Vacation Rentals by Owner

A Real Retreat

Guest: Toni and Cathy (Santa Cruz, CA)
Date of Stay: 05/14/11 Review Submitted: 08/01/11

As I was driving to this property, making my way through the hill towns that come before it, I started to get very excited. I was surprised and thrilled at the location. The area is very charming, and incredibly beautiful. We fell in love with the villa instantly. The views, the quiet, the pool, the ripe cherries, the restored farmhouse, the well maintained grounds, all made for a week in the Italian countryside I will never forget. We enjoyed exploring nearby towns and were surprised at the lack of tourists. What a bonus to be in a part of Italy without crowds. We enjoyed many of the fine restaurants in the area, and, we found after a few days that our favorite meals were the ones we made ourselves and enjoyed sitting out by the pool. I would recommend this lovely property to anyone, and I would return to it in a heartbeat. It was such an unexpected delight. The one mistake we made, was to go to Florence for a day. The drive and the crowds made us want to return to our country retreat. Casa Verde is in a part of Italy that is pristinely beautiful. The countryside is rolling hills of forest, well tended farms, beautiful flowers, and immaculate ancient hill towns. Paradise found.

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

Guest: Carolyn Olson (West Linn, OR)
Date of Stay: 11/13/07 Review Submitted: 11/13/07

We had a lovely stay at Casa Verde. The weather was gorgeous and your view at the house was breathtaking. We used a lot of your suggestions for day trips/restaurants and they were right on the mark. Although the larger towns are interesting to see in their own right we preferred the local flavor of the smaller towns, notably Cortona and Anghiari. And the food ... We had excellent meals at Celle and Belvedere. We went to dinner early at Belvedere since it was the night of our arrival (read exhausted) and we sat by the windows taking in the beautiful views. What a wonderful way to start off our trip. Tuscany is filled with beautiful landscapes, food and people. It was definitely the right place to spend our 20th anniversary! Thanks Dave!

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Guest: Dave Clare (Carlisle, Cumbria, UK)
Date of Stay: 08/15/07 Review Submitted: 08/15/07

Hello Dave We had a tremendously enjoyable stay at Casa Verde. We did not venture far & took up some of your recommendations. The furthest we got was Gubbio which was picturesque. One of the restaurants where we had an evening meal at was Oscari where we celebrated our son's birthday. We were made to feel welcome & the hospitable chap there knew of you. The view & atmosphere from where we were seated was lovely as you’ll appreciate. Most days I rose early at around 7am & went for a walk. I did a couple of your hikes. Usually, by the time I’d return the rest of the family would still be asleep so I could sit by the pool looking out over the hills whilst reading a book in total peace. The pool was delightful & kept in good order by Maria.Your directions to Casa Verde were fine. What made things even easier for us was that we had borrowed a satellite navigation unit from a friend. Here’s a useful tip for anyone using a sat nav: Under “street & house No.” enter Ranzola (Monte Santa Maria Tiberina) then Vocabolo Catognaccio 96. This will direct the driver all the way to the top of the driveway down to Casa Verde. The first sight of Monterchi as we descended the hill on the drive from Pisa Airport to Casa Verde was special. As soon as my wife & children entered the Rossi Supermarket they were warmly greeted by Marcello. He recognised them as visitors & the warmth was clearly genuine as this was done before I mentioned where we would be staying & our connection with you. He even presented us all with a drink in the little coffee bar within the his shop. We were all extremely tired by this time, around 4pm, as we had been up since 2am so it was just what was needed. You were right about the range of produce in there & we stocked up straight away as per your recommendation. The facilities in Casa Verde are smashing particularly in the kitchen & we liked the layout. It’s also spacious & full of character.Maria spent some time with us & we had a few laughs with her. We took 5 jars of her honey home with us. You have got a lovely place there Dave of that there is no doubt. We were so happy there. The setting is priceless. The peace & tranquility were very much to our liking. I sometimes sat next to the pool just staring out over the hills towards Monte Santa Maria Tiberina. Most of the time there was a gentle warm breeze in the evening. This allowed us all to sit together & chat or read after we’d had a meal beneath the shelter. Anti pastis were a re

Owner response:David, You and your family did everything right and thank you for being so kind to Dino and Maria. The charm of the area is its simplicity and natural beauty and its people and I think that is what you saw as well. Maria and Dino want more people like you and your family to come and stay. Their description of you all was: "Bravi, Bravi, Bravi." No translation needed. ;)

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Guest: shannon70 (san francisco, ca)
Date of Stay: 05/19/07 Review Submitted: 05/19/07

Dave thanks again, we enjoyed your villa the 2nd time around and will be back for sure. The weather turned for the better which allowed us lazy days by the pool sipping wine and cooking up feasts! We used the villa as a base and traveled every other day to many different villages, cities, the coast and even Lago Tresimino. Thanks again! Shannon McGinnis

Owner response:Shannon, I am glad you had a good time -- for 2 weeks even! The neighbors are now used to seeing you around and will expect you every year. Hope you brought back some honey to remind you of Casa Verde. Ciao, Dave

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Guest: Diane McCabe (Jamesport, New York)
Date of Stay: 05/15/07 Review Submitted: 05/15/07

We had never been to Italy before. We really feel we jumped in and got our feet wet. By staying where we did we were forced to learn the language in a hurry and make friends in the surrounding towns. Getting back to Casa Verde every night was our true retreat. Reading Under the Tuscan Sun and THe Hills of Tucsany in Tuscany in a Tuscan villa, was the most amazing experience I have ever had . The food , people and never feeling ill it ease was such a joy. We will do it again real soon and yes its in our blood now!!!

Owner response:Diane, You are now hooked! I am glad you had a great stay. ciao bella, dave

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Guest: John and Alta (-)
Date of Stay: 09/21/06 Review Submitted: 09/21/06

Dave, Your villa was everything you said it would be and more. We felt immediately at home the moment we stepped inside. We love to swim so the pool and THE VIEW, were magnificent. Maria and Dino were so kind and Maria was so grateful that I could communicate with her. We had some delightful conversations. Waking up to roosters crowing reminded me of days spent on my grandparents farm as a child. The atmosphere in Rossi Market was undescribable. Everyone was so very kind and helpful and so very appreciative of efforts to speak in Italian. They just seemed to know our every need and they took such great care of us. Your recommendations for day trips and restaurants were spot on. The "green book" was great. We went to Monte St. Maria for lunch one day and had one of our best meals while in Europe. Anghiari was also a beautiful spot. While in Rome, a friend of ours who is also a guide, told us it's getting more difficult to find places in Italy that haven't become so overcrowded with tourists. I believe David, that you have found one of those rare places where one can still experience the true culture and beauty of Italy without overcrowded streets and countrysides and where the true people of the country still exist and flourish. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend your villa and the surroundings to friends, but we hope that it remains pristine and untouched for years to come.

Owner response:John and Alta, Dino and Maria were so charmed by you and appreciated your efforts to experience Italian life and your great attitudes. The restaurant in Monte Santa Maria is "Oscari" and it is a gem --great views, great prices, great food, great owners. We love it too.

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Guest: Debbie Hutchinson (Kimberton, PA 19442)
Date of Stay: 08/05/06 Review Submitted: 08/05/06

Your place and all of your recommendations in that little green book ( and the attachement called "A perfect week in Casa Verde) made for a heavenly vacation...Where to begin...The Rossi Supermarket, and the delightful folks who run it - that in itself is a reason to plan a return trip! And of course we were in Italy during the World Cup games...Our kids (20s) were invited up to the private club at the top of Monterchi for the second to last game - You're right - Monte Santa Maria is so much better that San Gimighnano. We went to the SG at the end of our Tuscany stay, and boy was it a disappointment. It was kind of like Disneyworld - void of real Italian life... We got to Sansepolcro on market day and had a great time and got some things at quite reasonable prices (I think I'd like to go back a rent a spot there some time...) One of the kids decided he liked Anghiarri best - he picked out his perfect place to live there, another liked Citta Di Castello best... We did find the olive mill outside of Anghiarri. The gal, Olivia, was charming and let us try all the wines and oils - we brought some home - also I am already cooking with olive oil from Rossi Supermarket - it was much better that anything found further west. The drive from Lippiano to "home" was magical, and we always found new things to make our jaw drop each day. And the pool...I made dinner each night and the pool all made for wonderful family time. Finally - We all really enjoyed Maria and Dino, and they really seemed to appreciate all the Italian our daughters worked on before the trip - We were able to have several long conversations with Maria. Again, your suggestions really helped to make the stay so special - Thanks for sharing your paradise with us all- Debbie Hutchinson

