My wife and I stayed here with another couple. The experience has been outstanding. The food is…read moreexcellent and the service friendly. We will definitely be back for more! Try the house wine and enjoy a bottle on the patio with excellent views!!

This is our third night here at Tenuta Lupinari and it is lovely. A beautiful place to relax and…read moreenjoy Tuscany. This family owned property has a variety of options for lodging, their own wine and olive oil from their vineyard and grove and close access to many beautiful towns to explore. The meals are delicious, the family is so gracious and I cannot say enough good things about it. We are staying in a room (they have apartments for larger families) and it is spacious and very comfortable. Stop here on your travels, you will not regret it.

This week of cooking school with Chef Franco has been even better than I hoped for. The cooking is…read moreexciting and can be done at home. The 16th century buildings are beautiful and comfortable and modernized. Everything has been amazing

"Fantastic Experience Tuscookany's. Torre del Tartufo villa! My top "complaints" are:…read more 1. My room and bed were too comfortable, While snuggled under the fabulous down comforter surrounded by the antique furniture it was too hard to get out of bed! 2. The house itself had too many cozy spots to spend time in. It was a difficult decision each day...should I sit in the fabulous outside grottos filled with pillows and enjoy the peace and solitude of the villa. should I curl up on the fabulously comfortable couch in the tower living room with the fire roaring as I read my latest novel. or should I sit in the cozy bar area with candles burning, sitting on my extra large down filled club chair as I sip a glass of wine and converse with some of my new friends. Or should I sit in the hot tub under the stars with a glass of wine...way too many choices. 3. Speaking of wine...the problem here is the fact that each night there was too much wine. With the many fabulous choices of wine available the problem arose of having too much fun; the laughing and multiple conversations around the table made us forget we were actually learning something! Oh and I dare you to get bitten by the "rattlesnake"...a fun after dinner drink tradition that makes for a late night filled with more giggles and conversation! 4. The food is too good. The dining tables are to comfortable and the dining locations are out of a magazine! The unique fresh flower center pieces, the glass of wine and mouth watering menus made you look forward to the next meal while finishing your present dish! 4. Franco the chef and his ever present amazing assistant Paula spoiled us rotten! You see I dont know how to cook nor like to cook. Each day at three o'clock we put on our personalized aprons and brought with us our complimentary cookbook which is filled with recipes and other very appreciated information. We were divided up into teams to prepare our four course meal for the evening. We chopped, kneaded, boiled and cooked together for seven days while Franco provided guidance (lots of extra guidance for me!) and tricks of the trade and Paula followed behind making sure each dish, knife, pot and table were spotless! It seemed so effortless for them to teach ten of us how to prepare multiple dishes at once. Spoiled rotten are we!!! 5. The field trip day is fabulous but it demands that you hop on a comfortable bus and enjoy a day out visiting farms, wineries, enjoying fabulous scenery, a homemade lunch in a family villa , etc. The problem here lies in the fact this requires you to leave the villa. This was such a difficult decision so I personally chose to enjoy the lounges by the pool, reading my book in the sunshine, taking a run along the scenic country paths of the villa, soaking in the hot tub and napped by the roaring fire. All were happy! 6. The other problem is that the instructions didn't ask us to bring a large amount of extra cash. You see you don't need cash for anything at the villa unless you want a fabulous massage in their beautiful spa...the massage is very reasonable so you will undoubtedly have enough cash but the problem there is the massage is so good you want another one..here comes the need for extra cash! Tipping is obviously not required but at the end of this fabulous week in paradise you want to make sure you show each and everyone of the staff members how much you appreciated the non-stop, above five star, service! 7. The villa experience causes deep depression. Saying goodbye to the staff brings tears, saying goodbye to your new cooking friends brings tears, and saying goodbye to "our" villa is gut wrenching! Once at home after getting over jet lag, enjoying your photos, having emailed all your new friends, you plan a dinner party with new found confidence. You can't wait to cook and share your new recipes. While preparing the dishes with my friends, setting the table with candles and fresh flowers I sit back and listen to the laughing and camaraderie around the table and wonderful memories and gratitude fill my heart. Memories are filled of my special time at cooking school and grateful for the experience of a lifetime. Thank you all for a most wonderful week of cooking, friendships, and memories. It was simply amazing!!!!! Can't wait to come back!

