Reviews of Tuscany Holiday Villa
Serena
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Customer Reviews
Overall:
Serena is located in a quiet and peaceful setting. The old church (consecrated in 1186) adjacent to the villa was very intriguing. It was lit at night, but it was not open to the public. There was a service inside on Sunday morning.
Enjoyed Most:
The quiet and peace. The bathrooms were clean and convenient.
Unpleasant Surprises:
Comments from previous travelers had made us aware that the living - kitchen area was small for four adults. The kitchen was sparsely furnished, and there was no conventional or microwave oven... only a cooktop. The heat system was programmed to our specifications by the owner when we arrived. We were not able to make any adjustments after that... even when we returned to the villa early one day due to rain, and the villa was cold. It was not comfortable until the program turned on the system.
Surrounding Area:
We didn't spend much time in the house, because we made day trips to Montalcino, Siena, Asciano, Volterra, and Pienza.
Tips or Restaurants:
The osteria in nearby Ville di Corsano had delicious evening meals.
Robert, October, 2009
Overall:
We had a wonderful relaxing break - it was everything we could ever have imagined.
Enjoyed Most:
The beautiful views over the surrounding countryside
Unpleasant Surprises:
Having to leave.
Surrounding Area:
Walking into town and enjoying the views. Also good proximity to many local attractions.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Ville di Corsano is within walking distance. There is also another small village Rada a little further in the other direction where there is a good restaurant - the owner is very friendly and they have a very cool dog.
Tips or Restaurants:
Buy dish detergent before you arrive.
Christine, May, 2008
Overall:
We enjoyed it very much.
Enjoyed Most:
The location in the country with the church next door, and the fine way the owner had remodeled the hay loft for the use of visitors staying in the community. The roses, the iris, the poppies, the setting in the rolling hills.
Unpleasant Surprises:
Getting out of the driveway onto the main road, was very hard to see. The resident dog was very lonesome when his master and family were not at home, and made his resentment known by barking so much my artist son had trouble concentrating.
Surrounding Area:
The rolling meadows and the villas on the tops of the green green hills.
Tips or Restaurants:
All we needed,except for food, was provided in the house.
Directions:
Direction signs in Italy are smaller than we are used to in the US, so one had to drive more slowly to be able to read them, and that is not easy in a country where drivers seem to keep their foot to the floor, curves or no curves, speed limits entirely disregarded.
Check In Out:
We left early in the day, so we notified the owner and he came to settle our account the evening before. It worked out well.
Dorothy, May, 2008
Overall:
We really enjoyed our stay. The setting is amazing. It's very peaceful and quite beautiful.
Enjoyed Most:
You really feel like you're in the country, but Siena and surrounding areas are a short car ride away.
Unpleasant Surprises:
You take your life in your hands if you try to walk anywhere on the roads. The roads are very narrow with little to no shoulder and the Italian drivers go really, really, fast.
Surrounding Area:
The views and the quiet.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Ville di Corsano is about 1 km away. While this is certainly walking distance, you would be crazy to try to walk it. It's simply too dangerous with the speeding cars and lack of a shoulder.
Samuel, March, 2008
Overall:
Really enjoyed my stay there. Would come back.
Enjoyed Most:
Peaceful and quiet. Beautiful little house. Friendly caretaker.
Unpleasant Surprises:
No washing machine inside. No dishtowels.
Surrounding Area:
Proximity from Siena.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Ville di Corsano. 1.5 km.
Tips or Restaurants:
We ate mostly in Siena. Property should be viewed as a base to visit Siena and surroundings.
Jean, March, 2008
Enjoyed Most:
The scenery and surrounding area and the quiet. We loved the friendly cats - 7 I believe - who came over to visit and hang out with us in the garden from the caretakers house.
Unpleasant Surprises:
Kitchen was too small to do much, and the living room was too small for 4 persons. I had to carry the chair from the upstairs landing down the spiral staircase to provide seating for us each in the living room. Kitchen supplied only one medium frying pan. One burner on stove didn't work and caretaker was unable to fix it. Made cooking a challenge a few nights when we needed 4 burners going.
Surrounding Area:
The isolation and quiet and beauty of the scenery.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Definitely NOT walking distance. Unless you like long walks. Ville de Corsana is the nearest village but doesn't offer grocery or stores. Monterossa D'Arbia is further but offers food shopping. Radda was 4 miles from the house.
