Ancient and Luxury Tower Formerly Sighting - Villa Giardo

• Absolutely beautiful, inside & out

  Absolutely beautiful, inside & out

  • Guest Jen
  • Date of stay 04/20/13
  • Review Submitted 05/06/13
  We just returned from a wonderful trip to Italy, and this villa was definitely one of the main highlights. We stayed with quite a large group -- 2 families with 4 adults and 8 children (ages 5-14). Since the listing states it sleeps 9-11 we expected to be a little cramped, but in fact there was ample room for everyone. The master bedroom and the outbuilding were perfect for the two adult couples, and the additional bedrooms easily accommodated 3/3/2 children. All the rooms were beautifully restored and maintained, and there were amazing views from every room. Even though the house has a wonderfully old character, it does not lack for modern conveniences. The villa is situated very privately, and it was great for the kids to have plenty of room to roam without worrying about disturbing anyone. We did some day trips (the villa is convenient to many great locations), but also spent some days relaxing there. The kids never got bored -- they swam in the pool, used the gym, caught tadpoles in the little pond, played with the dogs, and ran around the fields. There were various sitting and lounging areas all around the villa, all making a great place to sit and read or have a glass of wine while taking in the views. Silvia and Stefano were very welcoming and helpful. They really went above and beyond what we expected. We had many problems finding the villa (see below!) and arrived much, much later than planned -- and our friends were even worse off because they were biking there and the roads are very steep. Stefano and his friend went off to rescue them, brought some of the children back, and Stefano helped them push their bikes up the steep, unpaved final kilometer. It was late and everyone was exhausted, and Silvia then made us a big pot of pasta so we didn't have to go out! She also left us a wonderful tiramisu in the fridge. One warning is that the villa isn't easy to find! Make sure you have good directions, a good map, and ideally a GPS!

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

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• Magical House and Views in Tuscany

  Magical House and Views in Tuscany

  • Guest Corinne
  • Date of stay 06/23/12
  • Review Submitted 10/01/12
  My husband, 10-year-old daughter and I took our two moms for an Italian vacation. After spending several fun days sightseeing in Rome, we took the train to Tuscany, ready for the relaxing portion of our trip! Everything about Villa Giardo exceeded our expectations. Silvia is a superb hostess. She gave us a tour of the house and grounds and told us about the renovations she and her husband Stefano have made. It was fascinating to get the background story of this beautiful building. Silvia also made recommendations for dining, grocery shopping and sightseeing, all of which was very helpful. It was nice to have the local perspective. She also cooked a fabulous dinner for us the night of our arrival. We felt truly welcome and immediately felt at home. Silvia has a very engaging personality and is very easy to talk to, not to mention a great chef! The house is spacious, clean, comfortable and warmly decorated. We loved all the interior stone work and beautiful chandeliers in particular. The attention and care spent on this house is evident in every room. And there were so many windows to showcase those incredible views! The pictures only provide an inkling of how truly spectacular the house and views are. It's so stunning that it seems almost surreal. We spent many hours outside, just enjoying the view. It was very hard to tear ourselves away to go exploring around Tuscany, and we ended up doing a lot less exploring than we anticipated because we wanted more time to enjoy the villa. There are lots of activities to choose from at the villa.....we swam every day and played ping-pong and archery. The fitness room has every piece of equipment one could possibly want. Two things to consider: the villa does have lots of steps, so is not ideal for the very young/very old. Also, the driveway up to the villa is steep, but Silvia does a great job instructing you on proper technique. On leaving, we only had one complaint: our time there was far too short! We would highly recommend Villa Giardo (and already have!) to those looking for an unbelievable setting from which to soak in life in Tuscany. And the longer the trip, the better! Thank you so much, Silvia and Stefano, for sharing your beautiful home with us!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

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

• Cousins Retreat

  Cousins Retreat

  • Guest Ruth
  • Date of stay 06/16/12
  • Review Submitted 07/02/12
  Four Swedish cousins from the USA spent a tranquil week at Villa Giardo. We knew we were in for a treat from the minute Silvia greeted us and provided us with everything we needed to know to maximize our Tuscan adventure. We ate at most of the restaurants she recommended and weren't disappointed. The villa has several outdoor seating areas, all with beautiful views. The pool is in a slightly sheltered area, so even though the days were cool, we were able to swim. The location of the villa is ideal. We were able to take the train to Florence from Figline-Valdarno. Parking at the station was close and the train ride was only 30 or 35 minutes. This was my third visit to Tuscany and by far the best accommodation.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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• tuscan family fun!

  tuscan family fun!

