[Non-photo Review]…read more For full article see here: http://wp.me/pwXBH-rg The one truly hidden gem of a town that we discovered on a recent trip to Italy just happened to be a little past the Umbrian border in the far eastern reaches of Tuscany. The town is called Sansepolcro and, while it certainly doesn't look like much when you first drive in off the motorway, it has a little secret. Drive further in towards the middle and there lies an old walled city that is home to some very charming streets, some very good shopping and two restaurants which certainly deserve special mention, as the best meals we had on our trip were spent in them. One of those is Da Ventura. Da Ventura is both a restaurant and a small guest house. It is very traditional in its decor, with wooden beamed ceilings and wine bottles lining the open arched doorways. Service is wonderfully personal and professional, and we quickly learned the one rule that all the locals abide by: order by the cart, live by the cart! The wooden trolley is first rolled out at the beginning of the meal and is filled with an assortment of antipasti that will get you salivating. They also shave truffles on top of pasta on the cart if you order that for your appetizer. The cart is then pushed out again for the meaty main courses. On our visit, they were offering roasted Chianina beef, lamb and pork (by far the best of the three). The dessert selection is also presented on a trolley, and they just sort of put anything you want from the offering onto a plate for you. The neighboring table, which was made up of three Italian gentleman who were clearly locals and regulars, noticed that I kept staring at their food as it was being served especially when the waiter just decided to give one of the men the last hunk of one of roasts, and slopped about 50 ounces of meat onto his plate along with the already large portion he had served him just before. While they were sipping on Vin Santo with their desserts, they asked me if I had tried it before, and told the waiter to give me a glass on their tab. The whole meal had that wonderful feeling throughout, and we really felt at home there even though our Italian left much to be desired.

I cannot say enough about this hotel! If you're going to Perugia, don't bother staying anywhere…read moreelse. It's perfectly located: you can walk right outside the hotel entrance and you're near everything within a very short walk. The room was beautiful, nicely appointed, and the staff/service were excellent! The food at the restaurant was delicious and the bar was great. There's even a bar toward the roof that's a bit more open with spectacular views. Highly recommend!

Excellent location! Beautiful view! The heaters don't get turned on in September so bring warm pjs!…read moreChecking in hopefully you get Hassan which is very attentive and not one of the ladies ;)

One of the best hotels I have ever been to. Romantic,…read moreamazing views, spotless, perfect to the detail, amazing staff, best breakfast ever. Arrive early enough so that you won't miss their "aperitivo" and "dopo cena". We even had a bread receipe from their pastry chef. Make this hotel a destination of your trip in Tuscany

This is one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in. The place is so beautiful, the location and…read moreview is literally breathtaking (and that's not hyperbole), the attention to detail is minute, the room is comfortable, spotless and charming, the breakfasts are the best I've ever had in any hotel, and to top it all off, everyone who works here is incredibly friendly, welcoming and helpful. They go far out of their way to do everything they can to improve your stay in one of the world's most idyllic towns.

This hotel has an amazing view of Montalcino. Book a room with a view out the back side. The front…read morejust faces the streets. Breakfast is included and the man who was the barista was very nice and friendly. He makes tasty coffees with pretty foams. The breakfast room has a beautiful view too. Check in and check out was a breeze. They do have good WiFi here. It's a short walk up a steep hill to restaurants and shops. Parking is included with the hotel but spaces are pretty tight. We had a van and it unfortunately got dented in the process of trying to fit into the parking spot we were given. We were in a triple room which was a twin sofa bed and a king size bed upstairs in a loft. It was a big room. The restroom was a little dated and there was some mold in the shower. You need to return your key to the front desk every time you leave the hotel. You pick it up when you come back.

A good three night stay here. The facility is beautiful. It sits on a steep hill side overlooking a…read morebeautiful valley. The room was very nice if on the small side. the view more than made up for the size. Everything worked reasonably well except the AC did not work one evening. The staff were efficient and reasonably friendly. The breakfast was very good quality and well served. Housekeeping was excellent.

This hotel is great! The room was spacious and overlooked their beautiful garden. It was very clean…read moreand well kept. My wife and I stayed for three nights while in Siena. They had a lovely continental breakfast every morning, which we ate in the garden overlooking the incredible view and hillside of the Tuscan landscape. I highly recommend this hotel over something that lacks the views.

Just amazing! Our room looked out over the garden and the hills beyond Siena and it was as if we…read morewere looking out at a painting. The room itself was just beautiful with a lovely bathroom. The staff were super friendly and the whole experience just first rate. The hotel is convenient to all the attractions, great restaurants and also a nice little supermarket. They have an electric kettle and instant coffee in the room as well as a fridge. It was so nice to be able to enjoy a coffee before heading out for the day. They do offer parking for 10 Euros a day, and clear instructions on how to get in and out of the City without getting fined! Remember, the City center is a no drive area for non residents. Just do as the hotel indicates and you will be fine. The other recommendation is to book directly, they assured me they charge less than going through Booking or Expedia and will also discount if you pay in cash.