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Guest: D Hutchinson
Date of Stay: 07/31/06 Review Submitted: 07/30/06

Dear Dave - I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner - we just got back to the States yesterday. Your place and all of your recommendations in that little green book ( and the attachement called "A perfect week in Casa Verde) made for a heavenly vacation...Where to begin...The Rossi Supermarket, and the delightful folks who run it - that in itself is a reason to plan a return trip! And of course we were in Italy during the World Cup games...Our kids (20s) were invited up to the private club at the top of Monterchi for the second to last game - You're right - Monte Santa Maria is so much better that San Gimighnano. We went to the SG at the end of our Tuscany stay, and boy was it a disappointment. It was kind of like Disneyworld - void of real Italian life... We got to Sansepolcro on market day and had a great time and got some things at quite reasonable prices (I think I'd like to go back a rent a spot there some time...) One of the kids decided he liked Anghiarri best - he picked out his perfect place to live there, another liked Citta Di Castello best... We did find the olive mill outside of Anghiarri. The gal, Olivia, was charming and let us try all the wines and oils - we brought some home - also I am already cooking with olive oil from Rossi Supermarket - it was much better that anything found further west. The drive from Lippiano to "home" was magical, and we always found new things to make our jaw drop each day. And the pool...I made dinner each night and the pool all made for wonderful family time. Finally - We all really enjoyed Maria and Dino, and they really seemed to appreciate all the Italian our daughters worked on before the trip - We were able to have several long conversations with Maria. So - we will treasure and keep your email address, and as I assemble a list of "the best" from our trip, don't surprised if some of our friends request a week there in the future. Again, your suggestions really helped to make the stay so special - Thanks for sharing your paradise with us all.

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Guest: Silke
Date of Stay: 07/31/06 Review Submitted: 07/30/06

Hi Dave, This is a late response, I know. I was in Europe until a week ago. Italy was wonderful. It was the first week in Europe that they had good weather and we enjoyed the pool a lot. The best part was, that it is so quiet there and le trattorie nei piccoli villagi erano molto buono. Marcello at the supermarket in Monterchi made sure I remember Italian again! Thanks, Silke

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Guest: The Meltons (Walnut Creek, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/08/05 Review Submitted: 08/08/05

We just returned from over two weeks in Europe, including a week-long sojourn at lovely Casa Verde. We adored its rustic charm and peaceful location and felt like we got a wonderful taste of Italian farmlife. Early in our stay, we would often jump in the car and make day trips to nearby hill towns. Soon though, we were completely seduced by Casa Verde and spent our last days relaxing and enjoying the pool overlooking the beautiful rolling hills of Tuscany and Umbria. We miss Marcello at Rossi's already and our daily visits to the market to buy fresh food for our feasts. The kids especially miss our visits from Ercole who would follow Maria up when she came to check in. Our first Sunday back in the States, we had a special breakfast of scones and Dino and Maria's honey that we brought all the way back home. When we opened the jar, we were treated to the smells of Tuscany and transported for just a moment to the sweetness of Casa Verde. Thanks, Dave!

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Guest: Dianne Heimer (Sacramento, CA)
Date of Stay: 08/04/05 Review Submitted: 08/04/05

Dave, We arrived at Casa Verde at the end of a 2-week trip in Europe. We really needed a rest after a hurried trip of cities and sites. The hilltop location, the rolling hills, the soothing pool--we couldn't have found a better place. Lippiano and Monterchi, the nearby hill towns, were fabulous. The only suggestion we would make would be to have a barbeque/grill at the villa. Our friends, Ginny and Jodi, joined us after a week and loved the place, as well (see previous comment). If you want a farmhouse away from the hustle and bustle, this is it. Thanks, Dave. We didn't want to leave. David and Dianne Heimer Sacramento, CA

Owner response:Dianne, Great idea; you will be happy to know I have added a grill. Great for cooking that tuscan classic - Chicken under a brick using rosemary and thyme from the property.

