Agriturismos in Italy: 2007
The Italian sun is particularly easy to enjoy when bathing in the hospitality of a rural farmhouse. What is your experience staying at Agriturismos in rural Italy? What is your favorite and why? Please include the REGION in the subject line.
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La Cassette, outside of Baschi, Italy
The agro La Cassette... Sorry Rick you didnt do this place justice! The family who runs it was nothing short of awesome! I ended up drinking port, after dinner, with the men which ended up in a game of Bocce in the back court until the wee hours of the morning. If you like being out in the country with scenery and solitude and great hosts... La Cassette is high on my recommendation list!
Tom <email>
Tacoma, WA USA Thu 12/13/2007
Casa Portagioia
Just to say we had a wonderful time here. Wonderful people, caring and helpful. The photos and the movie on the website (www.tuscanbreaks.com)are good, but the reality is much better.
Attention to detail, quality linens, beautifully clean appointed rooms and bathrooms - plus excellent breakasts and dinner (we could only have this once - a real pity). Well stocked gardens and grounds - all so well maintained and like everything else - cared for.
Sue and Greg.
Stratford - Upon - Avon, UK Thu 11/29/2007
Il Poggiacole, Tuscany
This Agriturismo is about 2 km from San Gimignano. We had a wonderful stay here in October and recommend it highly. We stayed in an apartment with a fireplace in the kitchen, a large bedroom, large bath and there were beautiful views from every point of the property. There is a swimming pool, use of the large brick grill and portable ones on the property. Plenty of wood for grilling and for the fireplace. Stefano Bartali is warm and helpful with local restaurant reccomendations. We would definitely stay here again. Easy to get to many of the great Tuscan towns from here.
Los Angeles, CA USA Mon 11/19/2007
La Palombara, Umbria
We stayed here for 4 nights in October. The place was beautiful and we were the only two people booked for that week. It's about 1.5 km from the tiny town of Amelia. If you want total peace and quiet this is wonderful. We had a car and it was easy to get to many wonderful Umbrian towns from here. The family who owns this place is very nice and offered many suggestions and booklets/maps of Umbria. The kitchen was stocked with yogurts, eggs, pancetta, milk, etc., for making your own breakfasts. The bathroom was very large, the bed was extremely comfortable. (The town of Narni is not too far away and we had one of the best meals at Il Gattamelata - the Gnocchetti with duck was amazing.)
Los Angeles, CA USA Mon 11/19/2007
agriturismo
We recently stayed at LePoggiolo in Tuscany. It is near the town of Monsumano terme and Lisa Barsi, the host was extremly friendly and the food was fantastic. The rate for one bedroom with attached bath was 54euros which included breakfast.
frank mulkern <email>
payson, az USA Fri 11/16/2007
Italyfarmstay
After spending two weeks on this farm, I feel completely fulfilled, in the way only a travaler can understand. Everything about this place captured me in a different way. The location was stunning. The food was absolutely incredible (I think I may have gained a pound or two, but I do not regret it, not for a moment!) The accomidations were lovely. The animals, the activites, and the list goes on...However, I think the one thing that impacted me the most was the people I met here. The family that runs this place is truly incredible. I felt so welcomed and everyday was learning something new. Whether it was itlian lessons from Guiseppe while picking olives in the italian sun or attempting to make real italian pasta with Maria. When the time came for me to leave, I did not want to. The life that they live and so earnestly wanted to share with me is something I will never forget. If you have the chance to come here, do. It is not for everyone, but if you feel like an adventure or just a holiday, this place is perfect. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
This is the website: www.italyfarmstay.com
Sophia Jensen <email>
Ashland, OR USA Wed 11/14/2007
La Crociona and Villa Marcigliana
My sister and me, along with our two adult daughters, just returned home from our annual "driving Italy crazy" vacation. We stayed two nights at La Crociona, a Brunello wine estate outside of Montalcino, after reading a very favorable posting on this site. Barbara and Roberto (children of the owners) were wonderful and kind. We found their grappa flavored with rose petels to be even more delicious than their Brunello. We were saddened that we were never able to tour their wine cellars. Their apartments are upstairs which is a good thing for those of you with physical handicaps to know prior to booking and, parking is several hundred feet away in a very dark area at night. Make sure you bring a flashlight. We had Apartment "A", which had two bedrooms with wonderful cozy beds, a living/dining area, and a small kitchen area. We paid 240 Euro's (and it was off season!) for the two nights plus an additional 8 Euro's for heat (which, thank goodness, we only turned on low at shower times or it would have exceeded the per night room charge!) The shower head needs to be replaced and no matter how very careful we were, the floor flooded with each shower. We used the kitchen and cooked dinner one night as the restaurant on their property had the worst food/service and rudest waiter anywhere ever in Italy. Not one of our dishes was what we ordered. Mixed seafood pasta in a red sauce turned out to be a very strong smelling, spoiled, squid-only, purple concoction that was stiff and inedible. Shrimp and mussels with pasta came without the mussels. . . It took 30 minutes to receive our check after we requested it.
Be aware that (according to a typed list awaiting you on the table in the apartment) you also must strip the beds, take the trash to the dumpster, and clean the apartment prior to checking out. This was a first in all of our travels! Maybe the three nights we stayed at Villa Marcigliana prior to this stay spoiled us? I would highly recommend the Villa if you are staying in the area a very short distance out of Rome. It is absolutely beautiful and has three ground-level apartments. Our's was a very large imaculate apartment with two bedrooms, a living room, large kitchen (fully equipted including a microwave and expresso maker!), large bathroom, and dining area, INCLUDING heat for 100 Euro's per night (more during high seasons). Our lovely hostess, Maria, even made us a beautiful, unexpected, fruit tart for breakfast that was delicious. There are several restaurants and a grocery store close by. Their web site: www.villamarcigliana.com
Wendy
FL USA Tue 11/13/2007
Agriturismo Frallarenza, near Orvieto
My husband,myself and friends from Germany recently spent several wonderful days at Agriturismo Frallarenza. We stayed in the Big Apartment,, as they called it where Serena met us with a smile and baked goodies. The apartment was very inviting and comfortable, decorated with Serena's special touch. Francesco was always helpful when it came time to plan each day's trip and Serena recommended a restaurant which turned out to be our favorite in all of Italy. We went back 3 nights in a row! The agriturismo is centrally located to most of the hilltowns which was great! We were able to take in all of the hilltowns I wanted to see. Feel free to e-mail with any questions. Their website is agriturismo.it/Frallarenza/enindex.asp
Becky <email>
IN USA Tue 11/06/2007
Italy Farmstay in Abruzzo
We had a wonderful time at Italy Farmstay in Abruuzo, near Sora. The whole family was so warm and welcoming, especially to our 2 year old, it was great to see a real working farm and for our daughter to experience the animals everyday. She fell in love with Conchetta the donkey. We ahd dinner made by Maria at the farm and wished we had more time to cook with her ourselves, this was truly a once in a lifetime experience! The rooms were absoultely beautiful, one of the best we ahd on our trip. The whole place was so unique and quaint! Highly recommend it!
Chantal Ryan <email>
Essex Junction, VT USA Sat 11/03/2007
ItalyFarmstay, between Rome and Naples.
Tranquility, organic food and great Italian hospitality
Italy Farmstay is a unique agriturismo near Abruzzo Nationalpark between Rome and Naples. I've spent two weeks there and it definitely won't be my last visit. The farm is surrounded by mountains and the area is very beautiful. A stay here offers both tranquility and the possibility to do great activities, like hiking, Italian classes or even visiting the local goat shepherd and watch him make cheese. The family that runs the place are very open, warm and genuinely interested in their guests. Maria makes excellent pizzas and Guiseppe will talk to you in Italian all day and encourage you to eat the delicious fruits from the garden. Antonello, the sun, is the great organiser of the place and he will do everything to make your stay enjoyable. He often has ideas for little trips in the local area or an outdoor pickic (with yummi pizza's and salads fresh from the garden).
So this is the place to go, if you wan't to experience the Italian countryside and feel grat Italian hospitality.
You can visit their website at www.italyfarmstay.com
Line <email>
Copenhagen, USA Thu 10/18/2007
Agriturismo Metina
?Agrituristica Metina (Acquaviva) Montepulciano
We arrived late - a wonderful velvet darkness punctuated by soft bird song (yes, they sing quietly
all night in Tuscany), the scent of honeysuckle and sweet broom, and the flicker of fireflies greeted us.
Morning breaks ... through the windows you are delighted by calendar cover views of the
beautiful Valdichiana on one side, and a rambling hillside of olive trees on the other.
Our two-bedroom, fully-equipped suite was just what we needed for our "home away from
home". We breakfasted in the garden, then toured wonderful little towns nearby and ate our
lunches out. As it was June, and for the most part 40C (around 100F), the pool at Metina was
our salvation at the end of a touring day.
Dinner usually found us under a venerable old tree in the garden at Metina, enjoying simple
Italian fare of pasta and incredible local cheeses (try the Grana Padano - you'll never go back to
Parmesan) picked up at the grocery store nearby.
Evening was usually the time we met up with Monica, our hostess at this lovely abode. She is
an incredible guide for Italy, and other countries where she has lived and travelled. After a day of
fracturing Italian (those wonderful townsfolk did their best to understand what we were trying to
convey), it was a blessing to come back to Metina and share with Monica what we'd seen, and
done, and said -- especially what we had said that made people lift an eyebrow! Being perfectly
trilingual (Italian, English, French), she is a jewel. Her husband, Alberto, also speaks French and
a smattering of English - and what a hard worker. This young couple run this small personal gem
of an Agriturismo (just 4 suites), as well as their own vineyard/winery, with exceptional wines and
Vin Santo ... and their grove of olive trees.
We'd go back in a heartbeat, and can hardly wait to do just that! Check them out at
www.metina.it
M&B Bryson
SSI, B.C. CANADA Tue 10/16/2007
diQuercecchio
We stayed recently for five days at diQuerceehio and it was great. It was during grape picking and and wine making so we picked a few grapes and watch the family make wine. Matteo was a great host. We had him for a American Italian dinner the last night we stayed. He made arrangements for us at a cooking schol in Siena which also was wonderful. Great swimming pool, ideal apartment and great hospitality. I would strongly recommend to others. Bill
Bill Sjostrom <email>
Loves Park, Il USA Sun 10/14/2007
Frallarenza Near Orvieto
My wife and I spent 3 fantastic weeks In Italy from the Southern end to Tuscany country. We stayed at 4 different agriturismo (Renovated farms) during our long stay. Each and every one was a different experience. Our only regret was that we didn't stay longer at this special one.
Although of the 4 all welcomed us, Serena and Francesco welcomed us like no others. We were invited into their home for a cooking lesson (No cost), and also the best dinner we had in our stay in Italy. We were also invited for a ceramic lesson given by Serena and a Master (again free). We always felt welcome if we needed anything, or simple directions for our day trips.
Our apartment was also the best of the 4 we stayed at, and very reasonable too. Serena decorated it with all of her special touches, making you feel like you were back home. The only regret was that we didn't make this the longest stay of all. We will be going back in the next 12 to 24 months, and will make this our number one stay.
Orvieto is only minutes away (15 km or 10 miles), and really worth seeing.
