My family and I rented Podere Il Sole from Bernhard last autumn. First of all, it's worth saying, Bernhard is an excellent host/holiday owner. In all our dealings, from accurate descriptions, to destination advice, provision of necessary items, and timely, helpful responses to queries, he has our full recommendation. What we saw and read was what we got, and more.

From the moment we arrived we all felt immediately relaxed and welcome. In fact, if it wasn't for the beautiful sunshine every day, we would have thought we were at home!

It was not easy for a family of six people, including four children under the age of 9 years, to find suitable holiday accommodation in Italy, but at Podere Il Sole, we found the perfect fit.

The house had everything one would have in one's own house, from kitchen utensils to bed linen. The large garden space, pool, hammocks, BBQs and other general facilities provided enough entertainment in their own right for the children (and us!) There is complete privacy, yet one lives close to all the necessary amenities in the historic, peaceful town of Sovicille: supermarket, pharmacy, playground, soccer pitch ... restaurants. Sovicille is also on the edge of a beautiful forest, with endless walking and cycling paths, and our walks regularly took us past the wonderful Trecciano winery and vineyards - Chianti on the doorstep to complement the evening's dining!

In this gem of a villa, located perfectly to visit the many beautiful Tuscan towns, like Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra, Montalcino, Pienza, not to mention Florence, Pisa, Perugia/Assisi, the only problem is that there is so much to do, see and enjoy within a five-mile radius of your home, you'll have to either stay longer, or make a return visit to fit everything in!