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Sleeps:
2 - 4
Single Bedrooms:
0
Double Bedrooms:
1
Bathrooms:
1
Type:
Apartment
Property #:
14877
Nearest Town:
San Casciano in Val di Pesa
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Overall
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Peace & Quiet
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View
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Outside Area
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Living Room
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Bedroom
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Bathroom
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Location
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Kitchen
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Swimming Pool |
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Baby Beds |
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Dishwasher |
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Shared Outside Area |
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Based on 13 Reviews |
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Overall
Peace and Quiet
View
Outside Area
Living Room
Kitchen
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
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Overall:
We had a really lovely week. The location is just great and our accommodation was spacious and attractive.
Enjoyed Most:
The location with lovely views across the valley
Unpleasant Surprises:
The beds - not very comfortable, and the fact that the shower was in the bath and had to be held by hand. The lighting was poor also - difficult for reading at night.
Surrounding Area:
Good proximity to a lot of small lovely towns and well as only 20 min drive to Florence. We found parking easily outside a city gate.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The nearest small town was Bargino. It was at the bottom of the hill. With young children, I would say it definitely wasn't within walking distance as the walk back up the hill would be tough. There was an excellent Coop supermarket in San Casciano - 5 minutes drive away.
Tips or Restaurants:
The kitchen was basically stocked but had everything we needed for cooking simple Italian meals. The wine tasting and tour of the castle once a week was a lot of fun and very interesting - well worth doing.
April, 2007
Overall:
I appreciate that the description given by RentVillas was accurate and the property was, in fact, even better than I had anticipated. It was an ideal vacation spot for rest and relaxation and a great base for touring the surrounding Tuscan countryside.
Enjoyed Most:
The estate was beautifully situated and the grounds were lovely. Our apartment was clean, spacious and tastefully decorated. We also enjoyed the large swimming pool, table tennis, mountain bikes, and barbecue.
Unpleasant Surprises:
The only thing that dampened our vacation were the mosquitoes. Also, there are some small lizards that can get in the apartment. We weren't bothered by this but some people might not enjoy having reptiles as extra guests.
Surrounding Area:
The estate is well situated and close to many charming small towns. We particularly enjoyed Panzano and visiting its famous butcher and "macelleria," Vinci, the home of Leonardo da Vinci, Greve's excellent enoteca, and the one day cooking course in Badio di Passignano is well worth the price of 130 euros.
Nearby Events or Locales:
For supplies, groceries, using Internet, etc, we went to San Casciano but it is about 5 or 6 kilometers away so a car is necessary.
Tips or Restaurants:
Bring bug repellant and ask for the plug-in kind that the estate provides.
The Osteria di Passignano is very good and its winery sells an excellent Chianti.
July, 2006
Enjoyed Most:
The outdoor areas were wonderful, especially the pool. Easy access to the Florence-Siena highway made sightseeing easy. The kids especially enjoyed the ping pong table.
Unpleasant Surprises:
The noise from the Florence-Siena highway was intrusive at times.
Surrounding Area:
Beautiful countryside, wonderful towns, great art.
Nearby Events or Locales:
San Casciano was the nearest town and it was not in walking distance.
July, 2006
Enjoyed Most:
The location, which was so close to Florence, yet in an setting that made you feel so far away.
The views were wonderful. The apartment was spacious and beautiful, as were the grounds and the pool.
Unpleasant Surprises:
The pool could have been warmer.
Surrounding Area:
There were many diverse little villages to explore.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The nearest small village, Montefiridolfi, was a couple kilometers away and within walking distance.
Tips or Restaurants:
Try great wine tasting in a local Enoteca.
June, 2006
Overall:
Loved it, would definitely go back. Would love to try the other apartments out too, some with patio's, etc.
Enjoyed Most:
The property was beautiful. You feel as though you are living in a small medieval community with the castle, the outbuildings, the walls, all lending to the ambiance. With 13 total apartments you are aware that others might be around but we rarely saw anyone!
