Amazing House Within the Castle of Pianettole, Anghiari

• Guestbook Comment

  Guestbook Comment

  • Guest Rob James
  • Date of stay 10/01/07
  • Review Submitted 10/31/07
  The guidebooks tell us Italy is a beautiful country with warm, friendly people and excellent cuisine. How true, and all these things are encapsulated at Pianettole. The location is fantastic, the accomodation is awash with character having been lovingly restored by Mario. The atmosphere is warm, friendly and generous - delicious local produce awaits in the cupboards. Mario's family (including the dogs) were fantastically friendly with our two young children, as well as being very helpful with advice on where to go and what to see/do. If that's not enough, Pianettole is a great base for discovering Florence, Siena, Cortona etc etc. We cannot wait to go back. Rob, Laura, Maisie and Florence (Scotland).

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Spectacular Views

  Spectacular Views

  • Guest Ann & Dave
  • Date of stay 09/28/12
  • Review Submitted 10/28/12
  My husband, son, daughter-in-law and three grandchildren (ages 14,13,9) stayed at this beautiful castle for 1 week. The views from the mountain top were picture postcard quality. Mario and his lovely wife were very helpful in making sure our every need was met. The castle was extremely clean and the pantry was supplied with a day's (or more) groceries. Mario even provided some of his personal olive oil (which was wonderful). The town of Anghiari, which is a five minute drive away, was breathtaking. The castle was centrally located for day trips to any area we wanted to visit in the Tuscany region. We took the train (station 20 minute drive away) to Pisa and Florence. We would definitely stay at this castle again!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway.

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• Our stay at Pianettole

  Our stay at Pianettole

  • Guest Michele38
  • Date of stay 07/23/11
  • Review Submitted 09/03/11
  Our experience at the castle is something we'll never forget!! The accommodations were extremely clean and very charming. Everything has a feel of the original character of the property, but it had all the modern amenities. The owner and his family were on the property and were available to help us with recommendations or any needs we might have. The view of the valley from the castle was incredible, and the little town of Anghiari was so charming. I would highly recommend this property to anyone looking for a quite retreat with the ability to get to many Tuscan towns very easily. The owners were absolutely wonderful - enjoyed it very much!

  Owner response: Thanks so much! Mario/Louise

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• A beautiful, peaceful retreat

  A beautiful, peaceful retreat

  • Guest Merrilee
  • Date of stay 06/11/11
  • Review Submitted 07/25/11
  We arrived at the castle with plans to visit the many nearby attractions but found we often just wanted to relax and enjoy the peace and beauty of the area, where the only sound is birdsong and the lights you see at night are fireflies. But the castle is an excellent base to visit Siena, Arrezzo, Florence and other locations. Mario and his family made us feel very welcome and we appreciated finding the kitchen stocked with everything we needed for the first few days. We booked dinner in the castle on the first night and also scheduled the cooking lesson. Loved them both.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, romantic getaway.

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• Holiday in a castle

  Holiday in a castle

  • Guest Alma
  • Date of stay 07/02/11
  • Review Submitted 07/21/11
  The bragging rights alone went a long way with this vacation in a Tuscan castle. Even my Italian friends were very impressed. The topic did not need to arise that it was the least expensive way we had found to house our group of 6-7 family members. Anghiari is an adorable little town with a fun personality and quirky history (a statue of Garibaldi carries the inscription "Rome or death" from the march he made to recapture the caitpal from the French, the statue's arm points away from Rome. A local told me how the statue was purchased and brought in from another town when the Garibaldi memorial in Anghiari was broken. In order to show well in the center square, the statue was turned to face the residents and lead a march away from Rome.) Very near the castle is about the best pizzeria we found anywhere (il Bosco) and a quaint goat dairy which sells its own cheeses. Nearby are Siena, Cortona, Michelangelo's birth place, Assisi, San Marino, etc. Reasonable jumps on the train are Florence and Rome with architecture and history, Bologna and Modena homes of Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini. Be sure to chat with Mario about your likes, interests and plans, he has invaluable connections and advice for the area. If you are heading for Tuscany and will rent a car, I highly recommend staying here. The interior is modern and comfortable and the exterior, well...it's a castle!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, sightseeing, romantic getaway, age 55+.

  Owner response: Hi thanks Malcolm - hope to see you again soon. Louise/Mario

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• A magical Tuscan vacation destination

  A magical Tuscan vacation destination

  • Guest Denise F.
  • Date of stay 05/21/11
  • Review Submitted 05/30/11
  Pianettole is even better than it looks in the pictures. We enjoyed this truly enchanting place. We were 3 women on our first trip to Italy, with the intention of exploring nearby towns and cities by car. The castle is immaculate & beautifully decorated. There is food and wine in stock to last until you get to the store. Mario was very responsive to all our needs and questions. He is a charming host who gave us a tour of the whole place. History buffs will love all the coats of arms and Knights Templar symbols uncovered during renovations. I would remind people that the castle is out of the way, and up, up, up a long unpaved road (over a mile) with sharp turns that may be unnerving for people used to driving over flat landscapes. All in all, totally worth visiting. We enjoyed nearby Anghiari ,but especially the town of Sanselpolcro and it's great shops and restaurants. A special thanks goes to Louise, who was extrememly hospitable to us the first day, when we arrived to the area lost, tired and hungry!

