Wonderful Week at Villa I Cipressi

Guest: Dennis (Chicago)
Date of Stay: 10/15/11 Review Submitted: 11/29/11

We spent a wonderful week at the delightfully rustic Villa I Cipressi in mid-October. A quiet, peaceful location on a gorgeous hilltop olive orchard on the outskirts of Lastra a Signa, but just a 4 minute drive to the train station from which we could conveniently get to Florence in about 15 minutes without the hassle of having to drive. Our host, Paola, is incredibly gracious and took very good care of us ( preparing a welcoming snack and bottle of tasty wine upon arrival as well as escorting us on a morning trip to Florence where Paola took us to the fabulous indoor food market, a fun coffee bar where we enjoyed a suberb capuccino, and several great shops). Lastra a Signa is perfectly located for day trips throughout Tuscany - we hit Pisa and Lucca one day, Siena and the Chianti road another, and San Gimignano on yet another excursion. The IperCoop, a combination of Whole Foods,Trader Joes, and Costco is a very short drive away and is a destination in itself. Fabulous choice of food and drink including lots of well-prepared ready to eat dishes along with the freshest produce, meats, fish, baked goods, and typical supermarket fare. Perfect for those few nights we felt like eating in. There are two terrific restaurants nearby as well. It was a bit cool to use the inviting pool but the fireplace was a real treat. Highly recommended!

Owner response:Dear Dennis, I really thank you very much for your kind review.You get the exact pic of our nice Cottage Hoping to see you again and soon

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

Lovely setting in Tuscany

Guest: Brian (Texas)
Date of Stay: 09/24/11 Review Submitted: 10/11/11

We had a group of seven on an adventure in Europe. The Villa offered us a wonderful taste of the Italian countryside and was convenient to take day trips to Florence, Sienna, Pisa, and Venice. Our hosts were wonderful and personally took us to Florence to see things other tourists would never experience. The property was well maintained and did not disappoint. The views were terrific. This is a wonderful area and offers a quite respite from the crowded city tourist centers.

Owner response:Dear Brian &Co. I really thank you very much for your kind review.You let me really happy and i hope you words of mounth will help with new nice future guests like you and your party. Hoping to see you again and soon

Recommended for:Pet owners, romantic getaway, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, sightseeing.

Guest: edwald zwered
Date of Stay: 08/01/11 Review Submitted: 08/13/11

Dear Paola, Last Saturday we left at 7 o’clock a.m. and were not able to say you and your husband good buy. Thank you very much for the wonderful stay at your villa. You were so nice and helped us with everything we need. There are a few thing that should be better in comparison with the price we payed. I told Chris Lenders what should be altered. But nevertheless , we had a magnificent holiday. Thanks for everything. Kind regards,

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Room with a View

Guest: Bee (Calgary Alberta Canada)
Date of Stay: 07/01/11 Review Submitted: 07/22/11

Our hostess, Paola, is very kind, helpful, and charming. The small villa is beautifully situated in a small suburb of Florence. The train to Florence is a 20 minute walk to the station. Downhill to the station and uphill, of course, back home. We had a car and leftvit @ the station to avoid the uphill walk on the very dark road. The Iper coop market is a short car trip away and wonderful for provisions for take away or cooking. The pool was wonderful after we came back from a hot day sightseeing. On the downside, it is a bit cluttered throughout, especially in the kitchen and this made food prep a challenge. it would benefit from a declutter, a bit of reorganizing, and a scrub, but we really enjoyed our time here very much and loved our view, the pool, the quiet away from the heat and crowds and the convenience of the location for the train to Florence and other sightseeing trips. We recommend a car for this. You could not have a warmer or more genuine hostess than Paola. Come prepared with information on the area, there are a few guide books around the house, but you need maps/Italian GPS. Our favorite restaurant in the area was a 3 minute walk away and called Edy Piu. The gelateria in Lastra a Signa is NOT to be missed and the Iper coop was great. We even had some dry cleaning done there!

Recommended for:Families with young children.