Literally can't say enough good things about this place. pure serenity from the moment you step out…read moreof the taxi. Every employee was so fantastic and went above and beyond the whole time we were there & even better they all had a big smile all the time!! The food is fantastic, the views are endless and the service was beyond incredible. Highly recommend a spa day & cooking class! We will be back & will be recommending to all our friends

Amazing! Truly paradise. This unique resort sits on top of a beautiful Tuscan hill looking over…read moresome of the most iconic Tuscan landscapes. Every corner you turn, every room you enter and every detail is like a fairytale. If you can make it here, you are one of the lucky ones.

We stayed here for four nights during our honeymoon…read more Highly recommend this beautiful hotel. It is outside of the main city, which I like the most. It's beautiful surrounded by wineries. Has a nice pool with free ice cream stand along with many pool floaties (unicorns, flamingos). Free breakfast daily. After eating so much pasta every day during the trip I tend to eat a lighter breakfast and the fruit selection and espresso is Perfect and hits the spot. Everyday the owner, Alberto, would be at breakfast and ready to give me recommendations, directions, or make me reservations depending on what we were doing. Everything he suggested did not disappoint. We cannot wait to come back and stay again in the future. ****I highly recommend renting a car when visiting. This location. It is not walkable in my option during the summer ****

Can't add too much to reviews below however Alberto is a super fantastic host and the surrounding…read morescenery is amazing. The breakfast is fantastic. The place is somewhat hard to find and is pricey but well worth every single penny!!! It is most convenient by car.

The best hotel I've ever stayed in. Period. My wife and I stayed here on our honeymoon and hardly a…read moreday goes by when I don't think about it. The grounds are beautiful, our room was enormous and the staff paid attention to every detail during our stay. My wife and I just renovated our house and we put in a pool and landscaping that borrows from the aesthetic of Castello del Nero's pool area. We are already planning to return for my 40th birthday...3 Years from now. We spent 3 weeks in Italy at 6 different hotels and this is the only one I think about and have to return to. The restaurants are both amazing and the breakfast is the best we had on our trip. If I could give 10 stars I would, so if you're even considering a stay at Castello del Nero I'd say look no further...it's time to book a reservation.

My husband and I stayed here 4 nights of a two-week trip to Italy to celebrate our 10 year wedding…read moreanniversary. This hotel is a really high-end boutique hotel that really goes above and beyond to deliver an outstanding experience for all guests. The hotel is conveniently located in a small town about 30-40 minutes by car from Florence (between Florence and Siena). It is in the Chianti wine region of Tuscany. We stayed in a basic room, which was very nice. It was very large (one of the largest hotel rooms I have ever stayed in that wasn't a suite). There was a welcome bottle of champagne (already chilled for us) as well as a bottle of red wine and a huge basket of fresh fruit ready for us on our coffee table. There was a hand-written note to us that was a nice personal touch. The room had a beautiful view of the Tuscan countryside. The things that really stood out to me were: 1. Complimentary welcome champagne and wine 2. Abundant fruit basket that got replenished daily. 3. Complimentary bottled still and sparkling water replenished daily. 4. A pillow menu for guests! 5. Full breakfast every morning included with the room - there were 10 different kinds of milk out to suit everyone's preference (almond, soy, rice, goat, etc.) 5. The very nice spa 6. The setting of course! You literally couldn't ask for a more picturesque place! 7. Complimentary up to date movies on your TV 8. Great hiking trails right on the property My only (very small) complaints are that there was no dresser or shelves in the room - I had nowhere to unpack any of my folded clothes (there is only hanging space in the closet), and the mattress is very firm (this is just a personal issue though!). This hotel is very special and truly understands how to deliver a higher than 5-star experience to guests. I would highly recommend it for honeymooners, or anyone wanting a relaxing getaway in a beautiful place!

This is really a gem of a place! We have stayed here a few times and the family that runs it is…read moresuper helpful and accommodating. The rooms are clean and spacious, it's really conveniently located, and the restaurant downstairs is to die for!

We stayed one night at this gorgeous property after there was a problem with our booked hotel…read more Though our stay was short I really need to share that if you want time where all dreams of romantic Italy come true, this is your place. Magnificent.

Montepulciano is one of my husbands and my favorite places on earth. We have been traveling here…read moreover the years and have never had a disappointing stay. We have made friends and lasting memories. This stay was just spectacular and the exact kind of pampering and luxurious experience we were hoping for. We decided, this time, to stay at the Palazzo Carletti. The Palazzo Carletti is a gorgeous piece of historical elegance. We knew a little bit about the history of this building. For example, it was the communist headquarters during World War II. Interesting right? During that time many of the magnificent ceiling frescoes had been enclosed to conserve energy/heat. When the new owner broke through the ceiling barrier to expose these great frescoes, I can only imagine his excitement. The Palazzo Carletti is a boutique hotel nestled right up from the wonderful Cafe Polizziano, right in the heart of the highest mountain town in Tuscany, Montepulciano . This special hotel has only 5 rooms that are accessed off of the grand room that drips in history and beautiful frescos. The family that owns this gem are exemplary hosts and we felt like the most special people on earth during our stay. The concierge was just lovely. She was so elegant and composed in her position and ensured our stay here was a perfect 10. The breakfasts that are served in the grand room each morning were fantastic. We had the great fortune of staying in the Albany Suite and it was amazing. Ceiling frescoes, luxurious bedding, super modern bathroom, to die for, and a perfect Tuscan view from our balcony where we drank our cappuccino each morning...... The Dolce Vita!!