Tips or Restaurants:
The little pizzeria restaurant on the "main" street in Ville de Corsana had a terrific restaurant in back. We ate there twice for dinner and were impressed both times with the food.
Bonnie, September, 2007
Overall:
We really enjoyed our month stay. The owner was very gracious and the villa was a little small for 4 of us, but comfortable.
Enjoyed Most:
The views from all the windows were beautiful especially the one from the upstairs bathroom! The owner and his family were very gracious and always ready to help. We loved eating dinners in the outside patio area and enjoyed attending mass at the church.
Unpleasant Surprises:
Too hot in summer even with the small fan that was provided. When you sleep with windows open, there are a lot of bugs. The living room area is a little small. There were 4 of us and it would have been nice to have a small sofa and 2 chairs rather than the 4 small chairs. The downstairs bed was not very comfortable.
Surrounding Area:
Ville di Corsano had a great restaurant Osteria with a wonderful antipasto bar. The Bottega market was very convenient and had everything you could ever need. It was nice to be so close to Siena. The area is so beautiful with picture postcard views at every turn! Loved seeing the grapes turn from green to purple!
Nearby Events or Locales:
Ville di Corsano was about a 15 minute walk.
Tips or Restaurants:
If you come in the summer, bring bug spray. The Osteria in Ville di Corsano and also the one in Rada were both very good.
Debra, August, 2007
Overall:
This was our second stay in the Siena area in the last three years. Both places lived up to the description and value that Rent Villas stated in their descriptions and evaluations. We would unequivocally continue to recommend Rentvillas.com.
Enjoyed Most:
Location and privacy. An added attraction was a Romanesque church built in eleventh century less than 40 feet from our door. The church hosted a wedding the afternoon of our arrival. We were able to walk to Mass Sunday morning. The view was spectacular.
Unpleasant Surprises:
There was nothing that was unpleasant. The dust from the nearby dirt road was bothersome at times, but not enough for us to not want to return. We were a good 20 minutes from Siena, but again, not a negative issue that influences returning.
Surrounding Area:
The views were spectacular. The distance to a grocery store or restaurant was further than we expected, but not a major concern.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The nearest town was at least three miles away.
Tips or Restaurants:
The adventure of discovering where to buy food and where to eat makes recommending places unnecessary
Don, July, 2007
Enjoyed Most:
The views are spectacular, and the place is part of the local, rural community.
Unpleasant Surprises:
A little small, but big enough for 2. Minor gripes: kitchen knives need sharpening or replacement, downstairs lighting needs improvement.
Surrounding Area:
It's glorious. Great walking area, easy driving on back roads to great views and hiking.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Ville de Corsano is about 1.5 km on an easy road.
Tips or Restaurants:
Buy food before arriving if coming in on Saturday night, since many places are closed on Sunday, and it's a long way to a major town. The local market is very adequate and also has a nice wine and liquor assortment. It can get cold in Tuscany in October, and heating is not allowed til November, so it can get chilly. The fireplace helps, and we found extra blankets in the chest downstairs.
Check In Out:
The caretaker is great...and has limited English ability, so practice your Italian!
Gary, October, 2006
Overall:
A quiet, peaceful haven of our own from which to explore Tuscany.
Enjoyed Most:
This is the perfect romantic little spot for two people with a rental car. We enjoyed the wonderful views from every window and fixed simple meals to enjoy outside with local wine.
Unpleasant Surprises:
Nothing - we loved it all!
Surrounding Area:
Conveniently located to Siena and many Tuscan hill towns. Also a short drive to Florence and a longer drive to Cinque Terre.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The village is called Ville de Corsano, about a 15 minute walk to the center and perfect to get a cappucino, mail a postcard, or pick up some needed supplies. The walk home after dark with fireflies in the olive trees and the vision of the lighted church to beckon us home was lovely.
Tips or Restaurants:
The rental is furnished with nice bedding and towels, but you need to bring laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo, etc. The restaurant in town, Osteria, has great food (the best pizza I've ever tasted) and many other great dishes. Also, meet the guy in town who bottles his own wine and olive oil; he has a sign and you can visit his Etruscan caves!
Check In Out:
Guillano doesn't speak much English, but we were able to manage with sign language and smiles. He is very helpful when needed, but left us to enjoy the privacy of our own place too.