If you're going to Italy, make this a sure thing on your Visit. The family gave us that home feeling, and not like we were in a Hotel.
I could go on and on about this stay, but experience this for yourself. http://www.agriturismo.it/Frallarenza/enindex.asp
Bob Christian <email>
Mount Prospect, Illino USA Sat 10/13/2007
LEVANTO- Cinque Terre
Throw open the shutters, feel the breeze, soak in the sun, you are at Erba Persa Agriturismo, a quiet and peaceful retreat. Levanto is just one quick train ride north of Monterosso, situated on a lovely bay, with sandy beaches, swimming and kayaking. A beautiful and rigorous hike from Levanto to Monterosso ( 2 ½ to 3 ½ hrs) begins at the south end of the bay.
We enjoyed three perfect September nights in Levanto with the likeable, humorous and helpful Claudio and Grazia, who both speak English. The rooms are very clean and a generous breakfast was included in the price. Erba Persa is about a 10 minute walk from the train station, but Grazia will pick you up if you call her. Levanto's central location on the Ligurian coast also makes it easy to visit Portovenere south of the Cinque Terre and Camogli, San Fruttuoso Abbey, Portofino and Santa Margherita, about an hour north, either by train or boat.
If you would like to learn about typical Ligurian cooking, Grazia will arrange a morning class with the sweet and delightful Miriam, owner of the Creuza de Ma restaurant. Miriam's béchamel lasagna is to die for, a lasagna made with béchamel sauce, homemade noodles, and pesto (born in Liguria), not to mention her delicious appetizers. During the class you will create and cook your lunch at a very affordable price.
We found Erba Persa to be inviting, relaxing and very affordable, we will return! www.erbapersa.it
Susan Kirk <email>
USA Tue 10/09/2007
Montepulciano- LA FALCONARA
We spent four nights in late September in Montepulciano at the renovated farm house of Il Sasso Agriturismo, which was lovely, clean, reasonably priced, and had wonderful views over the Tuscan countryside. Ironically we were directed to Il Sasso by the most helpful and kind Alex Palenzona, owner of La Falconara.
Our first choice for Montepulciano was to stay at La Falconara, after reading favorable posts on the graffiti page. When we contacted them for reservations there was no availability. However, the owner Alex, offered through e-mail to help us find another agriturismo similar to his, which he did. He also generously arranged for the booking as the owner of Il Sasso spoke very little English.
Through our e-mail correspondence he suggested that when we arrived in Montepulciano that we come meet him and he would assist us with travel plans in the surrounding areas, and did he ever. We (3 couples) are still in awe of all his assistance in helping us plan our day trips, he shared his travel books, he directed us to his favorite restaurants (even joining us one evening) and included us with his La Falconara guests in a tour of a winery he once owned.
Although we did not stay at La Falcona, we highly recommend what we do know about it, and that is the owner Alex Palenzona is a wealth of information, he is generous with his time and knowledge, his location is perfectly situated to view the Tuscan landscape from a chaise lounge at poolside as well as from the rooms, and he is just 3 km outside of Montepulciano, a jewel of a town. Plan to spend at least a ½ day meandering the alleyways of the old town.
The people you meet along the way are just as much of the memories as sun-kissed grapes ready to harvest, the Tuscan patchwork, hilltop towns, and chocolate chocolate gelato.
La Falconara www.lafalconara.it
Il Sasso www.agriturismoilsasso.toscana.it
Susan Dixon
Tulsa, OK USA Tue 10/09/2007
A week in the Tuscan countryside-Foresteria Il Giardino
We just returned from spending 3 weeks in Europe, and one of the highlights of our trip was staying at the agriturismo Foresteria Il Giardino di Fontarronco outside of Arezzo. We had a group of 25 so we took up the entire villa complex, with the exception of two single bedroom apartments. This was an excellent choice for a group our size. The location was perfect for getting around to all the hillside towns and using the train station in Arezzo. It was maybe a 15-25 minute drive to the train station (depending on time of day). A car is a must in Tuscany for getting around to the small hillside towns, but the train was great for trips to Florence. The villa is located among fruit orchards so there was an abundance of fresh fruits at our fingertips (literally) .... while relaxing at the pool you could walk over and pick a peach ripe from the tree. The agriturismo also produces its own delicious wine and olive oil. It is a very quiet location although we were visiting during their harvest, so some mornings we did hear farm machinery traveling down the dirt road that runs adjacent to the farmhouse. Every morning a van pulls up with delicious baked goods at a very reasonable price. The complex is gorgeous. When looking at their website, I wondered if the photos were realistic ... upon arrival, the grounds and apartments were even better than I could ever have imagined and even better than the photos on the website (www.foresteria.it). Our group wanted to feel immersed in the Tuscan farmhouse lifestyle and this was the perfect place. The apartments are tastefully decorated in a rustic farmhouse manner, each bedroom having its own bathroom. Marian is a delight and was so helpful with reservations, suggestions and she took over the problems we encountered getting several airlines to deliver "lost luggage." The villa offers 2 meals during the week, however, we only had time for one wonderful meal as we were off and about so often. The dinner was delicious in the typical Tuscan style, served with plenty of the villa's own wine. You can also arrange for breakfast and though I personally did not do that, several guests in our group did and commented that it was quite good. Marian can also arrange cooking classes at the villa. There are lots of miles for running or walking, and there are about 6 bicycles on the complex for guests to use. One of the best parts of the whole experience was feeling like it was "home" ... sleeping with the shuttered windows wide open (mosquito netting on the beds included) and waking up to the most gorgeous views outside our windows. Evenings were spent outside on the patio with a bottle of wine, cheese and meats. I would highly recommend the Foresteria for its location and easy access to the A-1, train station, and supermarket without losing its quiet country charm. I just can't say enough about how special our visit was.
Jellzy
San Jose, CA USA Sun 10/07/2007
La Crociano near Montalcino
La Crociana is a wonderful place. You are surrounded by the hills of Tuscany and the beautiful vineyards and olive trees. Take it easy as there are no traffic jams. It is very easy to find. We stayed for 3 nights in September 2007. The owners are extremely nice. They go out of their way to provide a great getaway. Our apartment was great. Just open the windows and breathe in the great tuscan air. Wow! It is good. I recommend to go to town to the COOP and buy some of the local food and wine and have a great meal at home. Located just outside of Montalcino, it is close to several Tuscany towns for daytripping excursions. We loved this place and recommend it to anyone.
David and Peggy Campbell
Johnson City, TN USA Sun 10/07/2007
My favorite Agriturismo in Tuscany!
Don't miss La Palazzina in Radicofani. I recently spent a month in Italy and found a gem of an Agriturismo just South of Siena. The location was wonderful for visiting a number of charming hill towns including Montalcino, Montalpuciano, Pienza, Chianciano, Cortona, Pitigliano and more. The rooms were beautiful, the grounds were very peaceful and the swimming pool had a panoramic view that looked like a masterpiece painting. I have learned that the most important thing about choosing places to stay is the people who welcome you and help you to make the most of your precious time in Italy. Sylvano is the most gracious host you could imagine. His English is excellent, his knowledge of Italy is amazing, and he is happy to help with any questions, directions, tours, activities, and more. Each night, his wife Eliana prepares a delicious Italian dinner, featuring the freshest regional ingredients, wonderful wine, vegetables from the garden - and the super friendly staff makes you feel right at home. Sylvano set up an appt. at a nearby terme (spa) for my sore airplane-fatigued back, helped us ship packages, and had great suggestions every morning for activities like horseback riding, hiking, hill town visits and more. Sylvano, his family and staff all make every guest feel welcome, and of all of the B & Bs and Agriturismos I have stayed in Italy, La Palazzina is the BEST. Website: http://www.fattorialapalazzina.com and the email is info@fattorialapalazzina.com. I am hoping that Rick will put this wonderful Agriturismo in his next book so more people can experience the lovely Tuscan holiday that I did!
Gail <email>
Maui, HI USA Sun 09/30/2007
ItalyFarmStay- the beautiful life
My friend and I stayed at Italyfarmstay at the end of our whirlwind tour of Italy. We wanted something relaxing before we re-entered our normal hectic lives. The farmstay delivered on our every expectation. We both feel it was one of the best parts of our holiday. The farm offers a charming taste of life in the Italian countryside. It has some of the best accomodations we experienced - large, spacious and clean rooms, a great bathroom, a beautiful house, all for a very reasonable price. The family was lovely extending warm hospitality to all travelers who come to visit their farm. We helped make wine, visited a cheese shepherd, went horseback riding, experienced a refreshing lake swim, and saw an abandoned village. Maria makes wonderful food, Guiseppe is a delightful and knowledgable farmer, and Antonello is a wonderful host who gives personal attention to each of his guests. In addition Antonello speaks English wonderfully and offers Italian language lessons. I felt like part of the family. We laughed a lot and enjoyed ourselves immensely. We extended our stay an additional night because it was such a lovely experience. For a relaxing and authentic taste of Italy, check out Italyfarmstay.com.
Jessica
Portland, OR USA Wed 09/26/2007
Quercecchio Argriturismo
We found this agriturismo on Graffiti Wall posted under "Italian Agriturismo" in May, 2007-check it out for a description. We stayed there in July, 2007. It was a great place to stay and Matteo was a great host! We found a bottle of their wine for us in our apartment (Amiata-beautiful view) when we arrived because he had heard that it was our birthdays (my mother had called to wish us happy birthday). Their Rosso wine is very good. He called and made reservations for us at a wonderful restaurant that night. He also helped us to find a hotel and made a reservation for us on Lago di Garda where we travelled to after Tuscany. We'd love to return some day and stay longer. www.quercecchio.it
Deborah Holmes
Comox, BC Canada Sun 09/23/2007
Tuscany B&B
Although technically not an agriturismo, we found Casa Portagioia, in the country outside Castiglioni Fiorentino and 20 minutes from Cortona the perfect location for our Tuscany stay. For our family of four we rented a one bedroom apartment for my husband and I and a separate double room with breakfast service for our young adult children. The rooms were beautiful and the provisioning for the apartment of local foods was ample and of the best quality. Terry's wine cellar had anything you could want and Marcello's cooking was excellent. Amidst the olive grove and vineyard are gardens, with fruit trees,delicious figs, roses and lavendar all lovingly kept and the pool! Crystal clear and the perfect temperature for a hot day. Marcello serves dinner two nights a week. When I think back to my 15 days in Italy, Terry & Marcello and their beautiful Casa Portagioia come to my mind first. The other handful of guests were mostly return visitors, I hope that I may return again too. See their very thoughtful website, www.tuscanbreaks.com.
Janice & Rick
Bend, OR USA Fri 09/21/2007
Italy Farm Stay (you should go)
For those looking for a very unique, authentic, relaxing experience, staying at Antonello's family farm 2 hrs btwn Rome and Napoli is the place for you. I spent only 2 nights and could have stayed a week.
I was amazed by the abundance of fruits- from peaches and figs to grapes and tomatoes, that Giuseppe had growing (and which the family are very generous with). Maria's cooking- breakfast was simple but varied, and delicious, and dinners were similarly authentic and memorable. For the health nuts, everything is organic, for the hikers, you can do a bit of hiking, but for those who want to meditate and relax, this family farm is a great place to be. Kids would get bored, although they can go hang out with the sheep and goats and the adorable donkey.