It's What You Think a Tuscan Villa Should Be

Guest: RichK (Loudon, TN, USA)
Date of Stay: 05/07/11 Review Submitted: 07/09/11

My wife and I plus one other couple stayed here for a week in May 2011. We'd been to Italy (and Tuscany) several times before, but we'd never stayed at a villa. It was everything that every other reviewer has already stated, from the graciousness of the host, Paola, to the decor, to the setting. (Paola's "Welcome Wagon" bounty of food and wine when we first arrived was especially nice, and her personal tour of "her" Firenze was a particular highlight.) My own magic moment was walking or driving the cypress-lined stone path that went a few hundred meters from the property gate, through the olive groves, to the villa. It really was beautiful. My own advice would be to savor more of the villa experience itself. Sure, Firenze is just a 15-minute train ride away, and other Tuscan treasures like Lucca, San Gimignano, Pisa, etc., are all no more than an hour by car, but you can also just walk out the gates to Edy Piu, a to-die-for restaurant, or walk to the 13th-century Santo Stefano church and attend Mass with the locals. You should also roll down the hill to the IperCoop, the mother of all grocery stores, just to see it; or better yet, to buy some of their local wines, meats, and cheeses. Then, as long as you're there, hop on the highway and roll over to Montelupo, the next town over (@ 10 minutes' drive) and visit some of their world-famous ceramic factories. (You won't find better deals or selections anywhere else.) In short, this is everything that you could want in a villa experience. Do it, and savor it.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, girls getaway, age 55+, sightseeing.

Sublime beautiy at Villa Capri

Guest: Lucinda F. (Santa Fe, New Mexico )
Date of Stay: 05/21/11 Review Submitted: 06/01/11

Though I have extensive travel experience, it is rare to find such a beautiful place to stay as Villa Capri. The details to attention, the comforatable beds, the beautiful pool area and bucolic grounds all made for a very wonderful vacation. The owner, Paola is one of the most charming ladies I have ever met and she went out of her way to offer hospitailty in the finest order. It remains a most unforgettable holiday for me and my friends. Don't miss the opportunity to experience this villa...except, of course when I need to use it!

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

Guest: randy
Date of Stay: 05/14/11 Review Submitted: 05/25/11

Paola, I want to add my thanks to you and Fabrizzio for helping make a fabulous trip for us and the Turners to the Florence area. It is a beautiful place and country but made even more personal and exciting by your attention and hospitality. It was great to see all the sights but it was even more special with your comments about them. It is wonderful to visit a country but it is even more special to see it through the eyes of someone who has lived there all of their lives. I do hope next time your schedule brings you to the USA that you will consider making time to visit us. Especially Charleston, SC. It is very casual and laid back......you would love it there. Again, our sincere thanks for everything you guys did to make our trip so special. Our best to Fabrizzio. Ciao! Randy

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Guest: EMANUELA
Date of Stay: 11/04/10 Review Submitted: 11/12/10

Ciao Paola, volevo ringraziarTi per l'ospitalità, i miei cugini si sono travati benissimo e Ti fanno i complementi per la Tua bellissima casa, un ringraziamento particolare per l'ottimo prezzo che ci hai riservato, e scusaci si ci siamo permessi di fare una caffettiera di caffe' dalla cucina del fienile. A presto e ancora grazie da tutti. Emanuela

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Guest: lisa
Date of Stay: 11/01/10 Review Submitted: 11/12/10

Paola, I was not able to thank you personally before leaving for Boston last Friday morning. I have always loved Italy, but our trip to Italy this time was even better than we’d imagined, thanks to your endearing hospitality. I genuinely hope I can return the favor some day. If you or your family travel to Boston, please be my house guest. (I live in Canton, Massachusetts about 20 minutes south west of Boston). I would love my [Italian!] husband to meet you. Best regards, Lisa Lopez

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Guest: mike & susan
Date of Stay: 11/01/10 Review Submitted: 11/12/10

Hi Paola. What a wonderful time we had. Everything was perfect and you were a major part of our satisfaction. What a busy life you lead. You deserve to slow down, but I don't know if that is in your nature. We will happily recommend your properties to friends and Mike will be writing something for your VRBO site as well. Thank you again, you were extremely helpful and fun to be with. susan

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