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Guest: Ginny McReynolds (Sacramento, California)
Date of Stay: 07/30/05 Review Submitted: 07/30/05

Dave, Casa Verde was everything we hoped it would be. We shared it with our friends Dianne and Dave, who spent the last of their three weeks in Europe at Casa Verde. Their stay at the farmhouse let them relax and really take in the experience of being in Italy. For us, it was the first of three weeks in Europe and it gave us the chance to get our feet wet, to move slowly and to enjoy what's right in front of us. I guess Casa Verde is perfect for everyone. And Dino and Maria make the whole thing perfect by keeping track of what's going on. Thanks for the great experience. We're going to recommend it to all of our friends. Ginny and Jodi

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Guest: diane alexander (boston, ma)
Date of Stay: 06/24/05 Review Submitted: 06/24/05

We spent an idyllic week at Casa Verde. The stone farm house was delightful, the pool lovely, the views amazing. In short, it exceeded our expectations in every way. Would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a retreat set high on an umbrian hill top.

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Guest: susan d. (bay area california)
Date of Stay: 06/22/05 Review Submitted: 06/22/05

Casa Verde was exactly what my family needed after spending two and a half weeks "on the road in Italy; Florence, Venice, and Monterosso in Cinque Terre. The location is quite beautiful. We spent 4 of our days lazing by the pool. My cousin who is an excellent cook found everything he needed at the local market in Monterchi to cook some wonderful Italian meals of his own. Marcello, who works at the market was a real sweetheart. I would highly recommend Casa Verde to anyone looking for beauty, serenity and proximity to some beautiful hill towns. Also, Maria and Dino were very helpful. Maria and I managed a one hour conversation with my english/italian dictionary and our hand gestures. It was the highlight of our trip to Italy. Thanks Dave for finding this wonderful place and for sharing it !!

Owner response:Susan, I had tears in my eyes reading these comments because I am so glad that you took the time and effort to talk with our neighbor Maria and with Marcello at Rossi Supermarket. They do have everything, and he makes his own wine which he offers on occasion for his patrons for free.

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Guest: Frank Cuomo (Boynton Beach Fl)
Date of Stay: 06/02/05 Review Submitted: 06/02/05

The location of Casa Verde is ideal for getting around to any point you wish to discover. The closeness to a convience store made it easy to decide at the last minute for any needs a guest may have. The house itself is tastefully decorated and the fireplace was definetely in use every night even though it was mid-May. Dino and Marie were great . We spoeak Italian and that was a plus. The tips in the books that are at your disposable were great and right on target ,particularly the restaurant recomendations. We definetely would rent Casa Verde during our next visit to Tuscany. Thank you for sharing your house with us and we treated the property as it were are own.

Owner response:Thank you Frank, Dino and Maria loved you and Ursula and want you to come back soon. In their words "molto gentile," and in my words "grazie mille" for taking such great care of my home. Ciao, Dave

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Guest: Dawn Huffman (San Ramon, CA)
Date of Stay: 02/11/05 Review Submitted: 02/11/05

The ideal Italian countryside experience! Terrific location for visiting both Tuscan and Umbrian hill towns. We loved every one of the hill towns we visited and had extremely memorable experiences in Sansepolcro and in Citta di Castello at the restaurant mentioned in villa's notebook (Luigi & Nadia were amazing while we were their last customers late on a Sunday afternoon!). I'd definitely stay here again when I make my next trip to Italy. Thanks again for sharing your home!

Owner response:Dawn, thanks for the nice comments. The caretakers (Dino and Maria) liked you all very much as well, and hope you return soon - maybe for grape or olive harvest?

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Guest: EB Lombardi
Date of Stay: 11/09/04 Review Submitted: 11/08/04

Dear Dave, Just caught our breath and had to tell you how much we enjoyed your home. It was paradise and now I wonder what its like in the fall and how the winter and spring will be. We had a slice of heaven and I am sorry that I did not have the opportunity to tell you so. As you may remember I am a school principal and when we got back things got right onto the fast track. So thanks again for a most memorable time and for sharing your bit of heaven. Elaine and Sebastian

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Guest: shannon67 (san francisco, ca)
Date of Stay: 07/02/04 Review Submitted: 07/02/04

I would suggest to anyone considering renting this villa to do so, and quick! The villa is situated on a mountain overlooking the beautiful rolling hills of Tuscany. Some days we would hang out by the pool, shop at the local markets and cook up a wonderful feast. Other days we hopped in the car and headed to Venice, Florence, Cortona, or Siena, which were all short car rides and worth every minute! This villa has everything you need, including fresh fruits and herbs which all grow right on the property. The locals were also friendly and helpful. And wait until you see the sunsets!! we'll be back for sure. Thanks Dave!

Owner response:Shannon, It sounds like you had a great time and really took advantage of all the area has to offer. I am homesick just reading this...

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