During my stay, I really felt like I was able to make myself at home. I recommend it to anyone and thank Antonello and his family for all the enjoyment that I had.
Jeff Decker
Los Angeles, CA USA Wed 09/19/2007
cintoia farmstay horse riding holidays
Cintoia farmstay (www.fatoriacintoia.it) is really a little gem of a find. We stayed there recently and found the appartments delightful, the horse-riding (complete with authentic italian cowboy guide) FANTASTIC, and the veiw from the pool was incredibile.The location is high up,affording incredible veiws, but you are also close to Florence and two very good restaurants are within walking distance. I couldnt reccomend them higher..especially for horse riders.
Louisa
Perth Australia, WA Australia Mon 09/17/2007
bed and breakfast near Cortona
We had a great time in Italy. We heard Puccini opera in Lucca. We saw Botticelli in Florence. We had gelato in the Il Campo of Siena. But the crown jewel of our trip was Casa Portagioia, (www.tuscanbreaks.com) a bed and breakfast in the Tuscan foothills between Arezzo and Cortona. Actually, "bed and breakfast" is an inadequate description – CP (abbreviated henceforth to conserve the world's supply of vowels) combines aspects of a nature retreat, resort, and luxury hotel. The name itself can be loosely translated to "door into joy" or "portal to peace."
Hosts Terry and Marcello have lovingly developed a beautiful couple of hectares, combining several completely restored stone buildings with flowers, fruit trees, an olive grove and walkways winding through knee-high lavender and herbs. Every aspect of the place, from the flowerbeds to the bath fixtures, shows careful, tasteful, attention. It all looks simple, but carried to this level of detail, it is really the result of a staggering amount of work. We had originally intended to tour Tuscany by bicycle. Injuries forced us to give this up at the last minute, so instead, we planned to arrive by train and arrange to be picked up in Arezzo. We called the day before our arrival to confirm this. Terry gently apprised us of the facts of getting around in Tuscany…you will need a car if you are going to do anything besides sit by the (lovely) pool. He then took over, arranged a last minute rental car for us and took care of several other details we hadn't been smart enough to realize we needed.
When we arrived in Arezzo by train the next day, we strolled across the Plaza Republica to the Avis office, picked up the waiting Fiat and were off to CP. The directions were good enough that we made not a single wrong turn – quite a feat for a couple of Tuscan newcomers. Terry met us at the car park, showed us to our quiet room with immaculate bath and stunning views, and left us to sort ourselves out. Half an hour later, I was sitting under a small grape arbor with a cold beer from the very reasonably priced mini-bar in the room, and meeting Marcello, who had come out pick fresh figs for the evening meal.
Ah, the meal. Twice a week, Terry and Marcello combine to produce a several course dinner, served on the terrace. I don't think there's such a thing as poor Italian food, but this was exceptional. At home, we're done with dinner in fifteen minutes and on to evening chores. At CP, we took two hours, savoring, sipping, conversing with other guests (there were only eight in total). It's an evening I'll remember for a long time and a wonderful antidote to the heat and crowds of Florence.
This kind of luxury and attention isn't free, of course. But in the end, what matters is not price but value. As we ground along, 37,000' over the Atlantic, remembering our eight days in Tuscany, my wife wondered aloud "If we just sent our life savings to Terry and Marcello, how long do you think we could stay?"
Ken Scott
Canby , OR USA Mon 09/17/2007
Alle Camelie Tuscan Villa B&B +
We held my daughters wedding in addition to service as a home base to exploring Tuscany at Alle Camelie. I can tell you it is a wonderful 200 year old Tuscan villa that you will not regret staying at. Olive and grape trees with a pool and a wonderful quietness that will refresh and renew you! Tell Inge that I sent you.
Martin Sorensen <email>
Gresham, OR USA Sun 09/16/2007
Volterra: Places to Stay
Villa Rioddi is located just outside Rick's self-described 'favourite hill town' of Volterra. It is a 15th century coach house that was turned into a small hotel. It has a beautiful view, on a quiet section of road, with a scenic pool. See http://www.hotelvillarioddi.it/hotel-volterra-tuscany.htm. Volterra is best accessed with a car, and you are in shooting distance of San Giamignano, Sienna, and Pisa. Volterra itself is a beautiful place, with lovely sunsets and nice restaurants. Enjoy!
David Altman
Toronto, Ont Canada Sat 09/15/2007
Tuscany agriturismo
Agriturismo Natura e Salute was a wonderful experience in farm education and living, just an hour south of Florence. Karla and Mauricio warmly tour guests around the family farm, seeing all the operations and provide a warm and delicious setting in the countryside. Rates for 2, 75 euros nightly, including breakfast; dinner of farm raised meats 20 euros and worth it. Located not far from San G., 5 km of well kept gravel road, with pool and excellent accommodations. Go to website!
T.J.
Long Beach, Ca. USA Fri 09/14/2007
Italy Farm Stay, Addendum to review
The website for Italy Farm Stay is www.italyfarmstay.com. I neglected to mention it in my review below.
Kyrstyn
Washington, DC, DC USA Mon 09/10/2007
Agriturismo Below San Gimignano
We spent three days in Tuscany (21-23 August), at the idyllic, peaceful Ponte a Nappo just below (and with a great view of) San Gimignano. The lodging came recommended courtesy of Rick, and he didn't steer us wrong. We had some minor confusion during check-in, since our reservation didn't match what Carla had on her computer. Given that my italiano and her inglese were about equally bad, we waited for Carla's son Francesco to show up and clarify.
The bedrooms were very comfortable, about as Tuscan as you could want, and the kids enjoyed a dip in the pool. Breakfast was provided...cornetti, meats, cheese, and all the Nutella you could want. And a fifteen minute walk takes you right into San Gimignano, avoiding the parking frenzy.
We hunted around for awhile attempting to locate the Coop supermercato in order to put together a picnic lunch on the terrace, but Rick's directions were a bit vague and the place itself is well-disguised. It IS off the street he mentions...but good luck finding it.
We'd definitely come back--it's a great (and central) jumping off point for Siena, Firenze, Volterra, Castellina, etc. Thanks to Carla and Francesco for an enjoyable stay.
Fred K
Leesburg, VA USA Thu 09/06/2007
Italy Farm Stay
I consider myself fairly well traveled and have stayed in many different levels of accommodations through the years, and I can honestly say that our six day stay at this farm was one of my most memorable trips ever. In fact, in ranks in my top 5 (the others being trips to S. Africa, Egypt, Alaska and Madagascar).
I didn't give the overall experience an excellent rating simply because I never do. It tends to create unrealistic expectations in the reader, which often leads to dissapointment. However, for reasons that may be more personal than general, I found this visit to be exquistely perfect for me at this time in my life.
This is a very authentic experience, and while Antonello, his mother Maria, his father Giuseppe and the volunteers make every effort to provide comfort, interesting activities, educational experiences and home-grown hospitality...it is a family home - not a resort. If you are looking to be pampered and catered to and treated like a tourist instead of a visitor, you might want to check out something a little more conventional.
Our room was spacious and spotless and cool enough even though there was no AC (which made me very happy...I hate AC and was glad to get away from the over-conditioned, frigid air that dominates most buildings in the States). We had reliable hot water every day for our shower, the meals that Maria made each night were superb, the range of activities available to us was more than adequate (we thought we might get bored being there for six whole days, but found a perfect balance between time spent on activities and time spent leisurely enjoying the serenity at the farm). At the farm, I slept soundly through each night, which is something that hasn't happened to me in years. Once back in Rome it was like a switch got flicked and I was back to the usual tossing and turning that I've become used to. Not sure what to attribute this to, but it really was amazing. We spent the hotter part of the afternoons lounging on the large patio, overlooking the fields filled with all the fresh vegetables and fruits that we snacked on each day and enjoyed for dinner each night.
The highlight for me was probably the four and a half hour hike to a meadow on top of a mountain, where we cooked wonderfully fresh, flavorful food over a fire, and then slept under a full moon in our sleeping bags.
Other activites included meeting my dinner (my sister went vegetarian once she realized that the animals on the farm weren't just for cute photo ops and petting, but I felt it was important to witness what was involved if I was going to eat it), a hike to a very old castle which we were able to crawl around in and on, horseback riding, sitting in the piazza in Sora drinking lemoncello and watching the locals enjoy themselves, a trip to an abandoned village and a dip in the very cold but very clear and pretty waters of a nearby lake.
We really enjoyed listening to Antonello's stories about things local and far away, and both his mother and father were very generous and charming.
Both my sister and I concluded that we would definitely like to come back to this farm again someday...
Kyrstyn <email>
Washington, DC USA Tue 09/04/2007
Tasty Tuscany - between Pisa and Florence
Tasty Tuscany is a mountaintop paradise that has lured us back twice. Hosts Patrizia and Paulo have created a Tuscan experience that includes cooking lessons, excursions to local "gems" which aren't in the guide books and a quality of rest and relaxation which lingers for weeks after you return home.
Imagine a typical day. Breakfast at 8:30, 9:30 into the Mercedes van for a trip with Paulo. An insider tour of an ancient monastery? Truffle hunting? A visit to a local potter - what is your pleasure?
Back for a sumptuous lunch under the wisteria and maybe a glass of wine, or two. Afternoon can be spent by the pool, hiking ancient trails, getting a massage or taking a nap in the cypress grove! At 5:00 pm, Patrizia takes you into her farm-size kitchen. Armed with your chopping board, knife, apron and wine glass, you are led through the preparation of the evening meal, featuring the freshest of ingredients (many from their well tended organic garden). Don't like to chop? Relax and sip your wine - this is a holiday. No one works if they don't want to!
The meal is shared around a big table, complete with stories, wine and vin santo. You may meet people from around the world who share your love of good food and beauty. Of, if you booked the place with friends (as we did), you can share moments of friendship that will be talked about for years to come.
Lots of places promise an authentic Italian "farmhouse" experience - but this place delivers. And the all-inclusive pricing guarantees a stress-free vacation. You will love it!
Cathy <email>
Dundas, Ont Canada Fri 08/24/2007
Agriturismo Metina
Our family of four stayed at Agritourismo Metina in July (www.metina.it). I highly recommend Metina especially for families, and here is a little piece of advice I have NEVER seen mentioned in guidebooks or this forum: Italian agritourismos are not, in general, kid-friendly. We spent the week before Metina in a different agritourismo in Greve, and were surprised by all the rules: pool closes at 7, don't make noise, no pool toys, and there were NO other children, just older European couples with swimsuit allergies. It's a drag for the kids. I've since been told this is typical, and much different than our experiences at French gîtes. Metina is different...a fun, laid-back atmosphere and Monica and Alberto are just great people. It's a great launching point for visiting Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza, and other sites.
Here is another tip to those researching Tuscan agritourismos...it's not always clear that the establishment is VERY remote. As in, "drive for several miles on a very rough narrow dirt road until you're convinced you took a wrong turn somewhere" and then you see the sign for the agritourismo. This didn't happen to us specifically, but I came across an agritourismo I had contacted about renting while on such a "should have rented a Range Rover" journey. These places are probably just fine if not preferable for some people, but I'm sure many people would not be happy to find out that "a few kilometers from the pretty city of ..." actually resembles something more like keeping up with Hemingway as he tracks a water buffalo.