Unpleasant Surprises:
The shower takes some getting used to but it's the same in most villas I have stayed in in Europe.
Surrounding Area:
The area was beautiful, right between Florence and Siena, so all of the hill towns are within reach. You have the Chianti region to your east, western hill towns to the west, and the best cured meats a short drive away in Greve.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Bargino. You could walk there if needed but there wasn't much of a reason to go there other than the telephone.
Tips or Restaurants:
If you want to dine really well, visit Arnolfo in Colle val de' Elsa. World class, 275 Euros for 2 but easily makes a top ten list in any region. A little more dressy than usual but no ties or jackets required.
Directions:
Watch the turns going up the hill.
Check In Out:
Functions like a small hotel in this regard.
October, 2005
Overall:
We are already dreaming of our next trip, and will stay at the same property.
Enjoyed Most:
The entire setting was wonderful and peaceful. In addition, it was such easy access to the highway--perfect for day trips around Tuscany plus just a few minutes from Florence. In addition, the staff were wonderful and helpful, especially Kristiana. Also, the hammock was perfect for a nap and watching the sunset.
Be sure to do the tour of the castle and the wine tasting! Jillian was knowledgeable about the wines and olive oil, and really fun. It was a terrific evening.
Unpleasant Surprises:
Minor issue, but the bed was harder than we prefer.
Surrounding Area:
Our first day we did nothing except walk around the surrounding area and enjoy the place. We walked along vineyards with grapes ready for harvest, olive trees, through a tiny village and to an Etruscan tomb. Such an interesting and relaxing day.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Nearest small town, Bargino, with a store and pay phone was within walking distance, however the walk back up the hill would not be worth the time spent.
Another wonderful town just a short distance away was Montefiordolfi, with a terrific restaurant.
Tips or Restaurants:
Great restaurants recommended to us by the terrific staff were Mamma Rossa, the little place A Casa Mia? in Montefiordolfi, and Nonno in San Casciano.
The kitchen was well stocked, except for no toaster. The linens and towels were nice. We were glad we brought tissues and a roll of paper towels, however.
Directions:
Easy.
October, 2005
Overall:
This is a wonderful place to stay for a Tuscany vacation. We recommend it highly.
Enjoyed Most:
The villa itself, pool, castle and grounds combined to provide a wonderful setting for our stay. It was a serene environment, very much connected to the heritage of Tuscany, uncrowded and beautiful. My wife and I began to unwind from the moment we arrived. Our two kids loved the pool. All of the staff went out of their way to be helpful and welcoming. The breakfasts, at 9 Euros were great, though not cheap.
Unpleasant Surprises:
In late June plan on fighting mosquitoes in the living room from dusk to dawn. There are no screens on the windows. When we checked in, the staff forgot to give us the plug-in repellants which they have. Be sure to ask for a couple of them. Once we got them it helped quite a bit. There are no laundry facilities and the shower requires ingenuity.
Surrounding Area:
The villa is ideally located, quite close to Florence, Siena, and San Gimignano. The smaller of the two roads going tthrough the Pesa Valley is beautiful going through San Casciano. For a longer day trip consider hitting Montecatini Alto.
Nearby Events or Locales:
If you're into trekking you could theoretically hoof it to Bargino which has a little market. San Casciano, which is a five-minute drive, has a supermarket. It's worth spending a bit of time there.
Tips or Restaurants:
If your stay starts on Saturday aftyernoon, hit a market before arriving as many restaurants and markets are closed on Sunday and Monday. Mama Rosa's was the only local restaurant we tried. I would recommend packing some mosquito netting for a bed canopy or to tape to the windows unless you want to resort to DEET. Perhaps a mosquito coil might be helpful.
Check In Out:
If they had given us the plug-in mosquito gizmo it would have been great. Everyone was extremely helpful and virtually everybody spoke English.
June, 2005
Overall:
Overall it was great and we would definitly stay here again!
Enjoyed Most:
The living area was superb and allowed us to entertain on one evening with no problems - catering for 15-20 people. The pool was beautiful and the complex was very well maintained. It was quite breathtaking.
Unpleasant Surprises:
It didn't have it's own outside eating area, which meant you were limited to the villa when you were preparing food, unless you went to the BBQ area, but this was a long way away from the villa. With a baby, it would have been ideal if we could have sat out on an evening. We asked if they could put cushions on the furniture opposite the villa, but apparently they only do this for weddings. This was a let down.
Surrounding Area:
The location was fantastic for Florence and access to Montereggioni, Siena etc. San Casciano was also lovely and we enjoyed a few restaurants there.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The nearest town we visited was San Casciano, about a 10-minute drive away. Montefiredolfi is a couple of minutes, but we didn't manage to get there as we were traveling to other areas.
Tips or Restaurants:
As mentioned by another guest, the lack of screens make it difficult to enjoy the evening air, when the mosquitoes are in season. We would suggest that you take citronella candles. Getting to the pool is not for anyone with walking difficulties as it is down a set of steps.
Check In Out:
The information booklet was extremely useful.
May, 2005
Overall:
Caterina, the property hostess, was an absolute joy. She was incredibly helpful and gave us great info on restaurants, shopping and sightseeing. I would love to go back to the property when the pool is open, but I think the crowds everywhere else might be too much...
Enjoyed Most:
The property was more beautiful then we could have ever imagined!!. Our accommodations were spectacular. We had a huge living area and full kitchen to prepare meals. Our bedroom was awesome. Every time we returned home from sightseeing I did feel like a queen returning to her castle.
Unpleasant Surprises:
The only thing that was hard for us to deal with was no enclosed shower. We just don't take time for baths and when we tried to use the hand shower, water went everywhere....but it was part of the experience.
Surrounding Area:
The area was truly breathtaking. We did a lot of touring and just drove around a lot. The local town of San Casciano was wonderful. The restaurants were great and the shopping as good as in Florence or any of the outlets. We do not speak any Italian and we found all the people were wonderful, kind and helpful.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The nearest town is Montefiridolfi and it has a wonderful restaurant called Mia Casa, but reservations are necessary, as it only has about 8 tables. The town is not really within walking distance, but there are some beautiful walks in the area.
Tips or Restaurants:
We enjoyed Greve in Chianti and a very small town close by called Montefioralle. You can only walk it. There is a wonderful restaurant there called Cantinetti di Maria. We had a great wine tour with Nicole at Vignamaggio, scheduled by Caterina from the castle. We were fortunate enough to be on a group of two and learned so much about the Chianti and Chianti Classico, plus an excellent lunch to go with it. Other towns we really enjoyed were San Gimignano, but is has gotten very touristy, and Volterra, a short ride from San Gimignano. If you are looking for Pottery or Ceramics, then Montelupo is the place to go. Not only do they have a great selection, but they will gladly make and ship whatever you want - and it is reasonably priced
April, 2005
Enjoyed Most:
The location was wonderful and the property was beautiful.
Unpleasant Surprises:
The daybed and the sleeper sofa in the living room had uncomfortable mattresses.
Surrounding Area:
Very convenient for day trips to Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, etc.
Tips or Restaurants:
The Chianti produced at the villa is great.
October, 2004
Overall:
I recommend Rentvillas.com to all who ask me where I stayed. The property was more than I expected and all that I could have asked for. I was very relaxed and comfortable at this property, and wished that I could have stayed longer.
Enjoyed Most:
The castle was fabulous! The renovation of the old castle and outbuildings was very well done. I felt like I was in an old medieval castle, yet I had all the modern amenities of lights and running water! The view from the top of the hill where we were was spectacular! Out the window of my apartment was a classic Tuscan hillside complete with vineyards, olive trees, Italian villas, and tall willowy cypresses. And the night that we had an electrical storm, and I had a window seat on the most spectacular lightening show I have ever seen! The rooms were bigger than I had thought they would be and the kitchen was complete with a dishwasher. Stone walls and stone floors kept the place cool even on the warmer days and the breezes through the windows were delightfully balmy. The on-site masseuse was outstanding! I enjoyed Bruna's services twice in the week I was there.
