The location of our cooking classes took place here. Simonetta runs this place and gets help from…read moreher husband Guido, friend Marika, and their four legged children named Dante and Trili. Our first day just consisted of meeting each other and talking about our menu for the next two days. This conversation took place with some coffee and some home made cookies. Our first night, Simonetta had a fine meal prepared for us. We met downstairs in the dining room around 7pm. We were served a four course meal by Guido and we bought a bottle of merlot to drink the next 3 nights we would be there. (BTW, they have a pretty good wine list for you to choose from). The foods we picked to learn how to cook are the following items: Ragu* Potato Gnocchi* Chicken Florentine Chocolate Cake Vegetable Pastry Stuffed Squid* Zucchini Flowers stuffed with Ricotta* Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne Bonet* Pizza and Focacce with aromatic herbs and spices We would start our cooking classes around 3:30pm to prep everything and start cooking. We typically finish around 5:30-6:00pm and then head back upstairs to our room to rest and get ready for dinner. Dinner is served by Guido..who also makes sure romantic music is playing in the background and that the lights are dimmed to give you that romantic vibe. The husband and wife team definitely complements each other and make you feel like family. I definitely recommend this place. Their villa is about 300 years old..so there's alot of history but it is well kept. Beautiful scenery and good food every day. No complaints, plus they let you ride their Vespa for free! *MY FAVES

I had the pleasure of staying at Casa Bellavista for six nights in October 2013, and I must say it…read morewas a world class experience. Simonette was a wonderful host from the moment we met her. I remember my mouth salivating when she began describing the dinners that we would have an opportunity to prepare during her cooking classes. My mom and I had two cooking classes where we learned to prepare duck, ravioli, gnocchi, foccacia, eggplant flan, chocolate cake, lemon cake, ragu, and pork chops, all with a Tuscan flare. The accommodations were comfortable, luxurious, and affordable. I would highly recommend anyone and EVERYONE to stay at Casa Bellavista. It is an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. Her restaurant/activities recommendations were spot on.

The best location with the best food with the best service! Everything was delicious and the view…read morefrom the patio is amazing!

Perfect Italian restaurant by Ely and her family-crew…read more Superb Italian food. Freshly made every day. On a excellent location with great views. If You are in the region: a must taste! Make reservations! Service is top as well! Highly recommended!

My sister and I stayed at Borgo Argenina in July of 2016. I had scoured the Internet looking for…read morethe perfect place for the two of us to stay for our first visit to Tuscany, and my 50th birthday. The photos found on Borgo Argenina's website hardly do it justice. It is so picturesque! We spent a few evenings and mornings just gazing out at the view. We wandered the garden and took walks down the drive. It was all gorgeous. Elena is a very gracious hostess. She made us feel like Borgo Argenina was our home away from home. She had a beautiful map she shares and discusses, pointing out the various points of interests, best restaurants and wineries, etc. And, her pets are wonderful companions and would come and visit us often. We left our furry loved ones at home, so spending time with Pasquelina, Guessipina, Louigi and Tulla was so nice. And, the breakfast options were wonderful! Eating the wonderful coffee cake and other morning faire, and drinking coffee while taking in the views was a wonderful way to start the day. We stayed in the Picolla Villa, a small three room villa on the property. It was absolutely lovely. It was a quintessentially Italian experience to stay in a small villa with our own private entrance, veranda, kitchen and bedroom. We also spent time in the main house and I have to believe that any room at the inn is just as lovely and comfortable as the next. The rooms are kept very clean; fresh drinks and snacks are provided; and the view out of every window is breathtaking. And, even though I've seen some guests complain about the lack of air conditioning, it is true that it is not needed. It cools down very nicely in the evenings and is so quiet, you'll not be disturbed by having the windows open. One of our favorite experiences while at Borgo Argenina was taking Elena's cooking class. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we took another class during our second week of vacation. Even if you've taken a pasta-making class elsewhere, there is nothing like learning how to make pasta in Elena's kitchen. The meals we helped to cook were two of the best meals we had during our stay. And, believe me when I tell you we went to some very nice restaurants and had some excellent food. However, upon coming home, it was Elena's simple pasta with zucchini, carrots, onions and herbs (that we picked fresh from her garden), that had us dragging out our pasta makers and bringing family and/or friends together to cook. Both my sister and I would go back and stay with Elena at Borgo Argenina in a heartbeat. We've already discussed going back, and I would highly recommend staying at Borgo Argenina to anyone and everyone!