Neil <email>
Lake Forest Park, WA USA Fri 08/24/2007
Tuscany agriturismo
La Crociona http://www.lacrociona.com/index.htm
La Crociona has beautiful apartments in the heart of Brunello country. The website http://www.lacrociona.com/ is a little sparse on pictures but the apartments are lovely. This year I rented two apartments 'A' the two bedroom and 'B' the studio. There is an outside door then a small hallway with separate entrances for 'A' and 'B'. This allowed us to keep the outside door closed and open the doors to each apartment giving us a lot more room for five people. My wife and I had a bedroom in apartment 'A' and our two granddaughters had the other bedroom. My sister-in-law had the studio. We all congregated in the two bedroom apartment and there was plenty of room to eat and hangout but having the second bathroom available with four girls was a help.
All the beds were comfortable and there was enough furniture for five in the two bedroom apartment. There were enough dishes and cookware in apartment 'A' for the five of us. The studio had a small kitchen and dishes and cookware but we never used it.
There is a pool but it was too early in the season for it to be open. We did use the hot tub. My granddaughters thought the hot tub was fantastic. We used the hot tub after dinner so it was dark and cold and the steam frosted the windows. The heat from the hot tub made it warm inside the enclosure but it was very cold for the 100 feet I had to walk back to the apartment.
The new wine cellar is very large and furnished with 17th century French furniture. My wife and sister-in-law were very impressed with the décor. Personally I thought the wine was the best part.
The location of La Crociona is one of its best features. Less than three kilometers from Montalcino you can walk to the town in twenty minutes or drive in three minutes. There are plenty of places to visit that are easy short drives. Having a very good restaurant (La Crocina) just a 100 meters from the apartment is great. You can also walk to Fattoria dei Barbi which is the next farm, for wine tasting or dinner. Sant'Antimo is about a five minute drive or an hour hike down the road.
I have stayed at La Crociona many times because I love the area and I am treated so well by the family. When I get to La Crociona it seems like home. I highly recommend it to everyone. At 100 euro a day (or less for the one bedroom apartments) I think this is a great value.
Henry <email>
Kansas USA Sat 07/28/2007
Agriturismo near Orvieto
We recently spent one week at a wonderful agriturismo near Orvieto. This farmhouse is located in quite peaceful area on the tuscany-Umbria border. We loved the fresh figs and tomatoes from the garden and the lovely tart that was waiting for us when we arrived. The pool was perfect after a morning of site seeing especially for our 2 teenagers. Serena and Francesco are great hosts and made our stay very relaxing. Check out their website at www.frallarenza.it
Cheryl <email>
Castlegar, BC Canada Tue 07/24/2007
Cretaiole Agriturismo review
We only hesitate to write this rave review of Cretaiole because secretly we want to keep it all to ourselves! Our first trip to Italy was in May/June, 2007 and we spent a week at Cretaiole at the beginning of our trip. This was truly a warm, fun, enlightening and beautiful place to stay. There was not one thing that we would change about it and only wished we could have stayed longer. If we are ever fortunate enough to return to Italy, we will stay here in a heartbeat above all other places--only we will stay longer the next time. Our hostess Isabella and her husband Carlo, as well as their parents, did everything in their power to make this a meaningful and memorable week. We were taught how to make the italian pasta called pici. We all participated in this activity while enjoying wine of their vinyard and being taught about Italian ways. We had special opportunities to enjoy meals and be toured of unique places, simply because we were guests at Cretaiole. If you are planning a Tuscany trip, we promise you that you will not be disappointed if you spend some time at Cretaiole.
Jeanne and Denny Simmerman <email>
Florence, MT USA Tue 07/24/2007
Il Poggiolo Bed and Breakfast in Florence
If you visit Firenze, I highly recommend that you stay at this very accommodating bed and breakfast. My wife and I and our teenaged son and daughter visited Firenze at the end of June 2007. Our stay at Il Poggiolo made our visit much more wonderful and memorable than it otherwise would have been. This unique Organic Olive Farm B and B was at one time the home of Enrico Caruso and sits in the hills outside the city. The lovely rooms are very clean and inviting and the included breakfast is yummy. From up on the little hill, it is magical to see the lights of the city below in the night. Besides the incredible setting, the main reason for the magic of our stay was our hostess, Graziella. She took us under her wing and provided the services of a friend before she became a friend of ours. She met us at the train station. She made us reservations at the museums we requested - Uffizi and Accademia. She provided us bus tickets and bus map and detailed instructions so that we could travel into Firenze on the buses which are the best way to travel in this city. She gave us her cell phone so we could call if we got lost. She recommended us to two restaurants run by her friends that gave us very different but very delicious dining experiences. La Bottega Della Nonna Nina was family run and neighborhood in character. I Ricchi was elegant and fine dining. I really could go on and on, but must stop now with a final remembrance of how nice it was to come back to Il Poggiolo at night and leave the stress of the hustle and bustle of this great Italian city behind. Graziella's attention to detail and willingness to provide that extra step of hospitality will make your stay in Florence as fabulous as ours!
Toby <email>
Anchorage, AK USA Mon 07/23/2007
La Casina di Castello
I just stayed in a wonderful apartment in Castelmuzio. The property is
called La Casina di Castello, and is actually comprised of two apartments, a larger apartment upstairs called Il Cielo and a smaller apartment downstairs called Il Nido. I actually stayed in the smaller of the two apartments, Il Nido. It is charmingly romantic and has absolutely everything that is needed for a wonderful stay. There is a beautiful bedroom and very well-equipped bathroom with shower. There is also a great kitchen with everything that one needs either for a quick snack or glass of wine in the garden, or to cook an entire meal.
The owners have given every attention to detail and provided absolutely everything from a bountiful breakfast basket to luxurious bath items. The owners are also very attentive and ready to help with anything, from a crisis (I locked myself out and they came at 10pm to get me into the apartment) to giving information on the area.
I found the most charming thing about the apartment to be the attached private garden. The flower-filled garden is perfectly secluded and well-equipped with chairs for lounging and a table and chairs for dining outside.
Both apartments are located in the ancient village of Castelmuzio. Castelmuzio is a very charming village with all that one needs for their stay in Tuscany....grocery store (Co-op), quiant restaurants and wonderful friendly people. It is in a great location...close to Pienza, Montepulciano, Petroio, Montisi and numerous other wonderful hilltowns.
If you want the perfect place from which to explore the Tuscan countryside and still want to have a very private vacation...this is the place for you.
As a special note-on this trip I stayed alone at this location and always felt completely safe. This is a great apartment for either a couple or a person travelling alone.
Susan Truitt <email>
Indian Harbor Beach, FL USA Mon 07/23/2007
Italy Farm Stay
My family enjoyed a wonderful 3 night stay at Italy Farm Stay, just outside the Abruzzi National Park. Antonello and his mother, Maria, welcomed us upon our arrival with delicious homemade wine and bread with homemade olive oil. After showing us our room, Antonello gave us a tour of the farm, including many fruit trees that he told us we could pick from anytime, and the animals: goats, a donkey, chickens and rabbits. Our kids were in heaven! During our stay, we enjoyed several beautiful hikes in the mountains,
a delicious (and very cheap) meal cooked by Maria, and other delicious meals in the surrounding area. On our drives we discovered beautiful little hill towns that could rival the hill towns in Tuscany. (In fact they are better because there are no crowds!) This is a lovely undiscovered area of Italy.
But the best thing about our trip was the warm hospitality of Antonello and his family. We stayed at many lovely places during a three week trip to Italy, but Antonello's farm was our favorite!
Cindy
Seattle, WA USA Tue 07/17/2007
Rustic Farm setting overlooking Florence
My wife and I had a wonderful time in Florence partly due to our host Graziella. The B&B is situated on a hill outside of Florence and is partly a converted farm amids an olive grove. She not only arranged our museum tikets in advance but also gave helpful tips for places to go, see, eat. Graziella was extremely helpful, had each days bus connections available, shuttled us to and from Florence if needed, let us use a cell phone for the stay. She is gracious, helpful and goes above beyond....English is good.
To experience the true 'tuscany hill side' and feel with warmth and friendly atmosphere from a wounderful italian olive tree grower, host and owner, stay at Il Poggiolo Bed and Breakfast! Please see weblink http://www.tuscany.net/ilpoggiolo/index.html
Tim
raleigh, NC USA Sun 07/15/2007
Agritursimos in Tuscany
First I must say - Rick Steves, you should have this location in you book!
We can not say enough about Il Nido di Castello in Castelmuzio - Il Nido is located only five minutes drive from Pienza and very close to where our hostess lived. It was recently restored and comprises an open plan studio apartment with cozy kitchen, dining area, four-poster bed, bathroom with large shower. The back door lead us to a small private garden.
When we arrived, the host brought us to the apartment to show us around - we found a full breakfast basket and a sample of their olive oil and wine.
You do need a car to visit the beautiful surroundings, the charming towns and villages around and to get a real taste of the Tuscan country-side.
The location of "Il Nido" also makes it easy to make day-trips to many wine-producing towns like Montalcino (30 minutes drive) and Montepulciano (20 minutes drive) along with famous destinations, Siena (45 min).
We were allowed to purchase the farm products (pecorino cheese, fresh eggs, raw ham, grappa, Vin Santo...) and to get all the same personal assistance that they give to their guests of Agritursimo Cretaiole:
Our hostess, Isabella was quite fluent in English and a veritable font of local information! She helped us to experience Tuscany as the locals see it.
Included in the apartment was a guidebook written by Isabella (in English) offering information on restaurants, museums, suggested itineraries, and other information you most likely won't find anywhere else.
As a guest of their place, they offered a three hour guided tour of Siena with a local professional guide; the host, Carolos, is a professional oil taster and gave us an olive oil tasting evening not to ever forget!; and my personal favorit was the "pici" (pasta)cooking class followed by a tasting with the fabulous meat ragù of Liliana in a traditional Tuscan family-dinner!
The family had purchased to preserve on their property a Hermitage that. Originally an Etruscan tomb, it was later used as a hermitage by monks in the Middle Ages. What history at our fingertips!
We had dinner with a local chef, toured and had lunch on an organic farm that is self sustaining - the most amazing meal we have EVER had!
The sceneary was so amazing - you can sit on a lounge chair at the farm and look out at Val D'orcia all day long if you just need a break.
We can not say enough about our stay here. We can not wait to bring our children back in the very near future!
Lpuffer <email>
chelmsford, ma USA Sun 07/15/2007
Italyfarmstay
I am highly recommending Antonello's farm (www.italyfarmstay.com) for anyone looking for a pleasant stay in the Italian countryside. My wife and I were Antonello's guests and we had a wonderful time exploring the local villages and towns. The accommodations are clean, spacious, and better yet affordable for the budget traveler (18 E for shared bath, 22 E private w/breakfast). The farm is nestled in the mountainside, where many outdoor activities are close at hand. The farm's host, Antonello, is generous, giving of his time and transportation, to be sure activities such as trail hiking, horse riding, paragliding, and a visit to the cheese-making shepherd are within the grasp of enjoyment.
