Testimonials

Most guests leave comments on intermediary sites, such as VRBO/Home Away, Airbnb, Booking.com or GoogleBusiness (on Google Maps as “il Poggiolo Tuscany – Bucine”). A  selection is listed here below.

CASA COLONICA (2023): We had a great stay in il Poggiolo (Casa Colonica). Beautiful place and view. Very kind and informative host. Everything perfectly organised, very complete kichen and equipment. Sara, thank you! (Bart, via Airbnb, August 2023)

CASA COLONICA (2023): Sara and Allen’s Tuscan Villa was a wonderful delight. It was even bigger than we thought. It was also very clean and organized and decorated in a authentic Tuscan style! Very well thought out for all the amenities from the kitchen accessories to the beach towels and fans in every room! We stayed during a heat wave (mid 90 degrees) and managed to keep the house nice and cool. The A/C in the bedrooms was nice for a siesta and sleeping at night! It was also great to get to know Sara, Allen and their daughter, Kyra who helped us check in and get us acclimated with the area and provided suggestions for things to do in the area and how to keep cool during the heat wave like staying cool in the near by public pools, air conditioned restaurants and towns to explore! All helpful! Also it was very affordable to stay at the villa and in Tuscany! Absolutely beautiful area and property! Molto Grazie, Sara, Allen & Kyra! (Kristi, via Airbnb, July 2023)

CASA COLONICA (2023):  Located on top of a hill with breathtaking views, including glorious sunsets, we enjoyed the odd breeze which served to make it very pleasant to sit outside. The house itself is spacious and very well equipped, and the beds and pillows were exceptionally comfortable, resulting in the perfect night’s rest. Plenty of choice of supermarkets in nearby towns and villages (short drive by car) to keep you stocked up on supplies. Florence, Siena and Arezzo are all very accessible. The hosts were very discreet however on hand should the need arise. We had a perfect stay in Casa Colonica.
(Susan, via Booking.com, July 2023)

CASA COLONICA (2023): Perfect views from a spacious property and a warm welcome from Sara our host. A fantastic property full of charm and history. Very spacious rooms very well equipped with period furniture. Total peace and quiet up in the hills of Tuscany with excellent views. (Peter via Booking.com, June 2023)

CASA COLONICA (2023): We spent 10 glorious days at Casa Colonica il Poggiolo on the last leg of a one month stay in Italy, and we clearly saved the best for last! We were greeted by the warm and infectious smile of Sara, our host, who kindly ensured we knew where everything was in the well appointed and stocked Villa. There was also a lovely gift basket for us full of goodies that we enjoyed during our stay:) Casa Colonica is just as described, but even more beautiful in person! The inside has all the modern conveniences of home and is amazingly curated with art and furniture that magically reflects the history of the Villa and region. We especially appreciated hearing about the history of the home from our hosts, Sara and Allen and how the ceiling of the kitchen was uncovered by Allen and his family. It is spectacular! The inside of the Villa can only be trumped by the stunning landscape that surrounds the entire property. We had our own private oasis where we enjoyed early morning sunrises, a cup of coffee and serenading birds, and then glorious Tuscan sunsets each night. The Casa is perfectly situated to take short daily trips. We went to Sienna, Lucca, Cortona, Arezzo (which also has a large train station to take longer journeys), a ceramic shop in Rampini and wine and olive oil tasting in the Greve and Chianti regions nearby. Also, Bucine and Levane are towns perhaps 10 minutes from the Villa with wonderful Coops that we enjoyed shopping with the locals for fresh produce, meats, cheeses etc. Casa Colonica il Poggiolo is truly a charming place to stay that offers privacy, unobstructed Tuscan views and yet is conveniently located near wineries, olive groves, thermal baths and everything Tuscan! (Sharlene from Vancouver, May 2023)

CASA COLONICA (2022): Beautiful home and view. Perfect Tuscan house in a great location with stunning views amid grape vines and olive trees. Wonderful host who has a beautiful home and has anticipated any needs. Great location to explore Florence, Siena and Tuscany. (Jennifer, via VRBO, October 2022)

CASA COLONICA (2022): Genauso wollten wir in der Toskana Ferien erleben. Alles hat wirklich reibungslos geklappt, die Anreise war durch die Standortbeschreibung problemlos möglich. Vor Ort hat nichts gefehlt. Ein Haus mit ganz viel Atmosphäre. Man geht einfach aus dem Haus und genießt die Landschaft. Rings herum gibt’s so viele Städte, die man als Tagesausflug besuchen kann. Herrlich. Würde wieder her kommen. (Michael, via VRBO, September 2022)

