First trip to Italy and definitely not the last

Guest: JHG (North East England)
Date of Stay: 09/25/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

We needed accommodation to suit the needs of a grandmother of 80+, a newly married couple, a newly engaged couple and a couple of exhausted couples! And we found it. A welcoming, comfortable, very well appointed large villa and cute cottage ensured we were all suited beautifully. At the end of a quiet lane you approach the newly restored cottage with the older elegant villa in the background. The garden of vines, olives, rosemary and lavender with the substantial size pool is a calming and serene spot to spend lazy afternoons. The views are spectacular, sunrises and sunsets were enjoyed from the covered patio. If you are feeling more energetic the local villages, wineries and restaurants provide a wonderful range of rustic to high class food and entertainment. The local rail station connects you easily, but not that quickly (you are in middle Italy after all) to such magnificent cities as Florence and Rome and all stops in between. Ken, the owner was most helpful, providing his own insights as well as leaving the ‘yellow’ folder for his guests; a very useful collection of things you need to know about the villa and surroundings. We sampled and endorse many of the suggested eating places and activities. Try the pasta making evening, it is huge fun. It was a wonderful two weeks for all, and as I mentioned to Ken, you need a very good reason to return home, or you might find it almost impossible to leave. We will be returning.

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

Herculeans and Angelians in Italy

Guest: Dante (Hercules, Ca, USA)
Date of Stay: 08/06/11 Review Submitted: 09/09/11

The house is beautiful. There is plenty of room for nine people. Well situated way from ote homes with view of the surrounding farm land and a view of the lake. The homeowners provide great information on the surrounding area. It is very easy to drive to the local train station in Castaglione Del Lago to visit Rome, Florence or any other city. You will enjoy this house. Great job setting up this home away from home.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

Guest: Jim from USA (Dublin, Ireland.)
Date of Stay: 10/09/10 Review Submitted: 02/06/11

Well we made it home from Italy this afternoon - wish we could have stayed another week. The house and surroundings were absolutely beautiful and two of us even got into the pool for a swim. The yellow book at the house was a valuable resource in planning our daily activities and meals. We ended up at Trattoria Guastini twice during the week since the food was fabulous. Davide and his wife are such nice people. You may want to alter your note in the yellow book as we found that Davide was actually pretty good with his English. We ended spending a full day at Avignonese Winery for their cooking class/winery tour and then a late afternoon of lunch (that we cooked) and all the good wine we could drink. It was a good thing the house was nearby after that experience! All in all we had a great trip and certainly look forward to getting back someday, we had one of our best vacations ever. Thanks again for all your help and input on our itineraries during our stay at La Quercia! Regards, Jim

Recommended for:

Wonderful traditional Italian villa!

Guest: amam (Bermuda/Sweden)
Date of Stay: 08/07/10 Review Submitted: 09/08/10

This is a fantastic property which is very private and tranquil. We had 5 kids in our party (between the ages 8 months and 8 years) and they all loved the pool and the trampoline and at night they enjoyed watching a DVD on the large flat screen TV while the adults sipped wine under the pergola, bliss. We made two day trips to Assisi and Montepulciano but we enjoyed Castiglione del Lago and hanging out by the house/pool just as much. It is a beautiful part of the country with rolling hills and close to several very good restaurants. The house was very well equipped and it is obvious that someone has made a huge effort in building and decorating the house. The owner, Ken, could not have been more helpful and there was a yellow binder at the house which contained all you need to know about the house, the area, restaurants, shopping, activities etc. The beds were super comfortable and we slept like kings. Our only comments are that the oven was on its last legs and also very small if you are preparing a meal for a large group and we missed having a microwave (especially with young children!). We would definitely recommend this place to our friends!

Owner response:Thanks Maria, for your review - I'm glad you enjoyed you stay so much. You make a good point re the microwave (there is one in the cottage but not the main house), I'll purchase one for next year and look at upgrading the oven before our next rental season. See you again soon. Ken

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children.

Totally Bella Italia

Guest: Nicole (Sint-Oedenrode, The Netherlands)
Date of Stay: 06/05/10 Review Submitted: 06/30/10

We have spent many of our holidays in Tuscany and Umbria, but this property beat them all. Why? There's many reasons, but here's just a few: - Fantastic view: no other houses or people in sight, just the beautiful hilly Italian landscape and the lake in the back - Perfect location for those who want to even leave this place at all :-) Many great places within easy reach, like Perugia, Montepulciano, Assissi but also Florence and many others. There are also nice small villages when you're fed up with crowded places. - Great house with a very well-equiped kitchen. It's clear that it is a real home and not just set up as a holiday house. Luxurious bedrooms and bathrooms. - Fabulous pool and outdoor dining area (patio) We were there with 2 couples and 3 small children. It's a perfect place to go to with a group of friends or family.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with young children.

FANTASTIC HOLIDAY

Guest: mvmvmv (munich)
Date of Stay: 05/22/10 Review Submitted: 05/30/10

This is not a house, this is a home. This is not your typical holiday house, aimed at generating highest profit, without investing. This is a beautiful place and it is maintained at the highest level. Everything works, nothing is missing. The views are great, the pool is sensational. Privacy guarenteed, shop nearby, many interesting places to visit nearby. We enjoyed a fantastic holiday, with 7 people in the villa (one bedroom not even used). Great value for money and we´ll be back!

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

Guest: gédeonne (France Paris)
Date of Stay: 09/02/09 Review Submitted: 09/02/09

We have been twenty times over the past twenty years in Italy for holidays, most of them in Tuscany and Umbria, so we can say that this stay has been one of the best places, with a very particular charm, and that we had a great time there. First, the cottage itself, is a real farmhouse restored with taste, attention and generosity and it is very comfortable, very quiet. Then, the garden , the swimming-pool (the best we’ve ever had) and the situation, overlooking the camps , the woods and the mounts until the Trasimene Lake , is very nice. Walking around at the sunset among the sun flowers was splendid. The evenings are especially pleasant. Castiglione del lago, the closest village is enchanting. Finally, this is one of the best places, very well situates (roads easy)to discover many aspects of Tuscany and Umbria, from famous towns (Cortona, Perugia, Pienza, Montepulciano) to marvelous less known villages as Chiusi and Panicale

Recommended for: