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Customer Reviews

Overall:
We had a wonderful week at San Barberino 1. Very relaxing and pleasant stay. Great facilities, and Cecile, the property manager, is fantastic. Helped us with everything we needed during the week.
Enjoyed Most:
The ambiance and the view.
Enjoyed Least:
The upstairs bedrooms could do with a fan as it can get warm.
Surrounding Area:
Everything. The village is picturesque and perfect. The more we explored the more we found. Shops, small supermarkets, and restaurants. The village is small enough to easily stroll through but large enough to have some great places to eat and cute shops. Lots of surrounding villages to explore and Florence and Siena both within easy reach.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The villa is on the edge of San Barberino--it's a 2-minute stroll to the centre of the old town.
Directions:
We had a GPS so finding the property was no problem.

Philip, July, 2012

Overall:
I can say for sure that we'll stay here again!
Enjoyed Most:
Staff was great, very responsive. Parking easy. Walks and runs and views from the property are all very pleasant. If you're looking for something quiet and off the beaten path but with no real sacrifices, this is the place.
Surrounding Area:
Several excellent destinations within easy reach. We go in the early part of the day when it's cooler, then return home to enjoy the pool in the heat, then either make our own meal in the full kitchen, or take the short walk up the hill to one of the two fine restaurants in the nearby walled old town with killer views of hills and hilltowns to the southeast, drenched in golden light from the setting sun.

Curt, July, 2012

Overall:
We loved our stay at the villa. The town of Barberino is quaint and picturesque. It has a view that pictures just can't capture.
Enjoyed Most:
We loved the view and the pool. During our week, we had very high temperatures and we needed the pool to cool down as there is no air conditioning in the home. It would be a plus if it were added.
Enjoyed Least:
Lack of air conditioning. All but one of the bedrooms had a view. That particular bedroom is also very dark. When we were there, construction was taking place next door so if you happened to be in that bedroom, you would hear them in the morning. Otherwise, the other 3 bedrooms were very quiet with no noise; no construction was heard in those rooms.
Surrounding Area:
It is in a fabulous location to explore the Chianti region and Tuscan towns such as Certaldo, San Gimignano, Siena, Florence, etc.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The villa is situated just below the town and you can see the main archway from your residence. Very easy walking, beautiful town.
Tips or Restaurants:
The pizza restaurant next to the church is wonderful and has great food. There is also a restaurant down the street that serves food in their garden and everything is homemade. You can't go wrong getting authentic Italian food.
Directions:
Yes, I followed Mapquest with written instructions and no GPS but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting GPS. We drove right by the location because we didn't know what the front of the villa looked like. There is a gate with secure parking. I suggest a view from the street will help people find the home.
Check In Out:
Cecile is wonderful and does her job superbly. She is very welcoming and helps you arrange whatever you need, wine tastings, restaurant recommendations, etc.

Linda, June, 2012

Overall:
Wonderful experience for the whole family.
Enjoyed Most:
Cooling off in the pool everyday and also the very nice, helpful property manager.
Enjoyed Least:
Liked everything, but if I had to pick I'd say that the town was a little off the main path.
Surrounding Area:
Very friendly people and beautiful views.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Walking distance to coffee bar, shops and bus service.
Tips or Restaurants:
No internet in house which allows kids to unplug from Facebook for a while. Could walk up to very nice internet cafe to check email if necessary.

Dora, June, 2012

Overall:
Excellent. Weather in May a pleasant cooler change from South Texas. Situated between modern San Barberino on left of the gate and old San Barberino on right. We never visited modern town. We had plenty of room for 7, including 2 children less than 9 years old. Place was immaculate and dishwasher and laundry facility were very helpful. The manager, Cecile, was delightful and could not have been more helpful with driving suggestions for Florence as well as her availability and willingness to answer all kinds of questions about the area.
Enjoyed Most:
Even though we were "in" a town, the vistas out over a farming/orchard valley were beautiful, as were the spectacular sunsets. A dining table on a spacious patio was perfect for home made meals. Two COOPS were adequate for most food needs, and open until 8 PM. The old town was very pretty, though small, and separate from the new town. We arrived in time for flower festival May 12 and 13, with plenty of wine and cheese and meat and olive oil tasting. The large and very secure parking area is a real plus. Cecile, the manager, as noted above is one of the property's best assets.
Enjoyed Least:
Really, nothing. Privacy was excellent. Views beautiful. In mid-May the swimming pool (kept very clean) was rather cool, but still used on a couple of days. Two almost trivial items I might mention were the lack of a small microwave for reheating items and one uncooperative Italian coffee pot.
Surrounding Area:
The property is located at one end of a series of row houses. However, it opens out on to spacious patio the end and one is really not aware of other homes nearby. Barberino is a small town situated between Florence and Siena, with easy access to both by car, which is necessary, with GPS. Just as important to us was the access to San Gimignano, Volterra, and Monteriggione, smaller towns with great charm, and not to be missed. Driving through country involves passing one winery after another, most with opportunity for sampling fine red wines.
Nearby Events or Locales:
We were "in" San Barberino, though not really. The vista behind property was fields and winery. "New" San Barberino immediately to left of our gate, and "old" San Barberino 50 yards to the right, separated by walled gate. Easy gentle climb to the top.
Tips or Restaurants:
In old town there is an excellent shop with handpainted silk scarves and other items. We visited the pizzeria restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed it. Also, a butcher and a small store selling vegetables.
Directions:
We used GPS which was very helpful. Address was preprogrammed by people where we rented (AVIS) in Florence.