Laurie, July, 2006
Overall:
The survey may not impart this, but the house, surrounding area, and overall stay was awesome. We were very pleased with the house, the property manager, and most everything about the place. It's very nice after moving around Italy for a long time to stop and make a few meals at our own property, and to relax. The manager and his family, by the way, are very accommodating and responded to all requests for wood for a fire, laundry use, more heat - with attention and a great attitude.
Enjoyed Most:
The location and resulting scenery was unbelievable. In a small, out of the way village with rolling vineyards, etc. And still able to see Siena in the distance.
Unpleasant Surprises:
Not too much to complain about - everything excellent. The heat, however, was almost nonexistent the first night. After talking with property manager this was corrected, with apologies, for the remaining nights.
Surrounding Area:
Everything. Especially all of the thermal baths hot springs in Southern Tuscany.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Ville Corsano was a very short drive and is a very nice small town with small market and restaurant. The nearest town of note was Monteroni D'Arbia which is a 5 minute drive and contained a nice Coop supermarket to supply the house.
Tips or Restaurants:
Buy food at the Coop in Monteroni before checking in on Saturday or things will be closed. Bring an audio setup or laptop if you want electronic entertainment.
Directions:
Not so much for the property, but for directions when driving around Tuscany, always check your maps. Signs are abundant which point to a relevant town in different directions - both may be right but you may end up going a very long, slow way.
Check In Out:
Property manager very helpful - excellent.
Paul, January, 2006
Overall:
It appears that the proprietors are working on an area outside which looks like it could be a patio for the villa, if they are and it is that, than that is all this great little gem could use.
Enjoyed Most:
The area was very good, close but not too close to many lovely villages, Siena was 10 minutes away. The historic church beside us was very lovely and added to the overall atmosphere. The villa itself was really delightful, small, and perfect for two people. The proprietors have been very thoughtful in their outfitting of the villa. They spoke no English and though helpful, I think tried to pretend we were not there, which is good and bad. There was great hiking just up the road and we discovered an old stone building and walled area in the woods that has very curious - could it be an old castle wall?
Unpleasant Surprises:
The outside area for us was the only weakness to the property, though having the church beside us was neat. The area for sitting outside was a very small area and not all the interesting.
Surrounding Area:
Great jumping-off point to see Central Tuscany, interesting and beautiful scenery.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Ville De Corsano is the nearest town with a great restaurant.
Tips or Restaurants:
We read your suggestions and they were helpful, The property so well equipped - even a shoe shine kit - that we really had everything we could want.
Kathy, October, 2005
Overall:
Based on our experience, which includes a fair amount of travel and rather high standards, we considered this property to be of terrific value, and worth a very high recommendation. By the way, the pictures on the web-site do not do the property justice.
Enjoyed Most:
We were grateful for the peaceful location, kindness of the proprietor and comfort of the villa. It is situated next to a quaint stone church and is very private. The proprietor left us to enjoy our privacy, while he was also friendly and available if we needed any assistance. The interior was clean, well renovated in Tuscan style and with modern conveniences. We were thankful for the well-equipped kitchen including a drinking water tap with a natural source of spring water, the strong shower with large bath towels, and the king size bed with big comfortable pillows. The views from the windows were of peaceful rolling farmland. The garden was equipped with a private sitting area beneath olive trees and next to rose, rosemary and lavender bushes, providing a delightful place to rest in the evening sun. We were fortunate to find the cherry tree in the garden bearing ripe fruit. Finally, the subtle exterior lighting on the church during the night was enchanting.
Unpleasant Surprises:
There was nothing that we did not like about the property. It is a fantastic country retreat that is conveniently located for touring throughout the Tuscany region.
Surrounding Area:
The surrounding area provided spectacular views of rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards. We felt as though we were just far enough from Siena to be truly in the countryside, although we were only 10 minutes by car to Siena. We also found the area south of Siena where the property is located to be much more peaceful and less touristy than in other directions around Siena.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The nearest town was Ville di Corsano which was about 1.5 km away, and was a great place for a local dinner.
Tips or Restaurants:
My primary suggestion would be to bring a good map once you are in Ville di Corsano which is easy to find on a detailed map, it is a breeze to find the property. The trick for us was getting to the town. Also, if you like to cook and seek quality and value, shop for food and wine at a COOP grocery store chain, which is where we believe the locals shop. The nearest COOP is in Monteroni dArbia, about 8 km east of the villa.