  • Guest cate b.
  • Date of stay 06/16/12
  • Review Submitted 06/25/12
  Villa Giardo was an ideal place for our two families and one uncle to spend a week in paradise! The location is ideal, the amenities are outstanding and Sylvia is an amazing cook and resource. The pictures on the website are just an indication of how beautiful and wonderful the setting is - we felt like we were in the middle of nowhere while we were actually very close to many many things! Sylvia goes above and beyond to make sure all your needs are met - even ordering more arrows when the kids in our group fell in love with the archery range and there was only one arrow in the quiver - Sylvia had more ordered and delivered! The pool was refreshing and everything about the villa seemed like a little slice of heaven. The drive way is exciting...but worth it!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers.

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

• Tuscan paradise

  Tuscan paradise

  • Guest IMT
  • Date of stay 05/19/12
  • Review Submitted 05/28/12
  Beautiful, gracious, peaceful, natural, comfortable, spacious, magical. That is as close as I can get to conveying the feelings of my group of 7 friends (50-60 years of age) who stayed at Villa Giardo in late May 2012. At our annual reunion in September 2011 we decided to get together for a Tuscan villla vacation in late spring 2012 and I was drafted to do the research and develop a short list list of properties that met the following requirements: authentic old Tuscan look and feel inside and out, but with modern plumbing/electrical/wireless Internet, luxurious but casual, spacious, reasonably-priced, 4 bedrooms all with ensuite bathrooms including shower and North-American style queen-sized mattress (not 2 twin beds tied together to make a large bed as many villas offer), large outdoor patio with large table suitable for 'al fresco' dining, large property, no road noise, no visible commercial development, situated somewhere in Tuscany with easy access to Florence, Siena, and some of the beautiful mountains scattered throught the Tuscan countryside. Villa Giardo had it all in spades. What you see in the website photos is exactly what you get. The place was immaculately kept and clean inside and out, and the icing on the cake is Silvia, who owns the villa along with her husband Stefano. She speaks English very well, had answers for every question we asked, and is a gourmet cook. The best decision we made was to have Silvia cook three fabulous Tuscan dinners for us. On each of those days, we started out early and were able to enjoy long days exploring towns in the surrounding area, knowing we didn't have to worry about dinner or how much wine we drank to accompany it. We had planned to do a mix of restaurant dinners, meals that we would prepare in the villa kitchen, and one dinner prepared by Silvia. But when we learned of Silvia's skills in the kitchen and came to grips with the fact that we all wine and none of us was prepared to be a 'designated driver', we changed our plans - the best decision we could have made. You will need a car, GPS, good map of Tuscany, a good navigator in the passenger seat, and a driver comfortable with very winding roads. Everybody visits Florence and Siena, but do not miss out on the incredible mountain towns that are everywhere throughout Tuscany. San Gimingnano and Volterra made a good day trip, as did Montepulciano and Montalcino. But the villa is so beautiful it was always a tough decision - relax or go exploring.

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

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

• colleen and friends

  colleen and friends

  • Guest ccccccc
  • Date of stay 10/01/11
  • Review Submitted 10/12/11
  A group of 7 Adults stayed just last week (October 2011) at this lovely villa in the heart of Chianti.... We had such a wonderful experience, we cannot fully put into words... Silvia, Stephano and their beautiful son, were a delight.! They went out of their way to accomodate our needs, anticipated our questions, help us with local event planning and attention while we our stayed in their beautiful villa. Silva prepared the most excellent Birthday Dinner for our four 60 year olds and her culinary skills are exceptional! She made our stay most memorable. I would highly recommend this place as a vacation destination. It does take a adventurous spirt as the historic roads closest to the villa are dirt and require some verve coming up the driveway. But so worth the heavenly views!

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

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

• A Little Piece of Heaven in Chianti

  A Little Piece of Heaven in Chianti

  • Guest Marie D.
  • Date of stay 07/02/11
  • Review Submitted 07/28/11
  We were in Villa Giardo in early July 2011. Staying at the villa were five adults and a seven year old. We usually travel in four and five star hotels so staying in a villa was a new experience for us. We were not disappointed. Our stay at the villa will remain in our memories for many years, my sister cried after we left she just could not give up this little piece of heaven. The villa is off the beaten track set into the woods with magnificent views of olive groves and vineyards. It has a very nice pool and well appointed gardens (the photos on this website offer a true representation of the villa). The kitchen is very well equipped and the bathrooms are of good standards. The villa has so many areas to relax, great family rooms and beautiful patios. Sylvia ensured that we had soap for the dishes and our clothes as well as the basics (salt, oil, vinegar +++). This made it easy for us to settle in. What we cannot see in the photos is the care Sylvia and Stefano offer their guests. They were always available to answer questions about the area. Sylvia welcomed us with a list of local restaurants, places to visit and wineries. One day we came back from Sienna and there was a wonderful Tiramisu in the fridge!!! We asked Sylvia to teach us how to make it and she happily accepted. But on the day of the lesson she was in hospital. Even though she was in hospital she ensured Stefano was there to teach us. We had a wonderful time learning how to make Tiramisu and we had the opportunity to learn about their journey. Sylvia and Stefano are very special people and their villa is wonderful. We were sad to go and hope to be able to make our way back in the next few years to enjoy this little piece of heaven.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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

