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Customer Reviews

Overall:
Our time was all about family and the villa worked so well for that. Because of the cold weather, we spent most of our group time in the kitchen, which was a great space. We stoked up the little wood stove and laughed and cooked together.
Enjoyed Most:
The location. So accessible to the local hilltowns and Montepulciano. Also the village offered some nice local family markets and a real "village" feeling.
Enjoyed Least:
Because of the unusally cold weather and our concern about the high costs of heating the villa, we minimized our use of the space to our bedrooms and the kitchen. We were prepared for the cold with lots of sweather and socks, but it really limited our enjoyment of the entire house.
Surrounding Area:
The lovely Tuscan countryside and easy access along country roads to other towns.
Nearby Events or Locales:
St. Albino; it was just a five minute walk from the villa.
Tips or Restaurants:
Be sure to have Alessandro cook for you. He prepared two dinners for us - the first a typical Tuscan menu, and the second involved a cooking class, which included planning the menu, then shopping with Alessandro at the farmer's market on Thursday, and finally preparing dinner with him. It included fresh vegetables that aren't available in California, two kinds of gnocchi, fish and a fabulous dessert. It was a great experience and we learned recipes to recreate back home. Also, a tour of the owner's vineyard and winery was very interesting. They do organic growing and the use only labor intensive, hands-on methods to harvest and make their wine.
Directions:
Our advice: Get a GPS. Ours was valuable for getting around and allowed us to use secondary and more unique and scenic routes than we might have otherwise. Also, if you are traveling in and out of Florence airport, the rental car lot and airport itself are very poorly marked, as well as our hotel. We never would have found it without the GPS. We also turned in the car before going into Florence and the rental car agent called a cab for us, which took us right into Florence (Academia).
Check In Out:
Silvia, the owner, was very accomodating and responded very quickly to any problems we encountered. She is charming and friendly and offered good suggestions and advice.

Jan, March, 2013

Overall:
This was a great location in Tuscany. The short walk to the local village was easy and the owners of local facilities were all very welcoming. Great coffee, pastries, butcher and supermarkets are nearby. Montepulciano is a short drive and provides a great counterpoint to the local village.
Enjoyed Most:
Excellent outdoor area for al fresco dining and a wonderful kitchen and eating setting adjacent. All 7 bedrooms are large and comfortable each with their own bathroom, making it ideal for couples.
Enjoyed Least:
The bedrooms need a little more lighting and the bathrooms need shower curtains.
Surrounding Area:
A great location to enjoy all that Tuscany has to offer. We travelled easily as far afield as Pisa. Lucca, Assisi and Florence. Proximity to Montepulciano was a highlight and we came to love the town and made many visits to enjoy its restaurants and attractions, such as shopping.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The nearest village is Sant Albino, a very easy walk of only two hundred metres. Great coffee, wonderful people, helpful and welcoming shopkeepers.
Tips or Restaurants:
Make sure you go to restaurant Tre Stelle. The best pizzas and good food at very attractive prices. (Don't drink the whole bottle of Limoncello, you are supposed to have only one drink on the proprietor!!) Also visit Il Locando for very good food and wine. Make the acquaintance of the butcher for some wonderful meat for the BBQ at Villa degli Artisti and make sure you drink lots of Croce de Febo wine. Sylvia's own production is available at great prices and worth every penny.
Directions:
A GPS is essential. The local roads twist and turn and you save a lot of sightseeing time by not getting lost. Our favorite comment from one of our group "I know where you are, I just dont know where I am !!"
Check In Out:
Our host was wonderful. We all came to love her visits and her care for our group was outstanding

Merv, October, 2012

Overall:
Our experience was excellent. We could not say a bad word about the villa.
Enjoyed Most:
Proximity to Montepulciano, and central to the other hill towns. The villa has 7 bedrooms all with their own bathrooms and king-sized beds.
Surrounding Area:
The views, large yard, olive orchard and vineyard.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Easy walking to the village, San Albino di Multepulciano.
Tips or Restaurants:
Don't need to bring pool towels to this villa because they are supplied.
Directions:
We used a GPS so we had no problems.