Check In Out:
Not a single problem.
Jack, June, 2005
Enjoyed Most:
The quiet country church yard setting made us feel a part of the countryside. The owner spoke just enough English and I spoke just enough Italian to make communicating fun.
Unpleasant Surprises:
There was nothing we didn't like, except having to leave at the end of the week.
Surrounding Area:
We visited in late October, and the surrounding fields had be prepped for the winter. The fields had a baren beauty about them as we traveled the nearly deserted winding roads. Everywhere we looked we could see lines of trees on the curving hills forming the horizon.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The nearest village, Ville di Corsano, was about 2 km distant. We used the small store there to stock up on fruits and local cheeses. The big hit with us was the small restauarant in town. From the outside it looked like a NYC pizza parlor , but once wwe stepped in, the owner showed us to a cozy dining room in the rear where we enjoyed great local food and wine. We returned two more times in the next week and even joined in on a birthday party for one of the local town people. Thank God our English to Italian phrase book helped us to say Happy Birthday in Italian.
Tips or Restaurants:
The property provided everything we needed for our week stay, with the exception of dishwashing detergent, which we found easily in the local store. My wife was a little confused by the Italian-style coffee maker with water in the bottom and coffee in the middle. You just put on the stove and wait for the top to fill with coffee.
Tom, October, 2004
Overall:
A delightful property. The renovations are modern, well done & look good. We were there in a heat wave (mid 30's plus) but the thick walls plus good shutter & window management kept the house comfortable. The garden was very pleasant under the olive trees in the early morning & evening. In the afternoon the garden receives full sun & was hot.
Enjoyed Most:
The location. The cluster of church/farm buildings is very special. The views west & north from the second floor are very pleasant. The owners & caretaker were very friendly but left us in peace.
Unpleasant Surprises:
Farmers in nearby fields have explosive bird-scaring devices.
Surrounding Area:
The dirt road from the house, through the oakwoods to a monastery, was perfect for running. The winding roads were a joy to drive (both paved & dirt).
Nearby Events or Locales:
Montalcino was special. We went there on the back roads through Murlo. Saw several eagles and bought some bottles of the Brunello in Montalcino. The lime trees were in flower and the air of most villages & towns carried their honeysuckle-like scent.
Tips or Restaurants:
Learn Italian - most people we met do not speak English. Italian drivers are prairie drivers - fast on straights but slow on curves. Driving in cities was a wonderful experience.
Steve, June, 2002
Overall:
Arriving at the property, we were pleasantly surprised at just how pretty our villa was together with the lovely church.
Enjoyed Most:
The fireplace was really nice to have since we were there during October and it tended to get cool at night.
Unpleasant Surprises:
There was an issue with the hot water during our stay.
Surrounding Area:
The gorgeous scenery of Tuscany with the hills and vineyards.
Melissa, October, 2001
Overall:
We didn't know what to expect but were pleasantly surprised. This little house had everything we needed for our vacation including very modern facilities.
Enjoyed Most:
This may sound silly, but the view from the bathroom window is beautiful - the perfect Tuscan scene. The modern conveniences and updated look were very appreciated.
Our host was also very accommodating to our lack of Italian skills - dictionary in hand and all!
Unpleasant Surprises:
No complaints! We loved the fact that this property was out in the middle of the countryside - very remote.
Surrounding Area:
The surroundings were picturesque - vibrant green fields and vineyards. The nearby town had some cute little shops to explore and a convenient shopping center.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The church on the property was beautiful if you could peek in during its limited open times - wonderful history.
Tips or Restaurants:
Because the evenings were very dark in the country in March, we made our own dinners in our house - usually enjoying fresh pasta and wine that we found during our excursions.
Be sure to buy basics before shops close on Saturday before you "check in." Shops close early Saturday and are closed on Sunday.
Joanne, March, 2001
Overall:
It was much nicer than it appeared in the photos. We
really enjoyed our week here, and would go back again.
Enjoyed Most:
Very clean, nicely decorated, very well equipped (real towels!). The
surrounding area was very beautiful and peaceful. The landlord was very
nice--though he didn't speak much English.
Unpleasant Surprises:
Not too many restaurants
nearby.
Surrounding Area:
The natural beauty of the
landscape. The cemetery nearby. And, of course, the church that was part of
the property. We got to see a wedding while we were there.
Dante, June, 2000