Traditional Villa - Belvedere in Siena, Tuscany with Stunning Views

• On Siena's Doorstep - A Beautifully Renovated Tuscan Rural Retreat

  On Siena's Doorstep - A Beautifully Renovated Tuscan Rural Retreat

  • Guest SusieQ
  • Date of stay 09/22/12
  • Review Submitted 01/14/13
  We stayed at Belvedere for 10 days in late Spring/early Autumn 2012. It was a wonderful experience particularly being so close to Siena and yet isolated from the daily hustle and bustle. The location of Belvedere in a classic Tuscan rural setting with glorious views over the surrounding countryside, vineyards & olive groves was superb, particularly as we watched the spectacular sunsets whilst enjoying the local wines. Decorated in the rustic Tuscan style with terracotta ceilings and log beams, the spacious villa was very comfortable and clean with all the facilities we required for our stay. Siena exceeded our expectations after having visited many hilltop towns and cathedrals elsewhere in Tuscany and Umbria, and the absolutely beautiful cathedral Il Duomo blew us way. We thought we would have a quick look at yet ‘another cathedral’ and ended up staying the remaining 3 hours until closing. The rich history, the cobblestone alleys, the cafes and quaint restaurants all make for an intoxicating experience. The Piazza del Campo is so unique even though very touristy. It was a very easy short drive into town for sight-seeing or for a very reasonably priced meal of amazingly good quality and we loved tasting the local wine. It was also fun to prepare our own meals occasionally at Belvedere with local produce while we relaxed after a day trip. The local village Costalpino is only 1.5km away and has good coffee, a supermarket and an ATM across the road. Nearby towns including Pienza, San Gimignano and Colle di val d’Elsa were within easy reach and we loved exploring much of Tuscany from Belvedere. We can recommend a trip to a monastery called Abbazia Monte Oliveto Maggiore for vespers chanted by the Benedictine monks at dusk by candle-light. It was a very moving, unforgettable experience. We loved staying at Belvedere and highly recommend it not only to explore Siena but also as a perfect base for an authentic Tuscan experience. Most definitely we’ll be returning with friends next time so we can share an idyllic holiday in our beloved Italy.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing.

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• Fantastic memories

  Fantastic memories

  • Guest Henry L.
  • Date of stay 11/25/12
  • Review Submitted 01/12/13
  I stayed at Belvedere for a week with my wife and another couple whilst on a one month tour of Italy from Venice to Tuscany then Rome to the south. It was great to have a homely base that was private enough when we wanted to cook, relax & spend some quality time together as well as researching our next adventure on the internet. We were able to make a few day trips to Pisa & Florence but we really enjoyed exploring some of the smaller villages nearby like San Gimignano & Monteriggioni. Siena was easy to access so we visited regularly and we found this city had more charm than Florence as it wasn’t overloaded with tourists. This villa was clean and well preserved, with some unique artwork and antique furniture. We even managed to cook up some woodfired pizzas in the oven outside, which was great fun despite needing to make the dough twice! Only criticism would be that the road leading to the house was fairly bumpy and slow going on a small car. We would definitely consider staying here again & wish we allocated more of our trip to this region.

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

  Owner response: Ciao Henry, we're glad you enjoyed your stay. You will be pleased to note that we've recently completed the entire road having it resurfaced and leveled. It is so smooth now you could even drive a Ferrari on it! All the best and we look forward to see you again. Carola & Adam

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• Villa of Belvedere - Siena, Tuscany

  Villa of Belvedere - Siena, Tuscany

  • Guest World traveler
  • Date of stay 11/07/11
  • Review Submitted 10/14/12
  I have been lucky enough to travel to many places around the world, but my favorite by far was when my finance and I stayed at Belvedere in Siena, Tuscany in November of 2011. This peaceful, spectacular villa is located 10 minutes from Siena so getting to city for shopping and night life is no trouble at all. As you drive into the estate you will pass the main house, Certano, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, where they make a variety of different wines and olive oils on site, available for purchase. Continuing down the road you will come to the last and most beautiful villa on top of the rolling hills with spectacular views in every direction. The 3 bedroom villa was superbly decorated in rustic décor and was fully equipped with everything that we needed. The main room had a beautiful dining room table seating 12 in front of a gigantic fireplace which we used frequently. We sat on the balcony every night with a glass of wine watching the sunset over the vast hilltops reminiscing about the experiences we had that current day. We quickly made this villa our new home for the 3 weeks of our visit, while exploring the surrounding areas. The managers, Cesare and Gianna, were extremely helpful in assisting every one of our needs and giving us wonderful information about the surrounding areas. We were treated to an authentic Italian welcome dinner prepared by the managers. Since we were there during chestnut season, we participated in the harvest of the chestnuts from the surrounding property and were shown how the chestnut jam was made. It was fabulous! The property adjacent to Belvedere raises horses and it was my enjoyment to visit them each morning with a few sugar cubes. (I made two wonderful friends immediately.) We found a gem tucked away in the hills of Tuscany, and couldn’t have been happier with our stay. The villa was perfect for the two of us and would be also perfect for a group of visitors since the villa is so spacious. We would highly recommend Belvedere to anyone that is planning a trip to Siena.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

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Additional information about rental rates

Rates are inclusive of initial & final cleaning, water & electricity. Our house's central heating runs with a pellet stove. A pellet stove is an automated stove that burns

compressed wood or biomass pellets to create a source of heat. We will provide one large pellet bag per night of stay. Any usage above your total allocated amount will be charged on a consumption basis at current retail price.

Fees:

• Pet Fee: $100 + tax
• Property Damage Protection: $49
• Cleaning: $65
• Taxes Not included

Cancellation policy:

100% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date.