It is located near the Abruzzi National Park and we, using the farm as a base, visited the surrounding towns of Isola Del Liri, Arpino, Pescosolido, Cassino, to name a few, with great views, sights [crusader forts, abbeys, lakes] and excellent restaurants. The area is known for truffles and we had numerous dishes at very reasonable pricing (large bruchetta with truffles 2 E, spaghetti/linguine con vongole 4 E; scallopine limon 4 E). We also visited the Abbey of Monte Cassino and the Cassino Historical Museum, the latter providing a detailed overview with guide of the WWII battlefield.
A great relaxing stay, great host and easy to get to.
George
Diamond Bar, CA USA Fri 07/13/2007
www.italyfarmstay.com I recommend this family run establishment to anyone who is willing to take a detour from the well trodden tourist path to a wild nook of the Italian countryside. I felt very much at home during my four night stay due to the warm hospitality the family exudes. The accommodations are clean, spacious, and better yet affordable for the budget traveler. The farm offers land to be explored, where one can meander along the paths and stumble upon grapevines, and olive, walnut, cherry, plum, fig and pomegranate trees. The farm is nestled in the mountainside, where many outdoor activities are close at hand. The farm's host, Antonello, is generous, giving of his time and transportation, to be sure activities such as trail hiking, horse riding, paragliding, and a visit to the cheese-making shepherd are within the grasp of enjoyment. My favorite was the early a.m. cheese making. We watched as the shepherd milked the goats and sheep, while the wife build a fire for heating the milk. Trying to escape the bite of the morning air, we hovered close to the fire, sampling the freshly handmade cheese with bread and homemade olive oil, and the remaining delicious whey.
Amanda <email>
DE USA Tue 07/10/2007
Foresteria
This spring we spent a week at the FOresteria
http://www.foresteria.it/eng/index.html
The hostess Marion was extremely helpful - with maps directions etc - we took the train to Florence - they made reservations at the Academia and Ufizzi for us - we highly recommend this lovely place
Elizabeth Lewis <email>
Prescott, AZ USA Sun 07/08/2007
Be aware-Agriturismo Fattoria di Vibio
During our vacation, we contacted the Agritunismo to make reservations while we driving to the area. We confirmed our room for a double ensuite for 80 euros per nite. We called back later for more directions and reconfirmed our reservaton. When we checked out 2 days later, we were surprised that we were being charged 160 euros per nite per person. We showed the manager the price in Rick's book and he said he would not honor this rate which he said was per person. The place was lovely and the meals were great. Be aware that any activities or facilities are extra.
Priscilla
Ca USA Thu 07/05/2007
Casa Cernano – Chianti – Tuscany
Our family of four stayed at Casa Cernano in Castelnuovo Berardegna, southeast of Siena. The lovelingly restored 14th century Vatican farmhouse sits peacefully near the olive groves and vineyards. Eva was a gracious hostess and our two day stopover turned into four days of relaxing and soaking in the beautiful Tuscan landscape, and the wine. Located conveniently within walking distance to the village and restaurants.
We were so rested at Casa Cernano that we decided to turn Roma into a day trip and stay another night. We drove to Orvieto, took the train into Roma, toured our target spots in Roma via metro, cab, and foot. Then we returned to Catelnuovo Berardegna for a late dinner and a great nights rest!
As much as we wanted to keep this our own "Back Door" a secret, we just couldn't keep this gem to ourselves! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
http://www.casa-cernano.com
JK <email>
Anchorage, Alaska USA Wed 07/04/2007
italyfarmstay.com
Antello's farm (www.italyfarmstay.com)is FABULOUS! A great way to get out of the tourist crowds and enjoy some home cooking, beautiful mountain views and rural Italian life.
MK
NC USA Sun 07/01/2007
Agriturismo in Tuscany near Florence
I would like to emphatically and very highly recommend Ill Poggiolo (graziellacam@libero.it) near Florence as a wonderful farmstay in Tuscany. We read about it in Steves' Italy book. Graziella Camilloni, who owns and runs the small B&B, is a helpful, gracious hostess who is now a friend. We drove in a leased car from Rome, had car trouble, got lost and had a sick child - all in one miserable day. Graziella rescued us. She drove to meet us, made arrangements to have our car towed and fixed, supplied us with a wonderful dinner and went out of her way to help us during a very trying time. My husband was ready to return to the U.S. after only one week of a four week trip because of the horrible car experience. Graziella gave us bus tickets to Florence, she drove us to the train station so that we might visit the Italian Riviera. Without our even asking, she made reservations at the Accademia and the Uffizi for our family. And, for a nominal fee, she did our laundry! Ill Poggiolo was built by Enrico Caruso. The view is breathtaking. We stayed in a large family apartment with 4 beds and a huge bathroom. It is a very homey and warm place. Within walking distance are restaurants and a small hill town. It was a truly delightful place to stay. Jody Kellerman kellerman@goldrush.com
Jody Kellerman <email>
Sonora, Ca USA Mon 06/25/2007
Agriturismo Cretaiole
My husband and I recently returned from a second glorious vacation where we stayed three full weeks at Agriturismo Cretaiole. We enjoyed our stay there so much last year that before we left we booked our 2007 vacation—again staying in Il Pollaio. The end of the 3 weeks came, and we were not ready to leave at all. We had settled in and felt like we were at home—both physically and emotionally.
Since last year, the Moricciani family has made improvements on what we thought last year was perfection. Our studio apartment, Il Pollaio, was newly equipped with a brand new microwave (which we used every day!) and toaster. A large four-drawer antique dresser was added, which made it possible to completely move out of our luggage and into the furniture.
Huge fluffy terrycloth towels and exquisite, fine-gauge sheets, and cute new dishes were a wonderful surprise. Outside we found the brand new Emu lawn furniture to be both attractive and very comfortable. In fact, we all liked the Emu brand so much, we are going to look for it in the States for our own backyard.
The personal assistance from Isabella was perfect, as always—and from the entire family, too. Again, she gave us a cell phone to use during our entire stay—all we had to do was purchase time at the local bookstore in Pienza whenever the phone needed replenishing.
If you are considering getting married in Tuscany—consider Cretaiole as the venue. Our friends from Colorado did just that during one of the weeks we four stayed at Cretaiole this year! My husband, who is a minister, married them on the lawn at the edge of the hilltop, where they had the biggest, panoramic vista of the Val d'Orcia including Pienza, Radicofani, and Mount Amiata. Unbeknownst to us, the other guests were watching the ceremony, and then gathered large handfuls of rose petals from the many climbing rose bushes on the property, and tossed them up in the air to fall upon the newly married couple. Isabella arranged for a private dinner for the four of us, which was served on the covered veranda. Sylvia, is a marvelous cook who prepared a four-course, Tuscan meal that was absolutely delicious. We provided the wines, which in this area are bountiful and some of the world's best! Isabella, her son, and some of the guests served as photographers during the ceremony. We have beautiful, to-die-for photos that will be forever special to our friends as reminders of their incomparable wedding day at Cretaiole.
With enough lead time, someone wanting to bring up to 30 friends and family to Cretaiole for a wedding could do so—completely filling the farmhouse. Wow, what a fun event that would be! The same would be true for a family reunion. However, Cretaiole is becoming so popular, that for the popular travel months, this should be planned a year in advance.
While we were there this year, we met other guests from Malaysia, Canada, France, South Africa, and Germany. This is always a treat—to get to know people from other countries and cultures. The size of the farmhouse limits the number of people who can stay there, and the large size of the property makes it possible to find your own spot for reading, journaling, or dreaming by yourself. We never felt pressured in any way whatsoever to take part in the activities provided—either the ones that are included in the base rental charge, or those that are made available for a fee. It was truly do what you want, and only what you want. One reason for this is that the Moricciani family does not add any service fee—they pass along the cost of the activities directly to the guests without any sort of commission for themselves. This keeps the prices low as well.
The wine of Cretaiole—Orcia DOC—was particularly good this year! The meats, cheeses, and vin santo served at the pici dinner were delicious as always.
We have already made our reservations for another three weeks next year. What better recommendation can I give than to say we want a third long-term stay at Cretaiole—our "Italian home-away-from-home." We are medium-budget travelers—and find the value of apartment and services of Cretaiole to be extremely high. We feel we get far more than we pay for—especially when compared to other alternatives.
Claudia
Rochester area, NY USA Sat 06/23/2007
Italian agriturismos
We had a delightful experience in May of this year staying at Il Poggiolo in Tuscany. This place is very close to Florence, so is very convenient for touring both Tuscany and the city of Florence. If you are very lucky, Graziella, the owner of the B&B, will direct you, or, in our case, since we were there without a car, take you to the best restaurant we experienced in all of Italy: Trattoria iRicchi. The food was divine and the service wonderful. Graziella took wonderful care of us and we would recommend her B&B, surrounded by olive groves, to anyone.
Sara Allen <email>
Nampa, Idaho USA Sat 06/23/2007
Long term
I'm hoping that you "veterans" of the Agriturismos might be able to help us out. We are looking to rent or lease a farmhouse property suitable for up to four couples for about a year. Do you know of any people, companies or services (all reputable of course!) that might be able to help us? Thanks a bunch.
Michael
CA USA Fri 06/15/2007
Italyfarmstay
I just came back from a week at ItalyFarmStay (www.itlayfarmstay.com), and it was one of the times I've had ever.
Fresh from a big North American city, I was immediately mesmerized by the Italian country landscape as I set foot on Antonello's farm. Fruit trees of all varieties grow in wild abundance here – orange, lemon, cherry, plum, pear, apple, peach, persimmon, pomegranate, and of course, fig. Sweet scents of jasmine invade your senses, while the sounds of distant church bells provide a perfect background to the symphony of horse bells, and the music of other farm animals.
I had a wonderful breakfast drinking fresh goat's milk, and a just-laid egg. Wild asparagus and baby artichoke fresh-picked by Guiseppie (Antonello's father) followed by a few mulberries and wild strawberries as I strolled through the farm. At other times, I would savor cheese just made by a shepherd, along with homemade bread from a neighbor and wine that Maria (Antonello's mother) made.
I took long walks everywhere, attracted by the beauty of the mountains dotted with country homes, patches of olive groves, vegetable gardens, grapevines, and wheat fields. Sheep and goats grazed on the meadow, and here and there elder ladies in country clothes with aprons around their waist meandered about.
Italy Farm Stay is not just an organic farm. To me this is the traditional country life at its finest – a lifestyle that seems long-forgotten. Simple yet magical. I look forward to going back!
I still remember vividly Guiseppie smiling, "Slow down, don't worry. Tomorrow's another day."
Jannie
Baltimore, MD USA Tue 06/05/2007
Bella Agriturismo
My husband and I made our first trip to Italy about a month ago. We went with some friends. Were were there for 17 days total and spent 7 of those days in Tuscany. We stayed at an Agriturismo 10 minutes outside of Pienza called Fonti Bertusi. It was amazing. We rented an apartment with 2 bedrooms, kitchen and one bath. The cost was E870.00 for the week. Manuella, Eduardo and......our hosts were incredible. The apartment was spotlessly clean and not worn. The property was blooming with all kinds of delightful flowers/plants. The made the most incredible but simple Italian breakfast each morning. I became addicted to Cappucino there! The views from the property were incredible. We would venture each day to another close city for the day, maybe have dinner there and return to the apartment in the evening. It was very convenient. We drove 40 minutes to Chuisi to catch a train to Florence for the day, visited Sienna, Pienza, Montalcino, Cortona, Moltipulciano, and more. Tom and I both got sick while we were there, probably everything blooming! They were so kind...sending a tray for breakfast to Tom etc. We spent a day at the apartment re-couping while our friends ventured out. It was wonderful. They have a nice pool with an incredible view. We would recommend it to anyone heading to Tuscany. We compared prices and they were very well priced in comparison to many others we researched and they were very helpful before and during our stay. THey asked us how as "Americans" we had found them. We told them we searched Agriturismos.it and they were familiar with that however, they had never heard of Rick Steves so we talked about him and his website and they wrote it down to check it out. If you contact them, tell them Diane and Tom Leone (stayed there in April this year) say "Ciao"!
