Gorgeous, Fully Renovated Town Home in Tuscan Town of Cetona

• Only one caution

  Only one caution

  • Guest Bubster
  • Date of stay 10/04/12
  • Review Submitted 10/21/12
  The location is excellent and the apartment is handsome and as described except for one tiny detail: the bed in the second bedroom is almost five feet above the floor, accessed by a tiny wooden ladder like those found in small children's bunk beds. I am almost 80 years old, and I'm not going to tell you my weight, but be forewarned: it was a challenge. One in our party found a sturdy aluminum ladder in the cave, and I very carefully climbed up and down several times a night for two weeks. The other caution is that if the apartment has been closed for a while, it is quite damp; a session with the heat on (it works well) took care of that. The apartment was very clean, and a neighbor came in several times to keep it that way and to provide fresh linens. Cetona really deserves its designation as one of Italy's loveliest 'borghi.' Although I enjoyed touring around Tuscany from its central location, I would have been content just to stay there and feel Italy around me.

  Recommended for: Tourists without a car, families with young children, sightseeing.

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

• Beautiful apartment in rural Tuscany

  Beautiful apartment in rural Tuscany

  • Guest jenb1800
  • Date of stay 07/28/12
  • Review Submitted 10/16/12
  This apartment was truly beautiful. There was such craftmenship, especially in the living room, kitchen, and wine cellar. The location of Cetona was ideal for touring southeastern Tuscany (lots of great attractions within an hour's drive). A close railstation with free overnight parking was convenient for trips to Rome. The housekeeper was attentive and accomodating as well. The only negative remarks would be the unbearable heat upstairs and parking. There was a portable A/C unit, but it was extrememely heavy and difficult to move up stairs. Also, there was no parking at the apartment; parking was outside of the town square, which made grocery trips inconvenient.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

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

• Peter and Susan from Canada

  Peter and Susan from Canada

  • Guest Peter
  • Date of stay 09/12/12
  • Review Submitted 10/15/12
  My wife and I stayed in Marco's house in Cetona for 2 weeks and we used it as a base for all our travels in Tuscany and Umbria. Marco and Vanna came up from Rome to personally greet us and show us around the house and the town. The house is very well appointed and tastefully decorated with a charming mix of old world and modern convenience. The kitchen had everything that we needed to cook all of our meals as we did not adapt well to eating dinner after 8:00 pm when most restaurants in Italy open/re-open. The house was extremely clean when we arrived and was cleaned with new linens twice during our stay. Cetona is in the southern part of Tuscany but we found that it was a great starting point for touring the hill towns, enjoying the scenery and hiking. We enjoyed coming back to "our" small town, making dinner and going to the piazza for a gelato or a glass of local wine. Our neighbours were very friendly and it was quite pleasant sitting on the front porch while being greeted by all that passed by. We could buy all of our food or drink at the small shops or the grocery store that was just around the corner and everyone was very helpful. A few words of Italian and some gestures and we were always able to get the right item or amount. Chuisi is just a few kilometres away: it has a railroad station on the main line from Roma to Firenza. and we took the train to Firenza but drove to Sienna and the Chianti route. Given Cetona's location a driving or train travel are the best ways to explore. I would strongly recommend this property to anyone who enjoys small town living that is central to many activities in central Italy. You will not find a bustling nightlife but only the peace and quiet of a small country town.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing.

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

• Great location and charming accomodations

  Great location and charming accomodations

  • Guest Mary
  • Date of stay 11/05/11
  • Review Submitted 08/08/12
  We had a wonderful stay in this lovely townhome. The location is great and the owners could not have been more accomodating. We traveled around the area by car and train and found this location to be ideal. The photos do not do justice to the house and the unique village is a must see. We are planning another trip to Italy and would love to stay here again.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, girls getaway.

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

• Best kept secret

  Best kept secret

  • Guest Joe
  • Date of stay 06/01/12
  • Review Submitted 07/30/12
  Working with the owner Marco was fantastic. He was very accommodating and even met us in Rome to give us the keys. The town and surrounding area of Cetona is drop dead gorgeous! We travelled throughout Italy for 3 weeks and this rental and area remains at the top of our list of stops. We stayed for a week but felt we could be there for the summer. My wife and I along with our two girls (9 and 7 yrs old) loveeeeeed it here. Beautiful spot with beautiful people. a terrific non-touristy spot without all of the hustle and bustle. Not for those looking for major night life but rather for a true tuscan experience. Thanks Marco! Ciao! Joe

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

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

• This property was everything we could have hoped for and more!

  This property was everything we could have hoped for and more!

  • Guest Tequila Sunrise
  • Date of stay 05/27/12
  • Review Submitted 06/10/12
  This was our first visit to Tuscany and most definitely not our last! The apartment in Cetona was remarkable! We have stayed in VRBO rentals in 3 other countries and this was by far our favourite. The owners were incredibly hospitable and helpful in getting us settled in. The restaurants that they recommended we try in Cetona were fabulous! There is also a grocery store around the corner from the apartment as well as a bakery and meat shop within the town that have everything that you need. A morning cappuccino and an evening gelato in the town square are a must! We found the location of this apartment perfect for exploring the southern and central portions of Tuscany. The autostrada is close by if you want to get to places quickly but for the most part we chose to drive through the countryside to see the scenery. There is a high speed train very close to Cetona that you can take to both Rome and Florence if you chose not to drive. For these two cities I would highly recommend you take the train as they take you right into the center of the cities and close to all of the sites and shopping. Parking in both Rome and Florence is not easy so driving there can be problematic. We would not hesitate to return to this property again. There is so much more to see and do and 10 days was definitely not enough!

