Enchanting Week

Guest: Tiggs (New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 10/01/11 Review Submitted: 10/15/11

Andrea Villa in Lastra a Signa is in a little quiet court yard off a country road. The Villa is from another time, old world charm but with modern conviences.. It is decorated lovely. The stone patio at the back of the Villa has a hot tub and also a table and chairs where you can sit, have meals,a glass of wine and look out at the fabulous vista of the towns below and mountains in the distance .There is a kithchen where you can make meals if you wish.but there is a great restaurant 200 steps from the front door of the Villa with outdoor dining and delicious food. There's also a cook who will come in and cook for you. She's great, and the owner could not be more helpful and attentive. We had a wonderful stay. The Villa is driving distance to many beautiful towns and vinyards. You can travel and be back the same day. There is also train service that is available.

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

Unexpected treasure

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/28/10 Review Submitted: 10/05/11

Villa Lysis proved to be that unexpected treasure tucked away in quintessential Tuscany with glorious views, wonderful antique furnishings and a relaxing ambience that makes you wish you could stay for months. It also has a fabulous restaurant next door and the irresistible market a short walk down the road. It’s definitely on my must ‘return to’ list. The owner was exceptionally helpful and accommodating, even picked us up at the train and made restaurant reservations for us. He also arranged to send a package of purchases to the U.S. for me. I’ve traveled the world and Villa Lysis, which is pleasingly old world in style and design, is one of my most delightful discoveries.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car.

Great Tuscany Villa, close to Florence - and car rental NOT reguired.... !

Guest: Kevin and Bev (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan CANADA)
Date of Stay: 07/07/11 Review Submitted: 07/25/11

My wife and I have always had Tuscany on our "list", so we very much looking forward to this trip. And the Villa Lysis on the edge of Lastra A Signa town, just outside of Florence, fully met our high expectations. We were looking for a quiet villa in the hills overlooking olive trees and vineyards, with good access to train and Florence, Pisa, and other Tuscany attractions. Our gracious host, Andrea Bertini was most helpful and very obliging. From his pickup at the Florence airport, to our return there 8 days later, Andrea was always on call for us. For example, he arranged for and took us on a 2 hour tour of a local winery, CAPEZZANA. It was most excellant, and a beautiful drive in the Tuscany hills. When we were looking for advise or info. on Florence, he was quick to reply with advise - including closing time for the museums we were interested in. The villa is as described, and very authentic in capturing its history and Tuscany setting. The terrace patio view where we enjoyed most our meals and especially morning coffee, will not be forgotten. So if your just looking for a relaxing clean and well stocked villa away from the city life; or a central spot to see the sites of Tuscany, Floernce, Pisa and Lucca - then this is the spot to consider. We walked down and back up the hill from the town area four times, and it was good healthy walk. (Though a taxi ride was available if we wanted, we opted for the excercise !) The kitchen and household overall is well stocked, and the two bathrooms very functional. You can keep your grocery needs filled with the main grocery stores in the town, or the small local market 5 minute walk from the villa.The Edy Piu restaurant next door is a very excellant, classy place, with great food. Having a vehicle would be handy, if you want to do a lot of site seeing throughout the region. But we enjoyed not having to rent a vehicle, and used the local train station we could walk down to in 15 minutes. Overall, a great choice, and one we would recommend to freinds and relatives, and would love to return to ourselves. Thanks Andrea ! - Kevin and Bev.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car.

La Dolce Vita!

Guest: Michaela (Heidelberg DE)
Date of Stay: 06/12/11 Review Submitted: 06/22/11

