a stream of advice. The living room, on the first floor, has comfortable seating for at least eight people, with plenty of light and a fireplace for cooler evenings.
We were welcomed to Valdorcia by charming owners Matteo and his wife. They are justifiably proud of their house, and pay guests the compliment of furnishing it with family possessions. However, as beautiful and comfortable as the house and surroundings are, most the best thing about our stay was Gelasio, the caretaker. He lives on the premises, and has the knack of being totally unobtrusive unless needed. It seems that he can turn his hand to anything, but we particularly appreciated the way he produced fresh eggs, salad greens and figs almost before we knew that we needed them. Under his care the grounds and pool are kept immaculate.
We had two excellent meals prepared for us by Rita, who came in to cook, and also enjoyed several restaurants in the area. It is true that it is difficult to find a substandard meal in Italy, but we would like to say that the restaurants recommended in the house notes were outstanding. Other reviewers have rightly praised Ristorante Santa Chiara in Sarteano, but good as it is, we felt that Osteria da Gagliano also in Sarteano, is even better. All credit to Matteo for these recommendations, and also for sending us to Zi’ Pina in Fiumicino, where we spent our last night in Italy before returning (reluctantly) to Canada. Overall, Valdorcia is a place to be treasured, and returned to as often as possible.
Neville and Jenny Reid staying in valdorcia. Sep 2017
Valdorcia
“ We would love to come again! ”
We loved Valdorcia – the house and grounds had the most wonderful atmosphere which we fell in love with as soon as we arrived and met the owner. So many glorious things about it but perhaps above all the view from the property which is stunning whether sitting under the big oak tree in front of the house which provides such marvellous shade or from down at the pool. I absolutely loved early morning walks up to Castligioncello del Trinoro where the staff were always very friendly and it was possible to get coffee and a pastry on the terrace with the spectacular view back down over the house. We were also fortunate enough to catch one of the concerts there – quite amazing – such an astonishing quality of musician performing without charge to the audience and in such an intimate venue.
One of our guests and myself are keen walkers so we also enjoyed walking through the woods above the property to La Foce (War in Val D’Orcia is such an interesting read if you have visited the area).
The house itself was very comfortable and we all loved the fact that it felt like such a home – several of us are avid readers and would have loved to be able to read Italian as just seeing the depth and range of books was amazing. The kitchen was very well equipped and we ate in a great deal but we had a good dinner at Santa Chiara in Sarteano, a wonderful lunch at Osteria La Porta in Monticchiello and a very good casual lunch in Radicofani.
Above all though we would all like to say a huge thank you to Gelasio who was such a kindly and humble presence throughout the week – our Italian was almost non-existent as is his English so I was constantly anxious that when we tried to ask him something we sent him to a paroxysm of anxiety, however, he communicated particularly well with one of our number who is a wonderful listener and a great gardener and I will never forget him bringing her a wonderful basket of figs – so beautifully presented with the basket all lined with fig leaves.
We would love to come again!
E.H. and friends, UK staying in Valdorcia. Dec 2017
Valdorcia
“ We had a great time at Valdorcia ”
We had a great time at Valdorcia, and could not fault the house. In particular, the owner Matteo and his wife were very helpful in showing us around on arrival. The housekeeper, Gelasio, was around most of the time but we didn’t find this intrusive. Despite the language barrier, we were just about able to communicate with Gelasio when needed. The gardens were really well kept and the views across the valley were fantastic.
The house is along a rough steep track, about 1 mile off the main road. This was not an issue for us but might be worth warning people about this.
We ate out at Ristorante Santa Chiara in nearby Sarteano which we would recommend. Good food and service in an interesting location of an ex convent.
Mr. P.C. with family and friends, UK staying in Valdorcia. Jun 2016
Borgo Rinnovato
“ Gorgeous property ”
Travel advisor since 1981, traveled around the world. By far, the best Villa/home experience. Gorgeous property !! Every room in Villa is equally superb. En-suite bathrooms in all. Think old world villa vibe with enhancements of a new build. Serene property & excellent staff.
Kathleen G. staying in Borgo Rinnovato. Sep 2024
Borgo Rinnovato
“ 60th Birthday ”
I have traveled to many places in the world, this place and the staff are the best I have experienced so 5 big stars from here. Can definitely be recommended.
Boye from Denmark staying in Borgo Rinnovato. May 2024
Ginestreto
“ A beautiful villa in the countryside near Siena ”
Ginestreto is a lovely house about 20 minutes drive from Siena, set in woods below Villa Cetinale. Apart from it being tricky to find, it was ideal for our family. Well appointed attractive house with a fabulous pool. We were extremely well supported by Oksana, who looks after the house when the owner is away. She could not have been more charming and helpful. All in all we had a memorable and enjoyable stay.
James and family, UK staying in Ginestreto. Jul 2026
Adriana
“ Tuscan dream ”
Wow what a dream location. This is exactly what we pictured for our time in Tuscany. The team was exceptional in making us feel right at home from the minute we stepped onto the farm!
Alex, South Africa staying in Adriana. Oct 2023
Adriana
“ Everything we had hoped for ”
The host could not be more gracious and accommodating. Doing the on site dinners is a must as they are fun interaction and the food is great. The villas are spacious and clean with a rustic feel.
An amazing property!!!!
You need a car. The coop grocery is about 10 minutes drive and has a good selection. Sign up for on site dinners. Great experience