Diane Leone
Saint Augustine, FL USA Fri 06/01/2007
Italy Farm Stay
The past week has been the best! After the amazing experience of Pompei and Vesuvius, my husband and I traveled by bus the countryside between Naples and Rome to a farm near Sora. On this farm they raise a few animals, make their own olive oil and wine, and grow their own organic vegetables. The son of Guisepee and Marie is Antonello and it is he that runs the farm stay. You can pay and stay as a guest but you can also volunteer and work on the farm in exchange for room and board. ... you should seriously consider this as a cheap way of travel but also as an amazing cultural experience. If I were planning this trip again, I would spend almost all my time in the country and I would work on a farm stay. Antonello's farm is a cut above but there are more than just his ... www.italyfarmstay.com is his place. We had a great time hiking into the mountains to see a hidden waterfall, horseback riding down a river through the forest, watching a real shepherd make cheese, and learning how to make handmade pasta. As a volunteer you also get to do some of the activities. It was AMAZING. Plus we met some wonderful people from Austrailia (Prue), Britain (Debs), and Scotland (Elise)..... Pru was there like us as a guest but Debs and Alise were working on the farm and planned to work on otheres. Google it and find out! Hanging out on the farm with Anotello, Prue, Debs, and Elise was the real highlight of our trip! They were great people and we had so much fun there. Anotello was a real trickster and tried to convince us there were hermits living the forest . . . he was also amazingly laid back but with a real positive vision for the future of his farm. Prue and Debs and Elise went horseback riding and to the shepherd with us and it was so fun sharing the experience of eatting warm fresh cheese, made in front of our eyes and then drinking the (foul) warm whey .... which I will now confess, I never actually drank .. it smelled awful and the look on Debs face was enough for me!! Another great moment from the farm stay was when Elise ran into the kitchen at breakfast yelling, °the donkey is in the vegetable garden!!! Dustin, Prue and I ran to the rescue .... Dustin taking the lead and Prue and I looking brave with the sticks we grabbed in hand but actually limiting our help to a few pokes on the donkey's backside ..... Dustin managed to get the Donkey's rope and lead him back to his pen ... he was cantankerous and we had seen him be quite naughty so Prue and I stayed back ... Every morning we woke to the sound of raucous birds and watched magpies and little song birds from the comfort of the hammock ... We really loved it there!
www.italyfarmstay.com
Katrina
Ravenna, Texas USA Wed 05/30/2007
Il Poggiolo, Tuscany
My husband and I spent a week in early May, 2007, in the lovely Tuscan countryside, enjoying Graziella's hospitality and lovely accommodations. As our flight was delayed, she even came to the airport to escort us the 6 km north of Florence near Serpiolle, because she didn't want us to get overwhelmed with the rush hour traffic. She provided reservations for the museum tours, local area restaurants, as well as tips and suggestions (and bus tickets!) to get around. The Standard Apartment was perfect for the two of us, very comfortable, and while rustic, had all the modern conveniences. The house was built in 1920 for Enrico Caruso. It has an amazing view of the Tuscan countryside and the city of Florence. The breakfast room is very impressive, complete with a fish pond in a corner and numerous potted plants. The star jasmine on the outside is at least 20 feet tall and smells wonderful. The house is located on a bus line if you don't want to deal with driving and parking in Florence. Il Poggiolo is a working organic olive farm and Graziella has her award-winning olive oil right on the breakfast table for you to sample. It's great! Graziella herself is a wonderful hostess who knows several languages and goes out of her way to make you feel like well-cared for guests. We hope to go back and stay there again soon. You can reach her at http://www.il-poggiolo.it
Ron and Daria Howell <email>
Portland, OR USA Wed 05/30/2007
Agriturismo Cretaiole
Agriturismo Cretaiole is a piece of heaven in the Tuscan countryside. The Moricciani family are passionate, hardworking, and contagious. If you are a traveller who seeks a refuge that is breathtakenly beautiful and peaceful; and who wants an interesting cultural experience with a truly gracious Italian host family, then Agriturismo Cretaiole is the experience that you should take. Situated in the Val d'Orcia region, Cretaiole gives you a vacation that is hard to forget. You have the opportunity to participate in organized events such as homecooked meals, wine tastings, organized tours, olive oil tastings, and even trying your hand at making homemade pasta!
I dream of the day that I will return to Cretaiole and once again interact with the Moricciani family and their beautiful land.
Heather Fitzpatrick <email>
Halifax , NS Canada Tue 05/29/2007
Great Italian Agriturismo-Umbria
If anyone is traveling by car thru Umbria (near Orvieto) and looking for a nice place to stay...We loved this place: Agriturismo Frallarenza. The accomodations are spacious, comfortable, and beautiful (and they have a pool!). The prices are unbeatable. Francesco and Serena were warm, wonderful hosts.
They have done most all of the work themselves on their place, organically farming 10-15 acres of grapes and olives in addition to pursuing careers in weaving, ceramics and blacksmithing/farrier work.
Their place is 20 minutes fom orvieto and +/- 1-1/4hr. by train from Rome.
This was our first experience w/ Agriturismos. It was a great way to end a lovely time in Italy. It was a paradise!
David <email>
Seatle, Wa USA Tue 05/29/2007
Italian Agriturismo
During our 2 week tour of Italy in April, my husband and I stayed at Quercecchio Agriturismo (www.quercecchio.it) which is located 8 km south of Montalcino. It was a GREAT find - a 15th Century convent converted 2 years ago into 9 apartments. It was very comfortable and tastefully appointed. The Amiata Apartment that we stayed in was a large 2 bedroom with 2 bathrooms and a generous kitchen/living area with breath taking views of the Tuscan Landscape. The pictures of that room on the web site doesn't do it justice. The cost was e 150,00 per night. Querecchio is a wine producing property (with a fantastic 2001 Brunello), very quite and it has a pool and laundry facilities. Matteo our host was very helpful and full of information about the area. We were surprised to learn that we were the first US guests at Quercecchio. Because the Agriturismo Quercecchio has fully equipped kitchens in each of the apartments, at this point they are not offering a restaurant. Nearby in Montalcino there is a meat market, vegetable market, bakery and small grocery store all near each other on the main street. We stopped in town for supplies before we headed to the apartment. If you want to eat out the restaurant Trattoria Il Leccio in Montalcino was fabulous and had great service too! We really loved that part of Italy!
Linda Olhava <email>
Corona, CA USA Mon 05/28/2007
agriturismo pomonte near orvieto
enrico (sp?) is absolutely amazing. the most hospitable italian ive met. his parents bought the land twenty years ago and they all run it. when you get there he'll share a glass of his own vino blanca with you, and is hard working and never gives you any put out attitude. besides all that he has the most beautiful children ive met, and two cute fox like dogs that wander around. check him out in rick's books.
jude
austin, tx USA Sun 05/27/2007
Farmhouse in Volterra (Pisa)
I'm Italian, i live in Tuscany, in Volterra (Pisa province). I would like to tell you that Tuscany is not only San Gimignano, Florence or Siena. Tuscany is also Val di Cecina and Volterra, a beautiful town where you can see etruscan, roman and medioeval history. Last week, in our farmhouse, we've got 2 american guestes, from California, and they was surpise for the beauty of Volterra and the country around.Anyway, San Gimignano is 20 minutes by car, Pisa is 40 minutes by car, Siena, Florence and Lucca are 50 minutes far from the farmhouse. My farmhouse is called "Agriturismo La fonte" www.agriturismolafonte.org and is a peacefull place.
Katia <email>
Volterra (Pisa), Tuscan Italy Sat 05/26/2007
Unused Credit for Agriturismo Cretaiole
If you are planning a stay at Agriturismo Cretaiole before the end of this year, I have an unused credit of 180 Euros. I had to cancel my trip last fall and cannot go this year to use my deposit. Isabella is kind enough to transfer this amount to another reservation - family, friend, etc. -- the one caveat being that it must be a new reservation only; not one that's already been booked. I'd like to get $180 (US) for 180 Euros which is a savings of about $63 based on the current exchange rate. Thank you!
Sylvia <email>
San Jose, CA USA Thu 05/24/2007
Italy Farm Stay Near Sora
We wish we could have stayed longer at this wonderful place bordering Abruzzo National Park in central Italy. It's midway between Rome and Naples, about 45 minutes off the autostrada, but well worth getting off the beaten path. You don't even have to drive...they'll pick you up and drop you at the train station in Sora.
This working organic agriturismo with olive and fruit trees and a wide variety of animals (including two friendly dogs) is just outside the larger town of Sora, as well as several small and scenic hill towns. While the location alone is fantastic, wonderful Antonello and his family really make this a memorable place to visit.
The farm is a quiet world apart from the tourist sites and crowds. Sora has a great market day on Thursdays, when merchants and farmers line its downtown streets. But there's so much to do on and near the farm, including a hike on the farm or in the national park, horseback riding, language and pasta-making lessons from Maria, touring historic monasteries, frequent sampling of the farm's wine, produce, and olive oil, and a visit to the local cheese-making shepherd. The region is known for its truffle production and one evening we visited a local restaurant - virtually everything on the menu featured truffles, yet it was the great food bargain of the trip. We also greatly enjoyed our dinner and breakfasts at the family table, and again, almost everything was produced on the farm.
Our kids (ages 4 and 8) absolutely loved it, but it's a great place for anyone to visit. There's surely enough to see and do to stay a week or more. It caters to English-speaking travelers and Antonello has spent time in the United States. What a wonderful place...we hope to visit again someday!
www.italyfarmstay.com
Brad, Ellen, Luke and Lydia <email>
St. Louis, MO USA Tue 05/22/2007
Agriturismos in the Vento region
I would like to recommend the Agrturismo Le Torreselle in Vicenza province. My wife and I loved the setting in the hill country,horse rides and local dishes with home grown ingredients. Antonella the owner was great and gave us insights into local events and places to visit by day trips.She treated us very well and she shared her Italy with us.
gary archer <email>
shoreline w, wa USA Mon 05/21/2007
Unused Credit for Agriturismo Cretaiole
If you are booked (or plan to be) at Agriturismo Cretaiole this year, I have an unused credit of 180 Euros. I had to cancel my trip last fall and cannot go this year to use my deposit.
Isabella is kind enough to transfer this amount to another reservation - family, friend, etc. I'd like to get $180 (US) for 180 Euros which is a savings of about $63 based on the current exchange rate. Thank you!