We had a FANTASTIC time at Villa Lysis! Stayed a week with 3 adults and 2 kids (aged 6 & 15.) We took trains into Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Rome which were easy and fun. I would love to go back again and just enjoy the house. The nearby market had everything we needed, and the folks were very friendly and helpful. The Edy Piu Restaurant next door is divine. The train was an easy walk down the hill (but we chose to use Sergio, the taxi driver to get back up! He was full of charm and chatter, none in English.) Andrea is the most patient and kind host imagineable. He picked us all up (we arrived in 2 parties on different days) at the train station and delivered us to the house. He brought us to the supermarket to load up on food. He made travel recommendations. We got ourselves into some goofy fixes, and he cheerfully got us out (not once, but twice!) He was sweet, available and utterly unflappable--it was a treat to meet him. Staying at the villa was a travel experience in itself. It is a gorgeous house, lovingly restored and decorated, in a gorgeous location. A real step back in time. A real Tuscan experience.The bedrooms are luxurious; the kitchen is rustic; the terrace is cozy, quaint and inviting. Andrea managed to marry the 12th and 21st century --WiFi, TV, jacuzzi, washing machine, phone, modern bath, A/C--without losing the old world charm of the place. Surrounded by olive groves, lemon trees, rosemary bushes, geraniums spilling out of windows, delightful people, fabulous tastes and smells, you will be intoxicated, too. DO NOT MISS a meal from Signora Carla!! She is a great character, and a busy woman. Book early. She made us a vegetable terrine, sausage & cheese crostini, spinach-herb pie, Tuscan tri-color salad and a chicken salad in olive tapenade--and that was the FIRST course! Then two pastas (to die for) then a rustic chicken stew and Tuscan white beans with tomato and rosemary. Creme Brulee for dessert. We will dream about that meal forever! We hated to leave, and of course our time went too quickly. You will not be disappointed by the experience!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, sightseeing, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, tourists without a car.

Wonderful Family Vacation!

Guest: Keith (Jacksonville, Florida USA)
Date of Stay: 05/13/11 Review Submitted: 06/08/11

Having never traveled to Italy before, I did not what to expect. Wow, what a great place! My family stayed for a month and that did not seem to be enough time. Andrea was a fantastic host. His attention to detail and willingness to give local advice was remarkable. The villa was comfortable and perfectly situated for us. The views of Florence from the patio were breathtaking. And to have such a wonderful restaurant next door was an added bonus. The train station is not far away and gave you access to Florence within minutes and was an easy link to the rest of Italy. If you are looking for a vacation of a lifetime, I recommend you lokk to Andrea and Villa Lysis.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, tourists without a car.

Beautiful villa, ideal location, we'll be back!!!

Guest: Karen (Warren, NJ)
Date of Stay: 04/02/11 Review Submitted: 05/11/11

Villa Lysis was even more than we had hoped for. We rented a car in Milan and when we arrived at the Villa we were greeted by Andrea. He helped with our luggage, gave a quick tour of the house and showed us maps, train schedules, and information about Lastra a Signa and Signa he had collected for our use. Andrea also answered any questions we had during our stay (and I had a LOT!). A perfect host! Andrea did an amazing job of restoration while maintaining many original features of the house. We had enough hot water for four showers each morning. The small washing machine allowed us to pack less clothing. Evey room was clean and beautifully decorated. Plenty of towels, a small but well-equipped kitchen, very comfortable beds and a peaceful garden with fantastic views. The location was ideal for walking to the local train station, or a very short drive to the Signa train station, with more frequent departure/arrivals. Within minutes you can travel to Florence, and the high speed train from Florence allowed us to spend a full day in Rome. Andrea escorted me to the train station in Signa at the start of our stay to help me purchase tickets to Rome,showed me how to validate tickets, and options for parking. After that I felt like a local during our daily train trips. The location was not only close for a trip to Rome, it was less than an hour to Pisa, as well as numerous "must see" villages. A Coop (what a wonderful grocery store) is also very close, and was an experience just to look at all the meats, cheeses, pastas, and produce. A local market was just down the hill. Carla prepared one meal for us early in the week with 6 appetizers, two pasta dishes, a fantastic chicken dish that my mother is still talking about, dessert, and 2 bottles of wine. Andrea advised us to ask Carla to cook early in the week so we had time to enjoy all the leftovers. We highly recommend a meal prepared by Carla! Another "must" is dinner at Edy Piu's, next door to the villa. Again, we had a typical, very leisurely, Italian meal with all the courses served family style at our request. The steak was the best we have ever had (Kobe included). I can't imaging a better place to stay as far as location, comfort, price, and helpful host. Tuscany is a piece of heaven, and while we were busy exploring new places each day we know we barely scratched the surface of all there is to see and do. We are planning a return to Villa next spring. Thank you, Andrea! See you soon!!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, sightseeing, romantic getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car.