We arrived as strangers and left as family. The Bianchi…read morefamily welcomes you and helps make your stay in this area of Italy perfecto! Gianni's enthusiasm for life and Italy is truly contagious and is a good complement to Marusca's calm warmth. Some of the sights nearby (within 1 1/2 hours or less) are Sienna, Cortona, Arezzo, Badia a Coltibuono, and an unexpected spot Rondine Cittadella della Pace. We walked through the fields up to the Peace InstituteRondine) and met 2 women from Croatia and Syria who were studying there. We had an interesting discussion. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, very comfortable with a complete kitchen and living room. Looking out the windows to the countryside is wonderful We were truly transported to another world! I highly recommend this Bianchi property and they are opening another soon which, I am confident, wil be just as perfecto!

I can't say enough about the beauty of this home, inside and out...other than it radiants from the…read moreowners. I felt so wonderful staying here with my family and knew I made a perfect choice in seeing the happiness they showed. It is taken care of quite well and the owners are very concerned that you are happy. I recommend beyond words that you stay here on your Tuscany visit...you won't regret it. Ps...great restaurants, bakery n grocery store....adorable town.

This is the real deal in Italy. An authentic castle dating back to the 1200's. Amazing history and…read morecharacter. The hostess is gracious and so knowledgeable about the castle and the surrounding area. Great wines and dining near by.

A warm and cosy place to call home during your stay in Florence. This apartment sleeps up to four…read morepeople. It is a one bedroom apartment with a queen sized bed and a pull-out couch that is very comfortable for kids or another couple. All of the furniture is new and tasteful (mostly from IKEA). There is a spacious kitchen, complete with all the essential gear for cooking or baking. There is also a toaster, Italian Moka Pot (Espresso), Teapot, dishwasher, refrigerator/freezer, gas stove, oven and of course many (new) plates , bowls, utensils, wine glasses etc. The bathroom is clean and bright which includes sink, toilet and shower. One of the nicest features of the apartment is the small intimate terrace that seats two people and is fantastic for a romantic morning coffee or having a glass of wine at sunset . The apartment gets its' name "tra i tetti" or "among the rooftops" from the beautiful view of the Italian terra-cotta rooftops. The apartment is on the top floor so the view is quite nice. That being said, those with knee problems or who are not able to do stairs, this apartment may be problematic because the apartment is on the top floor of a building with no elevator. If you are here for the first time, the location of the apartment couldn't be more perfect. It's only 5 minutes from the central train station and easy to walk to. Plus you are right in the center of Florence! Being on the top floor there is very little noise once the windows are closed. There are no trash bins on this street so you won't be bothered by the noisy garbage collectors that come early in the morning. The apartment has all your basic needs ready upon check-in. All linen and towels are provided, as well as your basic condiments for cooking like oil, salt, sugar, coffee, tea and soap for dishes and laundry. Check in/out times are often flexible as well. Great place to call home for first time visitors or seasoned travelers of this beautiful city.

The Best Ever!!! My Dream Visit…read moreMy Cooking Inspiration My Dearest sister The Best Chef Ever--Laura Giusti

Thank you so much for the experience of a life time. We made wonderful friends at this cooking…read morevacation in Tuscany and will treasure the memories... From the minute I went through the gate my cooking vacations in Italy was unbelievable. Each lesson felt more like a cooking party... As soon as we drove up to cooking vacations in Tuscany, I could see that this was the right choice for me, The grounds and villa are very impressive but for sure once i saw the "cook book"- I was impressed!... Gratzie! For your vision and flawless execution to create this amazing place the cooking vacations in Italy was great with all recipes and teaching skills... We loved the cooking tips and the professionalism at your Italian cooking vacation, we loved the villa and the beautiful room with a breathtaking view! We will spread the news in for the cooking vacation in Italy...