Sylvia <email>
San Jose, CA USA Thu 05/17/2007
Agritourismo in the heart of Chianti
I just returned from my first trip to Italy and it was wonderful. I wanted to tell everyone about Casa Nova-La Ripintura which is a 10 minute, nice walk into the small town of Greve-In-Chianti (and only 25km from Florence) Booking the room was very easy and Sandra and her husband are very nice people. We had a lovely room at the Casa Nova property (La Ripintura is only a 3 minute walk down the lane)with access to a wonderful balcony. Breakfast was provided and was simple but very nice. The staff was very helpful with answering our questions about getting around the area or restaurant suggestions. They helped us rent a car for the day and it was an easy walk into town to go pick it up. It was a great location for seeing the other towns in Tuscany within an hour and a half to two hour drive. I would definitely stay there again and recommend it to anyone who is interested in staying in that part of Italy. www.greve-in-chianti.com/casanova.htm
Sloane
Philadelphia, PA USA Wed 05/16/2007
Agriturismo
In Oct. last year my daughters and I had the pleasure of a weeks stay at Galealpe agriturismo near Arezzo in Tuscany. Alessandra & Andrea are a young couple working an olive farm on the slope of the Pratomagno mountain and were perfect hosts, suggesting Tuscan towns not on the tourist maps, as well as steering us in the right direction for buying local products. The accommodation could not have been better in the 18th century farmhouse with the wonderful view over the valley - especially nice in the early morning hours and at sunset. We still communicate with this lovely family and would love to return in the Fall and participate in the olive harvest which is family run. Check out the website: www.galealpe.it but the reality is even better. We were able to visit many hill towns - one of our favorites was Borro - tiny but so much fun with the locals. We would never have known about this but for our hostess. I wish this was included in Rick's Tuscany guide book so more travellers would share our experience.
M. McLean <email>
Chilliwack, British Columbia, USA Fri 05/04/2007
Agriturismo Cretaiole
If you want to see beautiful rolling hills and rustic farmhouses like in the movies and books about Tuscany, if you want to enjoy staying in a 500 year old farmhouse, if you want a convenient base to visit all the hilltowns in Tuscany, if you want to interact with local Italians who are passionate about sharing their culture with others, and if you want an experience that you will remember and treasure for the rest of your life, spend a week at Agriturismo Cretaiole. Check out their website to see their accomodations and all the activities you can choose from. Check out the photo of the Moricciani Family, the warmest, kindest, most welcoming hosts you could wish for. Then book a week with them. It will be the best decision you make about your trip to Italy. Rick Steves, you need to check out this place. It's AMAZING!
Rob Inouye
West Vancouver, BC Canada Wed 05/02/2007
Levanto, Italy (N of Cinque Terra)
We recently returned from a nine day excursion in Italy---the last few days spent in the indescribably beautiful, scenic hilltops of Levanto at the Agriturismo Erba Persa (located just six minutes north of the Cinque Terra). Agriturismo Erba Persa is perfectly located for day-tripping to any of the coastal cities/towns such as Portofino, Portovenere, the Cinque Terre and others...At Rick Steves' suggestion, we opted to enjoy the slower-paced, quiet, and traditional Italian experience on the coast. Undoubtedly, the higlight of our experience in Italy was the time we spent at Erba Persa and the hospitality and graciousness of our hosts, Grazia and Claudio. Grazia and her gardener husband, Claudio embody the spirit of organic, warm and casual living in Levanto. Our friendly host and hostess start your day with a delightful breakfast of fresh homemade pastries, granolas and jams (the kiwi jam and orange marmalade are delicious!)an assortment of yogurt, cheeses and fruit. The rooms are spacious, tidy, and immaculately clean. The walk from the train station to Erba Persa is approximately 15 minutes, however, Gratzia is happy to greet you at the quaint train station, show you around town (including the best restaurants and gelato stops) and "deliver" you back to the station upon departure. Upon suggestion, we dined at local favorite "da Rino's" where Oscar and his family serve delicious and authentic Ligurian cuisine. In short, this quaint and lovely B&B in itself made our experience memorable with a friendly and delightful host and hostess, generous breakfast, clean & reasonably priced rooms and easy access to the Cinque Terre. We are anxiously looking forward to our next visit to Erba Persa, Levanto, Italy!
erbapersa@aliceposta.it
Mandi and Stephen <email>
Phoenix, AZ USA Sun 04/29/2007
Agriturismo Cretaiole
Just returned from two weeks in Italy, including the last six days at Agriturismo Cretaiole in Pienza. I probably can't express it better than a previous poster, AmicaDiItalia, did, so just let me say: If you're considering an agriturismo stay, look no further. It isn't often that you set your expectations very high and then have them exceeded, but that was the case for us. There are undoubtedly agriturismos that are bigger, have swimming pools, and are more plush, but if you truly want a Tuscan experience, plus be hosted by some of the nicest people you will ever meet, this is the place.
Our room, Il Pollaio, is the smallest at Cretaiole, yet it was perfect - we went to sleep every evening to a roaring fire with wood and kindling supplied by our hosts. The room had exposed wooden beams, a spacious bathroom, extremely comfortable bed, and a fully furnished kitchen. And a washing machine was available for the guests' use.
Cretaiole's views of the Val d'Orcia are breathtaking, and Isabella and her family provided us with so many memories: sharing late-night high octane grappa with Luciano while passing an Italian/English dictionary back and forth; hearing how Isabella came to Pienza from Milan and getting caught up in her enthusiasm for this quieter, slower paced lifestyle; touring the Estruscan ruins on their property; becoming olive oil tasting "experts;" visiting an organic farm and a local winery and enjoying fantastic homemade food; meeting guests from Israel, Norway, Italy, and the U.S.; and who could ever forget the pici-making class on our final night?
Cretaiole is perfectly located for day-tripping. While there, we visited Florence, Siena (twice), San Gimignano, Volterra, Monticiello, Montalcino, Castelmuzio, and Assisi. Pienza itself is a crown jewel of a place, delightfully small yet full of renaissance sites.
Isabella told me she gets embarrassed by the rave reviews Cretaiole receives, worrying about setting the bar too high for future guests. She needn't worry - Cretaiole is something very special. We're already planning our next visit!
Roy Leonard <email>
Fredericksburg, VA USA Mon 04/23/2007
Agirturismos that are Sheep friendly
I have enjoyed reading the reviews here and I am looking forward to my trip to Italy next fall and have fallen in love with the idea of Agriturismos. Does anyone know of any Agriturismos that are sheep farms in Southern Italy? I am traveling there in November and want to stay in the South where it will be warmer but I spin yarn and love the idea of staying on a farm with sheep. Thanks.
Lisa <email>
Seattle, wa USA Fri 04/20/2007
Fattoria Montalbano - Tuscany near Florence
We stayed at Fattoria Montabalno in Tuscany recently (http://www.montalbano.it/).
We had an excellent stay. It is run by a young couple who speak good English and German.
The room we stayed in was extremely comfortable and recently renovated and the location was great. Just a few kilometers north of the Chianti road and a 20 minute drive from Florence. The owners Dänny and Luciano made sure we had all of the maps and information we needed for day tripping around the area and also asked if we needed assistance booking our tickets at the Uffizi and so forth in Florence.
Dänny and Luciano also provide a list of restaurants in the area, all of which are excellent and all of which are half the price of the big cities, so after a long day of touring Tuscany and the Chianti region we could settle in for a nice 2 hour dinner at a great restaurant off in the woods near our room.
They did nice touches like leaving a bottle of mineral water and Chianti (from their farm) in the room for when we arrived.
Dänny and Luciano also have many animals that the children and adults can go and see and their farm is setup for both the romantic couple and for the family alike. They have a nice pool that they were opening for the season while we stayed.
If you do stay there follow their directions because they are easier than the directions you will get from a mapping program, and getting to the farm is extremely easy from both the autostrada and from Florence.
Overall we had a great stay with them and would definitely return.
Brad <email>
Charlotte, MI USA Tue 04/17/2007
METINA: little paradise
Hi there,
my husband and myself fund great informations on this website... we read the graffiti wall and had contacts with Agriturismo METINA - www.metina.it -
Monica speaks french and english and could give us very good suggestions about towns to visit, shopping places, restaurants... everything was perfect:
5 apartments so not too crowded. This was a little oasi of peace when coming back after a day of visit: august is tourist time and coming back home to lay on a chair in the garden or jump in the swimming-pool was the best we could have... and if you add a good glass of wine to this: it really was like paradise!
Monica and her husband Alberto (he also speaks french but not english though he will try to help in any way!) were great hosts.
The apartments are really large and simple but you have all you need. The swimming-pool is large and delightful!
A lot of green all around and a beautiful terrace with a barbecue and tables and chairs.
You really feel like you are home.
We'll go back in summer 2008!! This is sure!!
Gorgeous place, delightful wine, sun and friends... paradise!
Aurevoir Metina!
See you soon Metina.
Flo
Chambery, FRANCE Tue 04/17/2007
Cretaiole in Pienza
My husband and I visited Pienza, Tuscany in early April with the intention of staying 4 nights at the agritourimo Cretaiole. We loved it so much that we ended staying there for the duration of our trip, 9 nights in all. The family couldn't have been more inviting and gracious. The father, Luciano, invited us in for some homemade Chianti on our arrival and was so kind and patient going through the English/Italian phrase book so that we could try to communicate. They have a wonderful organic vegetable garden that is just for the guests consumption and offer their other incredible organic products, Chianti and olive oil that are to die for!
Isabella and Carlo are wonderful hosts, always available, and really help with info on the area. They have itineraries to many little dirt road drives with stunning scenery that you otherwise would never see. On our last night, Luciano brought over some of his homemade grappa to toast and say goodbye. What a way to go!
I can't wait to go back next year!!
Joan Whitney <email>
Snohomish, Washin USA Tue 04/17/2007
Poggio Salvi
We recently came back from a week stay at Poggio Salvi, near Siena, run by Massimo. THe two bedroom cottage we stayed in was wonderful, spacious, well heated, (it was cold at the time), Massimo is a great host, always there with directions. The grounds are beautiful. Although there were no activities at the farm itself, there is plenty to do within short drives in all directions. The town is conveniently located, good supermarket, banking etc. I would recommend Poggio Salvi and would return there.
Rosemary Cameron
San Diego, CA USA Tue 04/10/2007
Le Case Gialle- Umbria
My husband and I stayed at this delightful Agriturismo for one week last fall. If you're looking for a quiet, private, rural experience this is it. We felt it was a good location, being close to Assisi, Montefalco, Spello, and not far from Tuscany. Silvana and Mauro are accomodating and very pleasant. Mauro delivers a newspaper with a loaf of bread in the mornings. We stayed in Il Portico and was very pleased with the accomodations. I highly recommend Le Case Gialle.
Judy <email>
Scottsdale, AZ USA Mon 04/02/2007
Agriturismo Marciano - near Siena
My family just returned from a wonderful stay at Agriturismo Marciano, just outside Siena . Our hosts, Christian and Nadia, were very welcoming and helpful. It is obvious that they have recently spent much effort in renovating the building. It is lovely, as is the whole farm.
We stayed in the suite, which was very spacious and comfortable. My husband and I had a bedroom with doors and our son slept on the convertible sofa in the living room. Since we visited in March, it was cool in the evenings and we made happy use of the wood burning stove in the living room. One evening we brought food back with us from Siena, cooked dinner in the small kitchen, drank wine and watched the sun set over the beautiful scenery out our many windows. Maybe the best part was the huge tiled shower in the bathroom. After the tiny showers in our hotels in Rome, this was such a luxury!