CASA COLONICA (2022): An amazing location to explore the treasures of Tuscany. Access to the rail and road network made travelling easy with the villa located less than 10 minutes by car from a main road though without any intrusion visually or audibly. The villa itself was spacious, beautifully furnished and clean with an extremely well stocked kitchen. The bedrooms are dual aspect with gorgeous views from every window. Sara was a perfect host and was on hand if needed but respected our privacy. We wouldn’t hesitate to return. (Kath, direct booking, September 2022)

CASA COLONICA (2022): Nous avons passé quinze jours extrêmement agréables à la casa Colonica. La maison est grande et très confortable. Nous avons pu prendre nos repas sur la terrasse qui a une vue magnifique sur la campagne toscane. Le Poggiolo est très bien situé car il permet de faire beaucoup de visites en Toscane sans faire trop de route ou de train. Tous nos remerciements à nos hôtes qui ont été charmants et qui parlent un français parfait. Voici une belle adresse pour des vacances calmes et reposantes. Christian, direct booking, August 2022)

CASA COLONICA (2022): Perfect vacation for us! Very kind hosts provided a nice and warm welcome. Both are always approachable and very helpful. Appartement/House perfectly matches expectations. Big garden with lots of shades, fantastic evening views. 100 % quiet day and night. A great starting point for city tours, food and wine available in the neighborhood. We plan to come again! (Evelyn, via VRBO, July 2022)

CASA COLONICA (2022): Great home base for Tuscany. From our base at Casa Colonica we were able to visit conveniently a number of marvelous Tuscan villages and towns, make road trips through the magical Tuscan countryside, drive out to al fresco restaurants overlooking vineyards, and enjoy a roomy, comfortable and cool (boy was it hot in Italy during our stay) place to stay. Enthusiastic Sara was very helpful in recommending in person and through her highlighted books and maps many possible pleasing destinations for our daily trips. We visited several of her favorites, and agreed with her evaluations for Arrezo, Lucignano, Gelateria Carabe’, and others. While the closest towns, Levane and Bucine, lack charm they do have all the amenities a traveler requires, and we made use of the pasticceria in Bucine every day. Getting free still and sparkling water in Levane was fun and economical, so thanks for the tip, and the bottles, Sara.  (Patrick, via VRBO, July 2022)

CASA COLONICA (2022): A Tuscan Treasure. This is an extraordinarily welcoming villa with a splendid view of gardens, mountains, vineyards and olive groves. The house is very comfortably furnished and beautifully decorated. The kitchen had everything we needed to prepare meals. We were greeted with a basket filled with coffee, tea, wine and snacks as well as an ample supply of bottled water. We had several quite warm days during our two week stay but the house, which has very thick walls, provided a pleasant and cool environment throughout even without using the air conditioning. Sara was an extremely gracious host. She offered great suggestions for shopping, dining and touring as well as helping us to set up our Covid tests with the local pharmacy prior to returning to the US. During our stay we made several day trips in the region, took lovely walks directly from the property and relaxed to the wonderful views. (Madeleine, via VRBO, June 2022)

CASA COLONICA (2022): Plusieurs autres commentaires font déjà état, avec justesse, de la magnifique maison de Sara, de la communication facile et agréable avec nos hôtes, de la proximité de la maison avec les autres villes de Toscane. Tout ceci est exact, et nous souhaitions simplement mettre de l’avant le soin apporté par Sara dans l’aménagement de la maison, dans le choix du mobilier et dans l’ensemble des petits détails mis à la disposition des invités. On est loin ici des AirBnB génériques qu’on trouve souvent en Italie, mais bien ici dans une ancienne maison de ferme de Toscane absolument charmante et unique, où tout semble avoir été planifié pour rendre notre séjour agréable. Notre famille (avec un bébé de 10 mois) s’est sentie instantanément à la maison, et nous avons été absolument charmés par notre séjour chez Sara. Nous avions une crainte au départ de visite la Toscane en juin/juillet, compte tenu de la température élevée ; les murs de pierre bien épais, les instructions de Sara pour garder la maison fraîche nous ont permis de rester bien confortablement dans la maison, bien souvent sans air climatisé. Nos hôtes, leur maison, sont tout simplement exceptionnels, comme l’exception de l’exception. Nous repenserons souvent à notre séjour avec eux, et espérons pouvoir y revenir un jour prochain. (Olivier, via AirBnB, June 2022)