Theresa, September, 2012

Overall:
This villa was a dream come true for me! About 20 years of yearning to go to Tuscany and this villa enhanced my dream and definitely did not disappoint. My children had arrived before us on our day of arrival and were excited for me as they knew how much I was going to love it when I saw the inside. They made me close my eyes and led me into the main bedroom before I could open my eyes. When I did, the tears of joy started and I was shaking I was so excited. For the first few days in Tuscany I literally felt as though someone had plonked me right in the middle of my own dream! The villa itself was amazingly grand and the surroundings were equally as beautiful. We enjoyed discovering all the little towns and everywhere we looked the countryside was picture perfect.
Enjoyed Most:
We loved the size of the villa. Every bedroom was huge. The dining area where we spent most of our time was also very big and the kitchen was great to cook in.
Surrounding Area:
The easy walk to the shops was one of the reasons I chose this villa. We wanted somewhere that we could walk to shops. The pool was also beautiful but unfortunately it wasn't quite hot enough to swim. Only one person braved it! On a few occasions we could hear hunters in the forest.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The small town of S. Albino was a very short, easy walk where you could get any supplies you needed. We can't believe that some earlier reviews had said it was a steep walk! It was a very easy walk and not steep at all--we did it several times.
Tips or Restaurants:
We had to buy our own dish washing detergent, etc. but this can be bought from the small supermarket in town. The local butcher had lovely mixed meat kebabs that we cooked at the villa and were delicious. Lots of good restaurants in the town Montepulciano and on our last night we decided to get take-away pizza and walked into town to get it; this was a super cheap meal.
Directions:
We drove there without a GPS but found it fairly easily. Drove past the street the first time.

Lynda, September, 2012

Overall:
An absolutely wonderful experience. The owner Silvia, made our stay not just comfortable, but very special. The property is perfectly kept and the outside areas were manicured. The villa is on top of a hill with fantastic views and is surrounded by vineyards, olive trees, and many fruit trees. Silvia gave us permission to pick and eat whatever we liked and there was plenty to choose from. The villa is also part of a working vineyard and Silvia was gracious enough to give us a personal tour and tasting. Great wine and olive oil produced by the villa. The first night there Silvia explained the villa to us and gave us a bottle of the wine they produce.
Enjoyed Most:
And what's not to like about this place. We were in a party of twelve and there was more than enough room to enjoy ourselves without running into each other. The kitchen was a professional design with modern appliances and plenty of dinnerware and glasses. There is a great pool just a few meters from the back door with chairs and lounges to spare. Two sitting areas were enclosed in arbors covered with fruiting grape vines. Right outside the kitchen there was a large covered patio with enough tables and chairs to accommodate our large party.
Surrounding Area:
The villa is located perfectly in Tuscany with beautiful hill towns in every direction. Montepulciano is just 8 kilometers away along a beautiful tree-lined drive. The town is magnificent. Several tourist destinations are an easy drive from the villa. We visited Assisi, Volterra, Orvieto, Civita' di Bagnoreggio, Pienza and many others. There is a train station just 15 kilometers away where some our our party took trains to Florence and Pisa. Rome is just a two-hour drive. The whole area around the villa is dotted with grape vines and olive trees.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The villa is just a short walk to the town of Sant' Albino which is very small but has everything you need. There is a church, bank with an ATM, restaurants, bakery, coffee shop, and grocery.
Tips or Restaurants:
For a quick bite there is a small salon pizzeria walking distance from the villa. Great pizza and a sleeper of a shrimp plate that was outstanding. Montepulciano is full of great places to eat and Silvia made reservations for us at a restaurant in Montalcino at sunset with a tremendous view. Here is a sleeper for you on the road between Montepulciano and and the villa: It's called Ristorante Il Covo, on Strada per Chianciano, 5 53045 Montepulciano. This small non-touristy place has a classically trained Italian chef and the food was out of this world.
Directions:
We put the address provided with our rental package in our GPS and it took us to the entry gate.
Check In Out:
A quick phone call to the number posted at the gate and Silvia, the owner was there in 2 minutes.

Salvatore, September, 2012

Overall:
Wonderful.
Enjoyed Most:
Every room had its own bathroom so it's great for a group of adults. Thick walls so always quiet no matter what was going on in another room. Well equipped kitchen for lots of cooking.
Enjoyed Least:
No screens on windows and although it was generally cool even in a heat wave, it made leaving the windows open in the evening difficult because of insects.
Surrounding Area:
Well located within Tuscany--easy to get to many great surrounding hill towns
Nearby Events or Locales:
Sant Albino - a few minutes walk down the road.
Tips or Restaurants:
Find the woman making fresh pasta in the shop just down the hill from the main street. Speaks no English but makes wonderful pici and ravioli--and fruit tarts!
Directions:
We used a GPS to travel around Italy but the directions once in Sant Albino were perfect.