The location was also ideal, just a pleasant 30 minute walk to the old center of Siena. We were able to travel to and from Rome by train easily and could have traveled to Florence by train just as simply. Bus service to many of the nearby hill towns is readily available in Siena, but we chose to rent a car. If we are able to return, I would try the bus to save on the hassles of parking and finding our way.
Agriturismo Marchiano was the highlight of our trip. The accommodations were all that we could have asked for and very reasonably priced. I would heartily recommend them to all!
Jennifer <email>
Bloomington, IN USA Sat 03/31/2007
Borgo Argenina
If there is a perfect spot "under the Tuscan sun", it is Borgo Argenina! The old Villa reminds one of a beautiful Tuscan painting, inside and out. It is located close to Siena, with many villages and hill towns nearby. The grounds are beautifully landscaped, even in March. It is a quiet and serene place to vacation and enjoy!
Each morning you are greeted with a delicious meal in the delightfully appointed breakfast diningroom. The lovely background music and magnificent views could make one forget to go on their Day Trip!
Elena Nappa is the owner/hostess. She is outstanding! Elena is very helpful when deciding where to go in this inspiring Chianti region. She is a great Italian cook also!
My friends and I were happy we chose to visit Tuscany in March, with its warm days and cool nights.( The rates are better too.) Roads and tourist destinations are not as crowded. Elena had more time to assist us with our daily plans because the Villa guestrooms are not as full as in other months.
I will recommend Borgo Argenina to anyone who desires to have a memorable, pleasant, and fun Tuscan experience! I hope to return one day!
Brittina
Charleston, SC USA Mon 03/26/2007
Casa Portagioia
Casa Portagioia in Pieve Di Chio very near Castiglion Fiorentino is the closest thing on earth to heaven. I'm planning my 5th year there with friends right now and can recommend this wonderful holiday find to anyone looking for rest, recreation and nearly tourist-free touring. This area of Tuscany is acessible to all the great Tuscan towns and villages yet just slightly off the Tour-bus beaten path. One feels like a native when staying in this perfectly appointed rural haven, welcomed by Terry & Marcello, perhaps Europe's best hosts. Check out the website. What a magnificent place!
Michael Banks <email>
New York, NY USA Sun 03/25/2007
Agriturismos
While vacationing in Vermont about five years ago, my husband and I met an Italian couple that we have become great friends with. We have visited each other several times since. They have recently converted their family estate into a wonderful agritourismo called I Cedri. It is located in Barga, Italy in the beautiful Garfagnana valley (Tuscany)and has been in their family since the 1200's. We highly recommend it. Their (English) website is http://www.agriturismoicedri.it/inglese/index.htm
Bridget Fuglei <email>
Missoula, MT USA Sat 03/17/2007
Tuscany
Try Dolce-Toscana Country Inn
It's a beautiful spot in southern Tuscany where not many Americans go. The proprietors are Italian-American and can give advice and help with touring. Website is www.dolce-toscana.com. You can see pictures and contact the owners.
CA USA Tue 03/13/2007
Hiatus in Nature: Tenuta San Carlo
Tenuta San Carlo represents a return to Nature that is not easily accessible where I am from. Coming from NYC, picking warm eggs from the chicken coop and taking long walks in the pine tree forests among pheasant and wild boar revealed a side of me that had been dormant my first 20 years. Tenuta San Carlo has returned me my peace. I will return and I suggest it even to those passing through the area. Their doors are always open.
www.tenutasancarlo.com
Jonathan Mahler
new york, NY USA Sun 03/04/2007
Agriturismo Cretaiole will soothe your soul in Tuscany
There is excellent reason Agriturismo Cretaiole is so often reviewed by former guests. It is simply divine!
Rather than repeat the other reviews, let me describe what I find magical about staying there. First of all, the Val d'Orcia area is a land that I find mystical, ancient, beautifully barren, topographically undulating with surprises around each bend and over each hill, and full of the best food and wine in the world. What I loved about staying at Cretaiole is that the location and Isabella made this place become my spiritual home on earth. For the tourist needing or wanting to see as much as possible in a short period of time, Isabella can maximize the visit. But for the person who wants to delve deeper into the land, the history, the food, the wine, she can help you get there, too. She truly is an international host, who speaks many languages, and who greatly enjoys sharing the truth, the philosophy, and the culture of this alluring part of Tuscany.
How does she do this? She has selected farms to visit for organically grown food and meals and vineyards based on the people who own and run them, based on their philosophy of life, the appropriate use of the land, and responsible use of resources. One day while we were there she arranged for the guests to have lunch at Podere Il Casale, a farm that raises all of its own vegetables and animals for the consumption of their family and their guests. The visit was more than just going to the farm for a fantasmagoric feast but also to see the entire farm operation and to talk with Sandra, who owns the farm, about the farm, why they choose to use organic techniques, and how they ensure everything they grow is high quality.
Another visit Isabella arranged was a trip to the Uccelliera vineyard, owned by Andrea Cortonesi. He has become a friend of Isabella and Carlo because of his philosophy of wine making and managing the land and the sweetness of his spirit. Cretaiole, Podere Il Casale, and Uccelliera are businesses that support the owners and their families, but they are also examples of how to live in an artful, close-to-the-earth manner that brings serenity to the soul. Experiences like these are rarely obtained by Americans going on tours to other countries. Isabella provides each and every one of her guests entrance to the real life of the Val d'Orcia, even though they may only be staying seven days.
The first day you arrive at Cretaiole you will feel that this place is truly your home for your stay. Isabella, Carlo, and Carlo's parents, Luciano and Liliana, reach out to each guest and make it clear that your comfort and enjoyment are paramount to them. Absolutely you know that "mia casa è sua casa" is in play!
We stayed in Il Pollaio, one of the studio apartments, and it was all we needed. There were days during our two-week stay that all we wanted to do was hang-out at Cretaiole. We had good cheese and wine, a view to die for, and an ancient castle to nap and read in - what more could we have asked for?
There are fantastic white roads leading from Cretaiole for wonderful walks. In fact, the road leading into Cretaiole branches off and is the back way into Cappella Vitaleta, the small travertine chapel used for all calendars and book covers for Tuscany. The monastery used for The English Patient is nearby and open for wandering around and seeing famous frescoes by Il Sodoma.
While there, you can practice your horrible Italian skills with the entire family, and not feel dumb. :-) They are loving and patient people. It was a supreme joy to spend time with all of them, and to gain some bit of skill in communicating with "real, live" Italians, and establish relationships in particular with Isabella, Carlo, Luciano, Liliana, Laura, and Nicolo. They are dear, salt-of-the-earth folk who you know have enriched your life.
We enjoyed our time so much, that we made arrangements to stay for three weeks in Il Pollaio this coming spring. Some friends of ours from Montana are going to meet us there for a week, and another couple from Colorado will come the second week to get married. We cannot wait for them to meet the Moricciani family, to see their apartments at Cretaiole, and watch them fall in love with their surroundings.
AmicaDiItalia
NY USA Sat 02/03/2007
Another Vote for Cretaiole near Pienza
There have been many comments on the Cretaiole Agriturismo and none that I have read have been over stated. We were their guests in early November 2006 for one week. Isabella, her husband Carlo, his parents Liliano and Luciano, were wonderful representatives of the warm and friendly Tuscan people. We wanted to learn how the Tuscan people lived everyday life and did we ever. What a wounderful family full of life and very prideful of their Tuscan (Val d'Orcia) area and it's history. You probably have read of all the activities Isabella offers to her guest but none were more memorable than the evening dinner after the Pici pasta making class. Since this was our third trip to Italy, Isabella wanted to know what we have enjoyed the most in Italy.
When I told her one of the most memorable was our stay in Cretaiole, she was greatful but puzzled. I explained, above all, it was the simplicity of the place and the warmth of her and her family. I told her to never change what they were doing, they have something very special. The location is perfect to see many towns and other sites in Tuscany.
We hope to have a chance to return someday soon.
Glenn Westerfield <email>
Jasper, Ga. USA Sat 01/27/2007
Alla Madonna del Piatto - nr Assisi
We stayed in several B&B's, albergos, and small hotels during our 5 weeks in Italy in October, 2006. We stayed in one agriturismo: Alla Madonna del Piatto near Assisi. Alla Madonna wins "best" on many counts and so must surely rank high among agriturismos as well.
Umbrian native, Letizia Mattiacci and Dutch husband Ruud, mutilingual world travelers themselves, have recrafted a 15th century Italian farmhouse into an exquisitely appointed B&B. They've worked hard; they've worked carefully; and it shows.
Our ground floor room opened onto the guest patio - an arbor covered with grape vines that hosts views of the rolling valley and the village of Assisi. Our room was carefully appointed and very comfortable.
Breakfasts were expanded continental - starting with homemade breads and fruit preserves, yogurt, cereals, juice and freshly brewed espresso.
We didn't take advantage of Letizia's Umbrian cooking classes, but, having experienced her breakfasts and her excellent recommendations of markets and restaurants, we would do so on another visit.
You need a car, but Alla Madonna makes a wonderful destination on its own and it is a handy base for Assisi and nearby villages.
Lynn & Mary
Oakland, CA USA Mon 01/15/2007
Agriturismo Fattoria di Vibio
During our vacation, we contacted the Agritunismo to make reservations while we driving to the area. We confirmed our room for a double ensuite for 80 euros per nite. We called back later for more directions and reconfirmed our reservaton. When we checked out 2 days later, we were surprised that we were being charged 160 euros per nite per person. We showed the manager the price in Rick's book and he said he would not honor this rate which he said was per person. The place was lovely and the meals were great. Be aware that any activities or facilities are extra.
Howard
USA Sun 01/14/2007
Buon Riposo
I stayed with my family at Buon Riposo in Tuscany and we were very happy with it.
www.buonriposo.it
It's a great central location for visiting San Gimignano, Pisa, Florence, Siena, etc. Each apartment has a kitchen with utensils, and they are spacious and clean. Definitely recommended!
Angela
MI USA Wed 01/10/2007
A Tuscan Treasure: Tenuta San Carlo
I visited Tenuta San Carlo, and it is an extraordinary place. Where
else could one find a Tuscan beachfront working estate on 1000 acres on
the Tyrennian Sea - in a large national park with wild boar, horses
and birds - horseback riding on premises - proximity to Etruscan
ruins and vineyards. Down to earth, classic and classy.
Their website: www.tenutasancarlo.com
Arthur Anderson
New York, NY USA Fri 01/05/2007
Il Poggiolo
My daughter and I had a fantastic stay with Graziella at Il Poggiolo- a lovely organic olive farm- just outside of Florence in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Just like the comments below, Graziella went out of her way to make us feel like family. She picked us up at the train station, secured our reservations to all of the museums in Florence saving us the huge lines, made daily dinner reservations for us, provided us with maps and bus schedules, and truly went out of her way to make our stay special. The apartment accomodations were lovely. We highly recommend including a stay with Graziella for a real taste of Tuscan hospitality. We will definately return. You can reach her at http://www.il-poggiolo.it
Tina Maluso-Bolton <email>
Glendora, CA USA Mon 01/01/2007