Just like "Under the Tuscan Sun". We stayed a couple of nights there and explored Tuscany…read morerestaurants and wineries. Elena was a great host that was some years back and I understand they have expanded their facilities since that time.

This is my second trip to Siena and I think Attilio Camere is the best value in the city. The…read morerooms are in the heart of the walled city, steps away from the Campo. You step down a typical 600-year-old street into a fabulous stone building with a thick wooden door. Depending on which room you choose, you will overlook the street or possibly the Duomo. The rooms are spare but cozy. A fridge is provided for those (like me) who are happy to eat salads, cheese and bread and spend a little less on food. The owner Deborah is a native English speaker fluent in Italian, who can make suggestions for sight seeing, restaurants or anything going on in Tuscany. Though this is not a hotel with chocolates and turn-down service, if you need shampoo, extra towels, just ask Deborah; she is an amazing host. Attilio Camere is an incredible value for a typically expensive region and I will definitely be back.

Staying at this thousand year old abbey was amazing, felt like spending a night at a museum. Our…read moreroom was beautiful, quite large and very comfortable. My husband and I also spent a lot of time in the gardens which are absolutely spectacular. There were other guests at the abbey (we learned at breakfast) but we had the grounds pretty much to ourselves, took a million photos. We did wine tasting and tour (thanks to our amazing guide, Giulia!), the old crypts which are now wine cellars are a must during your visit! And we had dinner at the restaurant next door (it was one of the best dinners I've had while in Italy! The food and the views exceeded my expectations). Highly recommend this special place, I will never forget our time here. Oh, and the air was the sweetest, so clean and fresh. I wish we had one more day here so I could do a cooking class (they offer it but I didn't have time).

This charming little B&B is situated in the lush Tuscan fields miles away from urban civilization…read more It's a perfect retreat that's a "must-do" for any Italian vacation. The B&B is set up in a 1000 year old abbey but with the modern conveniences of plumbing, a business center and swimming pool (no TVs in the room though!). A dip in wonderfully cool water is just the refreshment needed to perk up the stamina on a two week trip. The restaurant next door is quite nice while breathtaking views of the countryside. The easiest way to get here from Florence is to take the train from Firenze S.M.N to Montevarchi for €7. There's a taxi stand outside the Montevarchi train station that will take you to the hotel for €30 (one way). Don't forget to stop by the Prada Outlet while you're in the area :-)

My husband and I have stayed at this bed and breakfast a few times while overseeing renovation of…read moreour apartment in Castiglion Fiorentino (CF). Viziottavo is a stylish and clean b&b that's in a renovated ancient palazzo. It is in the historic city center of CF, which is a great home base for traveling virtually anywhere in Tuscany. It is on the main rail line, so hop on a train, and you're an hour from Florence and two hours from Rome. Highly recommend this b&b and Castiglion Fiorentino!

Our stay here was the height of our first trip to Italy, which took us from Rimini/San Marino -…read moreFlorence - Tuscany - Rome. First class service from everyone. Amazing views from the tower room. Castello delle Quattro Torra is #1 on our list when we return to Italy. They will also suggest their restaurant which is just a short drive away; Le Pietre Vive. It is worth the short trip!

Absolutely amazing little boutique hotel with 11 rooms all different and beautifully appointed in…read morethe traditional Tuscan style. The bathrooms are particularly attractive with hand made italian tiles in warm colors. The service is outstanding and the girls at the reception extremely helpful for sightseeing advice and booking restaurant reservations in the area. The breakfast buffet is very generous, upscale and you can order any egg you want all served to perfection. The nights at the restaurant of the villa are charming and the food the best in the area. This is my second time there and it will not be the last!!!

We absolutely loved our stay at Villa Bordoni. From the way David, Giulia, Hugo and the rest of…read morethe team there made you feel so at home, to the delicious food and terrific cooking class run by Chef Maria, the magnificent surroundings, etc. I could go on and on. If you are traveling in the Chianti region you must stay here. We will definitely be going back!!!