• Great Chianti Villa

  Great Chianti Villa

  • Guest Michael B.
  • Date of stay 06/18/11
  • Review Submitted 07/18/11
  We spent two great weeks at Villa Giardo in June. The location is classic Chianti region, off the beaten path enough to provide a true in-region experience, but close enough to make seeing the region convenient. The villa is beautiful combining the original 11th century structure with great updates that make it truly a luxury stay. Stefano, Silvia and little Andrea were wonderful hosts, providing great information to make our stay interesting and easy -- thanks for the great time. Villa Giardo is an easy recommendation. Enjoy!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

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

• Problems? "It's Not Our Fault" Could be a Seinfeld episode. Sad situation.

  Problems? "It's Not Our Fault" Could be a Seinfeld episode. Sad situation.

  • Guest mold infected renter
  • Date of stay 06/04/11
  • Review Submitted 06/30/11
  The location, though remote, is lovely. The villa on first look is as advertised and should have been fine. However, there were problems that became apparent soon after the owners departed. The jacuzzi tub in the master bedroom had an "unknown" leak out the back into the wall which caused a terrible mold smell making the bedroom uninhabitable and the whole main floor a real health hazard. I emailed Sylvia and she confirmed she would get a plumber to come by to fix the tub. Didn't happen all week! When we saw Sylvia Friday evening (they returned to ready the house for the next people), she said she was so sorry but it wasn't their fault. She said that the plumber would only come if he had other work in the area, so she had to wait for a neighbor to call with a problem. Over and over again--it is not our fault. I guess the toilet not working in the master bathroom wasn;t their fault either? Then she said, please DON'T write this on the INTERNET. She continued saying the smell is so bad it is in everything. We have people coming Saturday--what can we do? Her concern was for the next group (and future rentals) as opposed to really caring about what we just lived through. Not a good situation.. We asked for compensation for having to live in what was VILLA MOLD for a week. Stefano, who never even had the courtesy to say hello while we were there calls it blackmail. He knows that we would never come back to stay with them and he could care less about being fair. Its funny, we have stayed in villas all over the world and put up with all kinds of issues. Never have we bothered to write a review, but this was beyond belief.. BEWARE of this couple. Sylvia cries poor saying how can you expect that everything can be fixed? We put so much money in it, blah, blah, blah. All we asked for was a pleasant experience which they failed to deliver. During the week, they go to a parent's house some 2-1/2 hours away. They make it seem like a big distance, so I said it was not necessary for Sylvia to return early, since she told me the plumber would come. Now they try to say that the problem must not have been bad since we said not to come. They realized the extent of problem as soon as they arrived and were panicked by it. All we get is revisionist history from a couple who feels that renters should just put up with whatever conditions they get. Tough luck. Don't try to reason with them as deep down they just don't care. RENTER BEWARE.

  Owner response: In this testimony we are shocked and obviously do not agree. We draw comfort and gratify the many other reviews where the villa and our commitment are valued differently. We will leave to future customers that they can redeem this assessment evaluations.

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

• Family trip 2011

  Family trip 2011

  • Guest Gelato lover
  • Date of stay 05/21/11
  • Review Submitted 06/18/11
  Our family had a terrific time while staying at Il Giardo. The photos on the web site did not do justice to this wonderful Villa with a magnificent view. The property was in great condition and had all of the amenities we could ask for. It felt as if we were guests in someone's home filled with beauty and history. Sylvia, the hostess couldn't have been nicer or more helpful.She will prepare you a wonderful meal if you request. The Villa was a bit of a challenge to find. A GPS is a must for driving around the area. Took a little longer to get to Greve than I thought it would. Nothing much in Lucelena. Not as easy as being closer to a city but the gorgeous grounds, lovely home and incredible view made it worth any inconvenience. I looked for months for a Villa and was not disappointed in our great find.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

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

Low season    30 March 2013 - 18 May 2013   1.800 euro/week
Midle season  18 May 2013 -  15 June 2013   2.800 euro/week
High  season  15 Jun 2013 -  14 Sept 2013   3.800 euro/week
Midle season  15 Sept 2013 -  28 Sept 2013  2.800 euro/week
Low season    28 Sept 2013 - 2 Nov 2013     1.800 euro/week

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