Unpleasant Surprises:
I was a little put off when I asked why the cushions were not on the beautiful metal furniture in the garden right outside my apartment, and I was told that they were only put out for weddings.
Road noise from the highway in the valley below made for a constant drone of auto noise. Not exactly the total quiet like the countryside can be, but not loud enough to keep me awake at night. The beds could use replacing with new, less soft and squeaky ones.
Surrounding Area:
The area was a perfect location for enjoying Northern Tuscany. I was only 30 minutes from Florence and less than an hour from San Gimignano and Siena. All were day trips that were pretty easy by car. All must see towns!
Nearby Events or Locales:
The nearest small town that had many restaurants and shopping was San Casciano which was about a 10 minute drive by car. Bargino was just at the bottom of the castle's hill, but only one restaurant and a mini-market.
Tips or Restaurants:
Tuscany is beautiful and best seen by car. Although I was stressed every time I had to drive the freeways or in the larger cities, I would not have seen all the beautiful countryside without it. And even when I got lost, it just added to the adventure of new and beautiful places.
Don't leave the windows open at night if you don't like bugs. Without window screens, big flying bugs and mosquitoes were frequent visitors after hours.
September, 2004
Overall:
We had an extremely beautiful, peaceful and romantic time at Machiavelli's Castle. We even returned later in our trip to show our daughters the estate. They loved it.
I would recommend this property to anyone who wants a strong taste of history, beauty, quiet and antiquity. Other guests we met were equally enamored of the Castle.
Enjoyed Most:
Stunning views from our room and the beautiful pool. High ceilings and large rooms; stonework everywhere. The historical factor of staying in a castle with such a rich history was of great interest to us. Also, the staff was very helpful and we participated in a great castle tour and wine tasting. Also, my husband and I each got an Ayurvedic massage from the facilities - a wonderful masseuse, Bruna. I recommend to future guest that you make the time for a massage and a bit of downtime afterwards.
Unpleasant Surprises:
No screens. I know, no one has screens so we had to keep our windows closed at night to keep the bugs out. Once we bought a fan we were okay.
Surrounding Area:
Picture perfect landscapes fabulous food lavender- and lemon-scented air great proximity to Firenze, Siena, Lucca, Pisa, Monteriggioni and yes, Venezia and Cinque Terre, our new favorite place.
Nearby Events or Locales:
San Casciano. No, not within walking distance. We were up so high that we tried not to drive anywhere without running our errands before returning to the castle.
Tips or Restaurants:
Definitely bring a fan if you're there in summer. The castle is up high so the breezes are beautiful but the windows must be closed at night.
We had a fabulous dinner at Le Piccolo Castello in Monteriggioni. It opens at 7pm and they have a beautiful garden dining room where we had local Chianti and pasta with truffles and cream. Tremendous. We recommend getting one of the good bikes available at the castle and riding along the castle's ridge at sunset
Check In Out:
Catharine, the property manager, was very professional and helpful.
July, 2004
Enjoyed Most:
We thoroughly enjoyed the breathtaking view that was available to us from any of the windows of our property. We also loved going for walks along the main road leading to the property, as well as to a small neighbouring village. The staff at the Castello was very helpful in offering driving directions to some of our intended destinations, and there was an excellent wine tasting available to guests of the castle.
Unpleasant Surprises:
We have no complaints about the property. Everything exceeded our expectations.
Surrounding Area:
The view is simply spectacular, with hills, olive groves and vineyards everywhere one looks. Driving from town to town is very enjoyable, and we had some memorable meals in some quiet, local villages.
Nearby Events or Locales:
San Casciano was the nearest town, but was not within walking distance, a 10-minute drive.
Tips or Restaurants:
Wine glasses were not included in the kitchen furnishings. Our favourite restaurant was Mamma Rossa, a five minute drive from the property. Details of many good local restaurants are available from the reception office.
April, 2004
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