Jane, June, 2012

Overall:
Wonderful experience! There were 12 of us - 5 couples and 2 singles, so everyone had their own bedroom and bath. The facilities were spacious, attractive, and comfortable. There were enough tables inside and out to seat everyone for meals and the owner was available to us for the few questions we had. The location - near a village - was excellant so that we could walk less than a mile to get pasteries, pizza, and groceries. The grounds and pool were kept up and beautiful, too.
Enjoyed Most:
We liked the outdoor area and pool (they even had pool towels for us) the most. We also liked the large kitchen with 2 dishwashers and the large spaces for socializing inside and outside. There was a washing machine and a clothes line which was well used. Being within walking distance to a village was wonderful so that we did not have to use the car to go everywhere.
Enjoyed Least:
The oven door did not close properly and the oven did not have a temperature gauge so we had to guess at the temperature. The owner said she had ordered a door in Feb and it had not come in, so that part is being taken care of. Some of the bathrooms have showers with no tubs and the water spilled into the room -- slightly inconvenient. There was a plant nearby that made some noise, but it was not much of a problem -- the shrubs around the house masked it so we could not see it.
Surrounding Area:
We were close enough to many towns -- Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza, Siena -- so that we could take some day trips. Five people in our group biked from Montepulciano to Cortona with a company called Cyclopossee -- they came to get us in a van and fitted us with helmets and bicycles and we rode on back roads that were not too hilly and had a wonderful day!
Nearby Events or Locales:
St Albino was the small town within walking distance to the villa. This town had at least 3 restaurants, a pastry shop, a fresh pasta shop, a small grocery store, and many more amenities.
Tips or Restaurants:
Make sure you bring bathing suits!! We have cooks come in twice while we were there and were very happy with the dinners. We had arranged one before going and after we had it, we were sorry we had not set one up for the last night. Sylvia, the owner of the villa, made a phone call and got a dinner lined up for us. The restaurant at the bottom of the hill from the villa has their own wine and olive oil, so we bought stuff from him. The villa owners also have their own winery and a tour is free to any renters. It's very interesting!
Directions:
We rented a car in Florence and had no trouble finding St Albino, but the sign for the villa was hidden by some tree branches. We had lunch at a restarant and they showed us where it was. -- very friendly and most speak at least some English.
Check In Out:
It was very simple -- we did not all arrive at the same time, so the first people there had copies of everyone's passport and the deposit and everything went smoothly. We didn't realize that the tax was not included in the cost of the villa, so we were surprised with about 250-300 euros extra. Editor's Note: The Tourist Tax in Italy was instituted in late 2011 and 2012 and is mandatory. We have it listed below as payable upon arrival, since it goes directly to the local authorities.

Connie, June, 2012

Overall:
We had a FABULOUS time. We were a group of 10 friends celebrating my 65th birthday. The villa was just perfect for everyone to have their special space and yet all be together with plenty of room. My friends had a special birthday dinner for me; Silvia helped arrange the chef and a keyboard player. The food was wonderful. All 10 of us thought the villa was perfect and if anything, exceeded our expectations.
Enjoyed Most:
The spacious beautiful rooms, the view, the convenience to all of the Tuscan hill towns. We rented three cars and every day was a new adventure. Can't wait to post some of our pictures. The villa is really perfect. Had a tour of the winery that Silvia and her husband own a few miles away and it was fun. There is no cost for the tour and the wine isn't sold there but you can buy some of it at the villa.
Enjoyed Least:
Wish it had a dryer as after our Tuscan villa stay we were in Italy another week and a half and with 10 people it took a long time to wash and then hang out laundry to dry. Washers in Italy take about 2 hours to wash and we had some issues trying to make the washer work.
Surrounding Area:
You MUST go to Pienza and Siena. I love this part of southern Tuscany. I feel it is the most beautiful part of Italy. Around every bend is a photo worthy spot. Don't try to do too much and instead just enjoy the ride and hit one hill town a day--then eat in the town or cook at night so you don't have to drive .
Nearby Events or Locales:
Yes, you could walk but we didn't, as we did enough walking all day. I wouldn't suggest going to this villa if you didn't have a rental car. You would be better off then being in a town.
Tips or Restaurants:
RentVillas did a good job telling us what to bring before we went. We are all experienced travelers and have rented villas many times in the past, so we were prepared. We also know that we were in a foreign country and that things work differently then in the US. If you don't like that idea you shouldn't be traveling abroad! 3 Stella was a good restaurant in town. We ate there twice, plus got take out pizza one night. We did the Italian thing - big, nice long lunches during the day in whatever town we were in, then simple dinners at night.
Directions:
When you get into St Albina, the sign to the villa is small. Yes, GPS is OK for getting into town.