John, May, 2012

Overall:
We all were very satisfied with the property. It was as described and met or exceeded all our expectations.
Enjoyed Most:
The location. Great view. Nice patio. Easy walk to a cafe and three good restaurants. Easy drive (less than an hour) to many of the most popular hill towns.
Enjoyed Least:
No WiFi. Nearest WiFi was in Tavernelle Val di Pesa but it was out of service for the entire week we were there. Also there were no clear directions about how to operate the washing machine, turn on the oven, and turn on the heat. We had to call for help to get them to work.
Surrounding Area:
Beautiful scenery everywhere. Easy access to many restaurants nearby. Well stocked grocery store at the COOP in Tavernelle-- much better than the one in Barberino Val d'Elsa.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Barberino Val d'Elsa was less than 200 meters away.
Tips or Restaurants:
Bring a smart phone with a hefty data package unless the WI-FI situation changes. Restaurants: Borgo di Cortefreda (a bit formal and pricey but very good); there are also two pleasant and inexpensive local restaurants in the central piazza in Barbarino Val D'Elsa.

John, April, 2012

Overall:
Fantastic! The villa was perfect and the town of Barberino Val d'Elsa is a perfect base for exploring the surrounding Chianti area, as well as being a good example of a hilltop medieval town. Our host, Celeste, was a dear--very helpful and friendly.
Enjoyed Most:
The view over the countryside. The close proximity of bars, restaurants, and shops. It was also wonderful to be able to cook dinner from fresh local ingredients.
Enjoyed Least:
The lack of Internet access in the villa was the only downside. There is one bar that has free WiFi for customers. The library was open at irregular hours so we did not take advantage of their Internet.
Surrounding Area:
The beauty of the Tuscan countryside in the autumn and visiting other small towns. Celeste recommended a local winery for a tasting and tour.
Nearby Events or Locales:
We were right in Barberino Val d'Elsa. The gate into the walled central part of the town was less than a block away. It is quite hilly, but the less physically active in our party just walked a little slower up the hill.
Tips or Restaurants:
The pizzeria next to the church is excellent. We also enjoyed the bar/cafe down the street for cappuccino and pastries in the morning. The Bijou has good food, free WiFi and a charming host. Don't miss walking the street and discovering the small shops with local artisan products as well as the bakery/pasta shop.
Directions:
With the address plugged into our GPS we were able, with a couple of wrong turns, to find the property within a reasonable time after leaving Florence traffic.
Check In Out:
Celeste made everything very easy and convenient.

Becky, November, 2011

Overall:
We had a wonderful time at San Barberino 1! Cecile was so great--friendly and very helpful! The property was exactly what we were hoping for. It was perfect!
Enjoyed Most:
Everything! We had amazing Tuscan views and were right in the village, which was a wonderful experience. The rooms were neat, clean, and beautiful.
Surrounding Area:
We enjoyed the views and being so close to restaurants and markets. It is close to everything we wanted to see, like Florence, Pisa, and the Chianti wine region.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The villa is right in the village of Barberino Val D'elsa so we could walk to everything. The village was small and beautiful and it had everything we needed.
Tips or Restaurants:
We thought the villa was well stocked. Renting a car is the best way to get around Tuscany.
Directions:
We used GPS. It said the villa was farther down the road than it was, but we had used Google Maps street view before we left so we knew what the entrance looked like.

Tracy , October, 2011

Overall:
Had a wonderful 7 days. We were traveling with a two year old and the gated entry and the park across the street were great. The location was perfect for morning outings and afternoons at the pool. The view from the terrace was the best.
Enjoyed Most:
The view and the village of Barberino. Celeste was very helpful.
Enjoyed Least:
We could have used some pool toys. The kitchen was well-stocked but measuring cups/spoons would have been nice, as well as screens for the kitchen windows. My husband would have liked to have WiFi.
Surrounding Area:
We liked the proximity to so many wonderful towns and again, the vistas.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Barberino was a three-minute uphill walk.
Tips or Restaurants:
Our nights were cool so a sweater/sweatshirt was needed.
Directions:
The GPS was a must but we did not enter the coordinates.