  Recommended for: Pet owners, adventure seekers, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, girls getaway.

  Owner response: Hi Denise, thanks for review - hope to see you soon. Louise

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Anyone can visit Tuscany - but only a lucky few can live in a real CASTLE!

  Anyone can visit Tuscany - but only a lucky few can live in a real CASTLE!

  • Guest Noah E.
  • Date of stay 02/21/11
  • Review Submitted 03/11/11
  If you're like me, 'everyone and their brother' wants to tell you about the villa they rented in Tuscany. Fine. Whatever. We wanted something different - and WOW - did we get it. First off, this is really a castle. Cool. Spooky. On top of a mountain. Been there for a thousand years. Surrounded by castle walls. Amazing views. The apartment was very comfortable. First of all, Mario keeps things very clean. Often when you rent an apartment you have to clean things when you get there - not here. The kitchen was large enough to cook real meals in, the fireplace warmed body and spirit, and the stars twinkled at night. Our family of four had more than enough room. There were TVs and DVD players in every room, though we never used them. We did use the WiFi every day to research our next day's adventure. Very convenient. Beds were comfy. We visited Anghiari, Caprese de Michelangelo , Siena and Montepluciano during our 5 days at the castle. All were fairly easy day trips. We had Costanza and Louise over one afternoon for cooking lessons. They were fabulous, and our kids had a ball making homemade pasta, veal osso buco, tiramisu and more. Makes me hungry just thinking about it. Crank up the wood stove, open a bottle of Tuscan red, and it was one of our best meals in Italy! In summary, the Castle of Pianettole is everything they say... and you hope. Mario truly does stock the place with food, etc - so when you walk in there is food in the fridge, wine on the table and a full pantry. Book soon because we're telling all our friends... A few notes: 1) the driveway is REALLY steep. Be prepared if you want to run/walk from the castle 2) the place is a little hard to find. Use Google maps ahead of time to familiarize yourself with the local area (e.g. dirt roads) so you avoid that "we're lost" feeling as you approach 3) The one bathroom is up a set of stairs, so if you are mobility challenged, be prepared 4) Mario and Louise really go out of their way to help you have a great stay. You will really appreciate it.

  Recommended for: Pet owners, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

  Owner response: Hi thanks for the great review! Promise to update my instructions on how to arrive! Hope to see you again sooner or later, ciao Louise

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• Wonderful

  Wonderful

  • Guest Kristin K.
  • Date of stay 09/28/10
  • Review Submitted 10/23/10
  The castle came highly recommended to me and delivered beyond our expectations. We absolutely loved the Castle of Pianattole and could not have asked for a more perfect place. The castle was wonderfully restored and spectacularly clean while keeping it's unique character. Mario was gracious and exceptionally helpful. We can't stop talking about how much we enjoyed our time was at the Castello di Pianattole.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, sightseeing, girls getaway.

  Owner response: Hi thanks for your kind comments!

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• Tuscany at its Finest!

  Tuscany at its Finest!

  • Guest Bruce & Mary
  • Date of stay 08/14/10
  • Review Submitted 08/24/10
  We highly recommend Castle of Pianettole to anyone wanting to visit the Tuscany Region. We found the location excellent for everything we wanted to do or see. Most of all, as first time visitors to Italy Louise was extremely helpful to get our questions answered about the area, the castle and anything else you can imagine. After meeting Mario, Armenia and of course Lilly (one of Mario's trusted canines) Mary and I felt as if we were part of the family. The castle as well as Tuscany in general live up to all the photos we've seen. Finally... if you're interested in learning, expanding or sharpening up your Italian cooking skills... make sure you have Costanza, of Alimentari il Portico stop by the castle for an afternoon of cooking instruction! You'll enjoy it as well as the food you prepare!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+.

  Owner response: Hi keep in touch on facebook! and see you soon Louise

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Highly Recommended

  Highly Recommended

  • Guest Debra
  • Date of stay 07/24/10
  • Review Submitted 08/06/10
  We will highly recommend Pianettole to our family and friends. We found the location to be close to most everything we wanted to do or see, and Mario felt like a trusted friend by the end of the vacation. The castle, as well as Tuscany in general, live up to all the photos we've seen. Finally, we have fallen in love with Brunello di Montalcino wines, and will forever remember the stunning drive on the way to the area where these wines are produced.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car.

  Owner response: Hi Debra, thanks! Hope to see you again soon, Mario /louise

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

1200 euros per week for less than 6 people
Over 6 people 1500 euros per week 
15% DISCOUNT FOR BOOKINGS RECEIVED BY END OF MAY!
Damage deposit for families with kids.
Cleaning charge 50 euros end of stay 
.

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.