Supurb Location in Tuscany

Guest: Linda (French River, Canada)
Date of Stay: 03/11/11 Review Submitted: 04/10/11

We stayed at Villa Lysis for two weeks in March 2011. The charm and historical character of the villa are beautifully preserved by the owner, Andrea. The rooms are spacious, comfortable and beautifully decorated. We were two couples and a single and found that we could live together and yet still have our privacy when we needed it. I loved the stone sink in the kitchen and found just about everything I needed to prepare our meals...amazingly well stocked with pots, pans & utensils as well as spices and olive oil left over from previous guests. We enjoyed walking to the farm up the road to purchase our wine (and more olive oil) which we did frequently! The terrace garden overlooks the valley and we found ourselves sitting out in the evening enjoying the glorious views of Lastra a Signa. We did not rent a car but used the train which is 1 km from the villa and much more convenient (and safer) than driving into Florence. Andrea was so very helpful in taking us to the Iper-Coop to do our shopping (dropping us off and picking us up after...he also carried the groceries in to the villa.) The Villa has two full bathrooms and laundry facilities which we very much appreciated. A housekeeper came in once a week and changed all the linen as well as giving the villa top bottom to top cleaning (all included in the price) Staying at Villa Lysis and meeting Andrea Bertini were the highlights of our trip to Tuscany. Thanks again Andrea for a perfect holiday in your lovely home. Warmest regards Linda & Harold

Owner response:Dear Linda & Harold, thank you very much for posted this five stars review over my listing. I appreciated your thought ! I know that you enjoyed your stay at Villa Lysis where I found your beautiful present. You and your friends was between the most friendly and kind guests I never had ! Thanks again also for your invitation to visit you in Canada, I certainly put your place on the top list of my future trip !. All the best ! Andrea

Recommended for:Girls getaway, sightseeing, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, tourists without a car.

Bella Italy!!!

Guest: Kathy & Bob Matteson (Galveston)
Date of Stay: 07/07/07 Review Submitted: 04/01/11

We are a family of four who travel a lot. Part of the pleasure of a trip for us is to research locations ahead of time and then to try to live, really live, in the places we visit. Thus, we try to avoid hotel stays, preferring instead to rent villas, homes or apartments. We have never had a more accommodating landlord than Andrea Bertini. He was available any time we needed him, and he was most gracious about helping us in every way. It was clear even before we arrived that he wanted our visit to be memorable. He helped us a lot with mapping the remainder of our trip which included a drive to Rome/Napes/Amalfi. Villa Lysis slept the four of us quite comfortably. We cooked dinners there, and I regret to say that we did not hire the recommended chef while we were there. We did dine at Edy Piu, the restaurant next door, several times. Interestingly, it was recommended to me by someone from Florence before our trip. From Villa Lysis, we drove to Pisa, to Florence, to Sienna, and even to Venice! Of course, you can even take the nearby train, but we prefer the convenience of our own car. While I read some comments of aberrations in the water temperature, this did not occur during our stay. European plumbing can differ from American plumbing, because the "mixer" (I think that is what it is called) that blends the hot and cold water is different and is in the hand-held unit sometimes. The drive up the hill to the home was beautiful! Yes, the roads are a little narrower than Americans might be used to, but they are certainly driveable, and being up above the smog of the Florence area was really lovely. To sit outside and view the skyline of Florence was a real treat. If you have an opportunity to stay in Andrea's lovely Villa Lysis, I would highly recommend it.