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

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

• Travelling through Italy

  Travelling through Italy

  • Guest DDJ
  • Date of stay 10/30/11
  • Review Submitted 03/19/12
  Marco and Vanna met my friends and I in Cetona and escorted us to their lovely property. My friends and I were truly impressed by the uniqueness of the property. It was clean and well-kept and beautfully decorated. We felt at home. There was access to wireless internet, ample hot water for bathing, and a full-stocked kitchen. The town of Cetona is absolutely charming and is situated perfectly, in my opinion, in the Tuscany region. We took days trips to the surrounding areas and towns. I highly recommend staying at this property when visiting Tuscany.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Amazing house, accommodating owner, magical week in Cetona!

  Amazing house, accommodating owner, magical week in Cetona!

  • Guest Sunsal
  • Date of stay 10/16/11
  • Review Submitted 12/12/11
  My husband and I rented this beautiful home for one week in mid-October as part of a nearly three-week visit to Tuscany. We rented a car in Florence (spectacular city), drove to Cetona for the week, then returned the car to Siena (a return visit). From the planning stage the owner, Mario, was responsive and helpful, answering all my e-mails promptly and providing additional photos. We met him at the appointed time in Garibaldi Square to get the house keys, a tour, and some local recommendations. Ample free parking was always available in a public lot across the main road from the square, and it was an easy walk from there to the house. The house is charming, spacious, and well-equipped. The photos do not do it justice! It is located up a slight hill from the town square, an easy walk to the butcher, cheese shop, pharmacy, liquor store, two restaurants and one small café, and down the street from a large grocery store. It was wonderful to sit in the sun on the little bench outside the front door and feel a part of the fabric of the town (a woman next door puts parakeets outside on nice days, and the neighborhood cats lazed with me). The fireplace was welcome on chilly nights, and windows opened wide to let in the sun on warmer days. We enjoyed a walk to the castle and a visit to the little museum. Market day on Saturday was delightful! It was so special to be off the beaten track. Although we speak very little Italian and most people in town speak very little English, we managed to function as locals without any problems. We used the house as a base for day trips to the hill towns of Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, La Rocca, and others. We especially enjoyed the garden tour of La Foce (Wednesdays only), and the chanting at Sant’ Antimo Abbey. Our only regret is that we did not do more exploring closer to home. We spent our last day in Chiusi, and were enthralled with the Museo Archiologico and the vast collection of urns in the underground tour with the Museo Civico. We never toured Sarteano, Cortona or Orvieto. We did enjoy leisurely drives through the windy hill roads, long lunches at local restaurants, and dinners back in town every night. It was an absolutely magical week. I highly recommend this house if you want to be fully immersed in a local village without any tourist trappings. You will love the house! The owner was so accommodating. This is Tuscany at its best!

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, adventure seekers.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

• A wonderful experience which I will repeat...hopefully every year!

  A wonderful experience which I will repeat...hopefully every year!

  • Guest Cindy Golbert
  • Date of stay 04/03/11
  • Review Submitted 05/10/11
  I rented this beautiful apartment for a month and wished I could have stayed for three. The apartment is beautifully designed and decorated with everything we needed...and then some. From the kitchen ware, table settings, towels, robes...it was like a five star hotel. To boot, Monica and her husband, the owners are wonderful, giving people who will accomodate you in all you may need. Using Cetona as a base is also very practical since it is right smack in the middle of it all. You can go to Florence, Siena or Rome for the day. It is close to the autostrada and also to Chiusi,a major train stop...so you have it all. Cetona has all you need so if you are carless, you can get fresh bread, great meat, market day on Saturday, fish on Thursday. It also has three haridressers, a fantastic hardware store plus pharmacy, dress shops, shoe store and ceramic studio almost all right on the piazza Garibaldi. Also on the piazza are two of the top restaurants in the area...my favorite is located in a tower on the end of the piazza. Hope you enjoy this apartment as much as we did.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with young children, sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Perfect!

  Perfect!

  • Guest Sophisticat
  • Date of stay 04/01/10
  • Review Submitted 03/30/11
  I rented this apartment in the early spring and arrived during a record snowfall. The owners met me in the town square and personally escorted me to the property which is steps from several great restaurants, a coffee shop, market and very nice shops. We found Cetona to be a great location to explore southern Tuscany and the apartment was just as amazing as the photos appear. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this property.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway.

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

Minimum Rental Period is weekly from Sat-Sat.
High Season .. Aug .... $1200/week
Mid Season ... May, Jun, Jul, Sep ......... $1100/week
Low Season ... Balance of Year .. $ 900/week

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