Il Peraccio is a bit farm, vineyard, agriturismo, apartments-for-rent, restaurant, and retail…read morestore. If you don't stay there (I imagine it's quite nice), you can call ahead to the owner Francesco (Italian or English) and see if you can arrange for him to cook lunch or dinner for you (and a minimum of about 6 friends) - well worth it. He makes his own olive oil, produces his own wines, picks porcini from down the road, and sources his meats from neighbor's farms. Definitely pick up some of his olive oil, wines and fruit conserves even if you're just passing through.

From the owner: Fattoria didattica Azienda agricola biologica…read moreRistorante Agriturismo Corsi di cucina Degustazioni Wedding ed eventi privati

A relaxing and beautiful experience amid the vineyards and olive groves. A short walk from the town…read morecentre, the villa is a respite for weary travellers deep within the Tuscan hills.

From the owner: Hai voglia di trascorrere una settimana fantastica tra le colline del Chianti?…read more Ti offriamo un soggiorno confortevole nei nostri appartamenti arredati in stile toscano. Ci troviamo nella campagna toscana in posizione ideale per visitare la Toscana. Have a real awesome experience in Chianti, the most beautiful area of Tuscany! Our typical Tuscan style apartments are waiting for you!

We had a great time on our tour with Roberto from We Drive You Tuscany! We did the 8 hour San…read moreGimignano and Chianti Classico as well as the Pienza, Val d'Orcia, Montalcino wine and Pecorino cheese private tours with Roberto. This was my first trip to Italy, we enjoyed a comfortable ride throughout the countryside in the clean, air conditioned van! Roberto was so knowledgeable and made sure we knew all the best places to visit along with the history of the beautiful Tuscan countryside! He even gave us recommendations for our second leg of the trip to Rome. We will definitely use this service again!!

We had the pleasure of touring Tuscany with We Drive You Tuscany. Roberto was our driver and we…read morehad a beautiful Mercedes van that was new and comfortable. Bottled water was provided and he even stopped to get Fresh pizza for us. By the time we finished touring with Roberto for two days we felt that we knew so much about the area, history and culture of the region. Roberto's knowledge or art, history, food and culture was so impressive. The tour we did with Roberto was much more than him driving us from place to place. Each place we went was so carefully planned and curated. We visited wineries, vineyards and a sheep farm that makes cheese. With his help, we were able to visit every place we wanted to see as well as some smaller unknown, hidden gems. We saw so many beautiful landscapes and Roberto stopped frequently for us to take in the views! I cannot say enough wonderful things about Roberto. We hope to go back soon to tour Umbria and Florence with Roberto.

We have stayed at Molino di Bordone on a couple of occasions (most recently in late October 2013)…read moreand have also toured with Caspin Journeys in Tuscany and Umbria. Every visit is a delight with new discoveries. Pino and Caroline are wonderful hosts with a talent for creating fabulous and interesting vacation experiences. Whether you just want to relax by the pool and enjoy great Italian food while you rest and relax, or you are eager to learn the history of the region and soak up some culture, they can help. We highly recommend the Molino as a base for exploring the area - both Tuscany and Umbria - and having a wonderful Italian vacation.

From the owner: Self catering Apartment Rentals in a Tuscan villa in Tuscany with swimming pool among glorious…read moreTuscan and Umbrian hills, only minutes from beautiful Etruscan Cortona and with Siena and Assisi nearby. Completely private setting with landscaped garden of roses and poppies, lavender and rosemary, chestnuts and cypresses, olive groves and sunflower fields, perennial flower beds and much more. Luxurious interiors, exquisitely decorated with the utmost attention to detail and furnished with country charm; chestnut beamed ceilings, terracotta tiled floors, twin and double bedrooms, marble tiled en-suite bathrooms, fully equipped kitchens, large living rooms with wood burning fireplaces, a reading library, TV, DVD, telephone and private terraces with barbecues for al-fresco dining.