Joan, May, 2012

Overall:
Great.
Enjoyed Most:
The big kitchen, eating areas, and the outside terrace.
Enjoyed Least:
Dogs barking and loud bangs at night.
Surrounding Area:
Easy walk to town with places to eat and bank.
Tips or Restaurants:
Hair dryers are provided. There is a great bakery in town. I would bring a pillow next time.
Directions:
Very easy to find.

Adriane, October, 2011

Overall:
We had a wonderful time at the beautiful villa. Our group of 12 agreed that it offered so much more than we had hoped it would. The villa was so large with plenty of room to relax. The swimming pool was crystal clear. The property was outstanding, just like a Tuscan farm house. As a group we love to cook and the kitchen area was large enough with room to spare. I would go back again.
Enjoyed Most:
I think I used the the word "large" many times in the previous statement. With 12 people in the villa we had so much space. I loved the kitchen/patio area; it was perfect for celebrating the food, wine and people of Italy. The property outside the villa was beautiful. We had many, many lavender and rosemary bushes on the property. Fresh fruit trees for apples and pears. Cut wood for the fireplace in the library. The property owner was so fabulous and considerate. She is a fabulous lady and we enjoyed a morning at her winery. She and her husband make local quality wine and we made sure to have many bottles of their "Vino Noblile" varietals.
Surrounding Area:
We liked the local town of San Albino. The shop owners were friendly and helpful. We could visit the hill top town of Montepulciano with an easy 15 minute ride. The town is beautiful and great for shopping or eating. We did take 12 day trips to Cortona, Siena and other interesting towns. Make sure to visit the local wineries.
Nearby Events or Locales:
We were able to walk to San Albino, however, when grocery shopping we took the car. The local grocery store was fabulous and the owner was helpful and gracious. We did buy Tuscan steaks and chicken at the butcher shop and had a feast that evening at the villa. Yes, always out on the patio until the stars came out in the sky. You can also walk to the Montepulciano Terme spa . We purchased cakes from their bakery in town and they were excellent.
Tips or Restaurants:
Just enjoy the villa and the beautiful Tuscan countryside. We did hire a local cook to prepare dinner for us on the day of our arrival. We were all arriving late from various parts of Italy and it was a treat to sit down and be served a lovely dinner along with bottles of wine from the villa's vineyard. Well worth it!
Directions:
The directions were fine. We did not have a GPS or even a local map. That was our fault. It is strongly advised to use a GPS as it will make your trip more enjoyable.
Check In Out:
Sylvia was gracious as we were the trip coordinators and we were two hours late. She waited for us and was so nice. Sylvia was a most gracious host.

Lillian, September, 2011

Overall:
Our group consisted of nine extended-family adults, the first Italy experience for seven of us. Our week at the villa was the perfect pause between tours of Rome and Florence and its location within walking distance of San Albino provided a true taste of Italian living. What a wonderful experience!
Enjoyed Most:
We were delighted with the villa's beauty, spaciousness and cleanliness as well as its walking distance to San Albino.
Enjoyed Least:
Nothing.
Surrounding Area:
Morning walks to the bakery for fresh baked goods and cappuccinos, shopping at the local market and interacting with the locals, especially the staff at the local pizzeria. We cooked at home, but also enjoyed the festivity and eating of fresh mozzarella delivered from Napoli to the pizzeria on Thursday.
Nearby Events or Locales:
San Albino is just a few minutes walk, a delightful stroll past olive groves, a small church, garden and apartments.
Tips or Restaurants:
We travelled by train to Chiusi, where we rented cars to drive to the villa. Cars were 'manual', but were newer, in great condition. Easy drive to the villa - nice road, a bit windy thru the hills, but easy to find San Albino and villa. Then we had cars to visit hill towns, Montepulciano, Siena, etc.
Directions:
We did not need the GPS
Check In Out:
Paula was very welcoming and helpful. She followed up with us during our stay to get wireless working.