Renny, July, 2011

Overall:
We loved aour time in San Barberino. The rental was very charming and very well appointed. We were able to have wonderfuls dinners on our terrace overlooking the vineyards.
Enjoyed Most:
The property was very clean and very safe. A key was needed to enter through the beautiful gate. We were able to walk to grocery store, church and 3 good restaurants. The pizza restaurant (not just pizza) was our favorite.
Enjoyed Least:
The property was on the main street but from our apartment, you could not hear any noise.
Surrounding Area:
The Chianti region was breathtaking. Gorgeous lush vineyards.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Poggibonsi was a 5 minute drive. My daughter played tennis there every morning. San Gimingnano was only 20 minutes from the house and Florence was a 30 minute drive.
Tips or Restaurants:
We brought a roll of screen for 2 bathroom and kitchen windows. The bedrooms had screens. Cecile was absolutely delightful. She recommended 2 restaurants in Certaldo. One was full of local families and the other was amazing, set in a vineyard. The building was 800 years old. We had one of our best meals here. More upscale than the other.
Directions:
We made sure to have a GPS in our rental car. We suggest programming it to avoid highways. The country roads are so beautiful and sometimes faster because there was a lot of highway construction.
Check In Out:
Again, Cecile, the property manager was wonderful. We checked in and out with no trouble.

Monika , July, 2011

Overall:
Our overall experience was absolutely wonderful.
Enjoyed Most:
The layout of the home was very helpful for having a little boy who napped and big kids who weren't necessarily quiet. Also the kitchen was well-equipped and the patio was perfect for outdoor meals. Our 12-year old enjoyed being able to walk all by himself to town to buy us our daily breakfast. Our 10-year old loved the pool.
Enjoyed Least:
The beds were hard and uncomfortable, but we know this is standard in most places outside the U.S. so it didn't bother us.
Surrounding Area:
Out the gate and right up the hill is the most beautiful old town area and view. There are two restaurants that overlook the whole area. Don't miss the restaurant called La Fattoria which is off the main road North of Tavernelle. They had the most amazing food we had in our whole two week vacation.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Barberino Val d'Elsa is where the property is located. It has a small grocery. Another town to walk to is Tavernelle; it has a larger grocery. You can walk to it in 15 minutes. Wine is very cheap at the local stores. We enjoyed the cheese; everything that we bought was so fresh.
Tips or Restaurants:
The best gelato and shopping we found was in San Gimignano, a 15-minute drive. We had a wine tasting at the owner's home. Their wine was excellent, their hospitality was warm, and the tasting was a delight.
Directions:
Italian roads are easy to navigate.

Kyle and Gretchen, June, 2011

Overall:
We enjoyed our stay very much...once we got to know the town a bit, we were able to shop with locals. It was very central for bus trips to Florence and Siena and we enjoyed the rural flavor...a bit cooler than we expected, so we piled on extra blankets and duvets.
Enjoyed Most:
The rural setting, the friendly welcome by Cecile, the small town surroundings, a great little restaurant we went to the last night atop the hill.
Enjoyed Least:
It was all good...maybe the addition of WiFi??? We relied on computer rather than cell to make other contacts and find out about nearby attractions.
Surrounding Area:
Gorgeous views... just like we imagined Tuscany to be.
Nearby Events or Locales:
In San Barberino there was a very helpful tourist info service, a small library with computer access, groceries, post office. All within a short walk..UPHILL? which was fine for most of us.
Tips or Restaurants:
Buy toilet paper!!! Do not count on an Internet connection. There is a very nice little restaurant near the church on top of the hill. A dryer would have been nice for laundry, since cool weather made outside drying hard to rely upon.
Directions:
We did use a GPS and found it almost indispensable in this area.
Check In Out:
Cecile was wonderful, warm, smiling, helpful. We loved her!

Betsy, October, 2010

Overall:
We had a wonderful time.
Enjoyed Most:
The house was beautiful. We were pleasantly surprised how much better it looked in reality than on the photos posted on the web site. And the outside view was absolutely spectacular. Cecile was extremely nice to us and helped us many times during our stay.
Enjoyed Least:
It was a little chilly until we figured out how to turn on the heater. We didn't know that the heating is actually available all year round, it just needs to be turned on.
Surrounding Area:
My favorite was the view. The town of Barberino is also very nice and is surrounded by many little towns. It's also relatively close to Florence and Siena.
Tips or Restaurants:
I'd like to thank you for your tips and recomendations. They were very helpful. Don't assume that the weather will be perfect in early May. It rained the entire week we were there, although, it was unusual for this area this time of the year. Also if you want to take day trips but can't handle the hilly road rides this place is probably not for you.

Elena, May, 2010

Overall:
Great... no disappointments.
Enjoyed Most:
View and outside space.
Enjoyed Least:
No screens in the bathroom windows and lots of mosquitoes.
Surrounding Area:
Chianti is beautiful, postcard perfect vineyards, olive groves, winding roads, good wine, etc.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Barberino Val D'Elsa was within walking distance.
Tips or Restaurants:
Buy insect repellent. Make sure to bring swimsuit because pool very nice

Marcy, September, 2009

Overall:
We had a wonderful experience at S. Barberino! The house was beautiful and Cecilia was not only warm and professional but extremely helpful and kind.
Enjoyed Most:
The house, the view, the pool, the location!
Enjoyed Least:
Very warm on the second floor. Ceiling fans would be helpful or portable air conditioners.
Surrounding Area:
What a great location.... we were able to get to Florence, Siena and Greve.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The town of Barberino Val D'Elsa was charming.
Tips or Restaurants:
A navigation system is very helpful in getting to the local towns and cities.

Helen , May, 2008