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

Wonderful time in Tuscany

Guest: Bridey (Sykesville, MD USA)
Date of Stay: 05/22/10 Review Submitted: 11/22/10

The pictures do not give this charming home justice! We loved all the wonderful touches in the villa - it was even better than we expected and Andreas is an excellent host. We visited Villa Lysis in late May (me, my husband, our 3 year old, 6 month old, my parents and brother). The house was the perfect size. My parents stayed on the main floor since the stairs were a little steep for my dad, my family shared the large Master bedroom while my brother stayed in the other upstairs bedroom. The house was so cool - lots of interesting interconnections between the rooms, great old heavy doors, lovely knick knacks and art, and even beautiful ceilings. The bathrooms were modern and worked well for us, we did have some occasional issues with the hot water, but it wasn't a big deal since it was pretty warm out. I do wish the hot tub had been heated, in May it was a little too cool for me or my mom - but my husband did go in a couple of times with my daughter who thought it was great fun. The views off the back veranda to Florence were also nice. We did have a car (a van actually) and the winding roads were a little daunting at first, but once we used the route Andreas suggested (instead of what the GPS told us), it was a bit easier and we just thought of the drive as part of the adventure. Parking was no problem since it was at the restaurant right near the villa and we didn't have any trouble parking near the train station either when we went into Florence. The little grocery store is an easy walk down the hill (although we walked by it twice before we realized where it was - it's a lovely walk though so we didn't mind). We did do our major shopping at the big Supermarket in town to save money and have more choices, but the little grocery was perfect for those last minute items. The highlight of our stay was the 2 nights we had Senora Carla cook for us. She cooked a wide variety of food - lots of starters, 2 pastas, and 2 meat dishes plus dessert and wine (our favorite was the eggplant - best we ever had)! She brought everything with her, served each course, cleaned up, and neatly packed up any leftovers so we had snacks for the next few days. I highly recommend having her come in at least one night if you stay at the villa. Visiting the local winery (right up the hill) and trying their olive oil is also a treat. We would definitely stay here again - the villa and Andreas made us feel right at home during our stay.

Owner response:Dear Mrs Bridey, thank you very much for your feedback. I am really glad the villa has met your needs. A satisfying accomodation is a big part of any trip and it can make the trip memorable or frustrating. I am sure your positive feedback will help other people to make the right choice and it will encourage me to keep up with the same standards. You are very welcomed again in the future ! Sincerely Andrea

Recommended for:Sightseeing, romantic getaway, tourists without a car.

Nice but some issues

Guest: Janice M. (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Date of Stay: 09/18/10 Review Submitted: 10/16/10

The photographs accurately portray this villa. It is very unique. We found a problem though with not having hot water for showers. Whether you shower first or fourth expect the water temperature to go from cold to very hot. Also it is not a short easy walk to and from the train station. The hill is steep and one lane even though two-way traffic drives there. We hired a guide who when he brought us home said the road was frightening. He honked his horn all the way up the hill to let oncoming cars know he was there. If you meet an oncoming car you need a driveway to pull off into. The jacuzzi is not heated so we didn't use it. There were a few maintenance issues,like the door handle to the bathroom falling off, that we asked to be fixed. It was. The owner should purchase a good American coffee pot. We saw many at the store, and the one in the villa is practically unusable. Carla cooked for us and this was special. Also the store just down the hill is great. We wished we had done all our shopping there.

Owner response:Dear Madam, I'm awfully sorry you found a few things not entirly satisfiyng. However, the broken door handle is the original one, therefore more than a hundred years old. I knew it had become a little worn and my intention was to fix it immediately after the departure of the previous guests and before your arrival, but there was really not time enough and after two days I had to put a temporary handle. You can understand my wish to preserve these antiques as long as possible. Now, concerning the coffee maker I used it to make some coffee and it seemed to work OK. You never complained during your stay, otherwise I had no difficulties to change it ! Perhaps you simply didn't close the lid properly. These things happen.... Same thing with the shower head. Remember we tested it togheter and managed to get the right temperature. If I may point out that on the website it is clearly specified that the Jacuzzi is best to use from mid May until mid September as it is then heated by the sun. Your arrival was late September ! There is nothing I can do about the narrow streets or the rolling hills , or any other of the aspects of the wonderful Tuscan landscape which, though uncomfortable for you and for few others peoples is exactly what everyone comes over to experience. For your next holidays I suggest to choose a flat country with larges freeways and motorways.

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