Katherine, July, 2011

Overall:
This place had a lot to live up to – it was voted first choice out of 30 places by all families involved, after much research, so we had great expectations. When we arrived, we were overwhelmed - it was even better than expected. The pictures don't do it justice. Everything about this villa is high quality and elegant. The house reflects its owners – relaxed, efficient and organised. They have introduced modern facilities into this old Tuscan building while beautifully preserving its historic character. Everything has been well thought out. The spaces flow, and relate to each other so well. For example there is such generous space in the kitchen area/living area. Even cooking and clearing up could be communal activities – where else could you expect to find 2 dishwashers and a lovely big preparation area where several people could work? The utensils and appliances match the generosity of the whole house. Only problem – the house was so good that you hated leaving it, and so were always torn between exploring the area or staying at home. Of course this could be solved by staying longer than 1 week the next time. It was a holiday we will never forget.
Enjoyed Most:
It is perfect for a family group get together. Although there is a range of suite sizes, no one felt left out, because every option available was special in its own right, each with a king size bed and own ensuite bathroom. As well as their own private areas, people had a wonderful choice of shared spaces, both inside and out. This gave so many options for whatever you chose to do. You could dine indoors or out, and as it was summer we always ate outdoors in the beautifully shaded patio. The owners are such an inspiring couple. They epitomise expectations of Italian vibrance and warmth. Hardworking, stylish, enterprising, open, unobtrusive – they had thought of everything to make guests comfortable. We felt so welcome right from the start. Everything has been well thought out. The spaces flow, and relate to each other so well. For example there is generous space in the kitchen area/living area. Even cooking and clearing up could be communal activities – where else could you expect to find 2 dishwashers and a lovely big preparation area where several people could work? The utensils and appliances match the generosity of the whole house. This villa is so easy to live in with children. The extensive grounds are fabulous for energetic children to run freely and play, including flying kites. The pool is special, aesthetically and functionally, with a bubbler which the kids just loved. The pool and its surrounds were used extensively by everyone – to swim, or chat, or just relax with a good book.
Nearby Events and Locales:
The villa was chosen partly because it is close to so many hill towns and major cities of Central Italy, and is within walking distance of a small town,Sant Albino de Montepulciano, with a group of shops, including eating places, ATM, patisserie, and small supermarkets. At night, on this walk, the children were fascinated to see fireflies and a glow worm.
Tips or Restaurants:
A catered dinner was organised for the night of our arrival, as we were travelling down from another villa in the Lucca area. This arrangement turned out to be a perfect choice (adding to the feeling of being totally pampered and looked after). We can highly recommend this service - two cooks initially to set up the meal, with one remaining to present it.

Helen, July, 2011

Overall:
The hills of Tuscany and surrounding cities were very close and each one was different. Some of the best wine i have tasted ever!! Twelve of our closest friends celebrated my 50th birthday and our 20th anniversary, truly never to be forgotten!!! Personal chef came in twice. Very, very good.
Enjoyed Most:
The kitchen and dining room and attached veranda.
Surrounding Area:
The town of Montepulciano and S.Quirico. S. Quirico market day was really quite enjoyable. We stayed and had a fabulous lunch out on a terrace at Trattoria Bar Osenna. Market day is Tuesday morning. Truly an Italian experience.
Nearby Events or Locales:
San Albino is within walking distance down the dirt driveway Fabulous pastry shop fresh each morning - closed one day - small market and very good deli with staples.
Tips or Restaurants:
San Quirico Trattoria Bar Osenna has the best gnocchi around. Make sure when you are finished to go to the front and pay your bill. They will not bring it to you.
Directions:
Directions were fine; no GPS needed. We arrived early and found the villa and went to have lunch at the ristorante, pizzeria/trattoria. The owners and their family were also dining there. Terrific lunch.

Jean Sammons, May, 2011

Overall:
We travel a ton, and I cannot honestly think of a better vacation or a better place we have EVER stayed. The villa was beyond spectacular. The owners were SO nice and helpful. The rooms were enormous. The dinner they brought in was incredible. The cooking lesson was perfect. Just cannot say enough about the Villa and ownership.
Enjoyed Most:
EVERYTHING. The kitchen was perfect. The dining room was enormous. The bedrooms all felt like master bedrooms. Clean, beautiful.
Surrounding Area:
Perfect location. Easy short walk to the store and morning espresso. Perfectly located near Montepulciano and near everything else Pienza, via Cassia, etc.
Nearby Events or Locales:
YES you can walk to Sant Albino.
Tips or Restaurants:
We lacked NOTHING!

Doug, May, 2010