CASA COLONICA (2022): Great place, great location, perfectly equipped and super friendly host. Ideally located to visit Siena and Firenze and Arezzo. And a good place to start mountain bike trips…some great trails not far away. All in all: Highly recommended! (Tom, direct booking, June 2022)

CASA COLONICA (2022): Gorgeous property and view, amazing host! This was such a beautiful home and property! Everything was set up perfectly – the sun was hot, but the house stayed nice and cool, and there was plenty of shade and seating outside, so we never had to leave the view! Okay, we did leave a few times to visit the thermal baths, the lovely Siena, and the nearby Montevarchi, Levane and Bucine — it’s very easy to park the car in Montevarchi and hop on the train to some of the nearby cities if you don’t want to do a lot of driving! At the end of the day, this was such a wonderful and peaceful place to come home to. Everything was set up perfectly and furnished so nicely – the kitchen has everything you need to cook, and there is plenty of indoor and outdoor space for dining. We also had to do a bit of work, and wifi was good for email and Zoom calls! Our host was wonderful and kind from the moment I booked the place. She had excellent recommendations, and made us welcome, comfortable and at home. This was an amazing stay, and I would 100% recommend to family and friends – I am counting the days until I can return! I am in Florence now, which is wonderful, but I have to say, I am missing the peacefulness and the beauty of the Tuscan hills! (Erine, via VRBO, May 2022)

CASA COLONICA (2022): Sara provided a carefree holidayhome. The house was very well equipped. Sara literally thought of everything you will need and beyond that. We enjoyed our stay in this beautiful authentic tuscan house. A real atmospheric house, with a large garden and a nice view over the hills. There are also lots of books with a wealth of information about Tuscany and things to do. Sara was very friendly and helpful. Thank you for an unforgettable time in Tuscany. (Dirk, via VRBO, May 2022)

CASA COLONICA (2021): A dream of a place on top of a small hill (Poggiolo), a strategic location – a stone’s throw from all major sights in Tuscany. A beautiful house with a wonderful view over the area. Having breakfast in the garden, taking in the morning light and the panorama is a joy… The hosts are warm and attentive and know everything about the area, its art, architecture and history. (Claude, direct booking, September 2021

FIENILE (2021): Wunderbare Gegend,Ruhe,Unterkunft und Gastgeber sehr empfehlenswert! Kurz und gut Wir verlebten einen sehr angenehmen und erholsamen Urlaub.Es hat alles gepasst-sehr saubere Unterkunft,geschmackvolle Einrichtung,sehr sauber,alles vorhanden,was man braucht ….sehr angenehme,unaufdringliche,freundliche und hilfsbereite Gastgeber Sara und Allan-kommen gerne wieder!!Danke,Sara und Allen!! Herzliche Grüße aus Germany!! (Katrin, via VRBO, August 2021)

CASA COLONICA (2021): Nous avons passé en famille 15 jours chez Sara : sa maison est magnifique et typiquement toscane. Elle est située au sommet d’une colline, en pleine nature, la vue est époustouflante. Elle garde la fraîcheur malgré la vague de chaleur mi-août. Elle est parfaitement équipée et meublée avec beaucoup de goût. Quel délice ! C’est un camp de base idéal pour visiter la toscane. Florence, Sienne, Arezzo et tous les villages typiques du coin, tout autant que pour profiter des coins de baignades et de balades. Sara nous a indiqué plein de coins supers. Quel accueil de sa part : chaleureux, prévenant et tout en discrétion. Nous avons tellement apprécié son accueil. Un grand merci de nous 4 pour ce magnifique séjour. (Christophe, via AirBnb, August 2021)

FIENILE (2021): Una piacevolissima settimana di studio in posto incantevole. Io e la mia collega Bianca abbiamo trascorso una piacevolissima settimana di studio impegnativo in questo posto incantevole, gestito da proprietari cortesi, disponibili e sempre attenti al benessere dei loro ospiti. Siamo state benissimo e contiamo di tornarci anche il prossimo anno. (Veronica, Como, direct booking, July 2021)

CASA COLONICA (2021):Super gîte en Toscane à égale distance de Florence, Sienne et Arrezo. Le lieu est magnifique, calme et très bien situé et les hôtes sont charmants. Nous revenons sans hésiter. (Sandrine, Toulouse, direct booking, July 2021)

FIENILE (2021): Casa pulita e curata in ogni dettaglio.
Ho prenotato il soggiorno con largo anticipo e la proprietaria ha avuto la premura di aggiornare la mia prenotazione tenendo conto delle mie nuove richieste e necessità.prima dell’arrivo ho ricevuto info chiare per raggiungere il luogo. Casa pulita e curata in ogni dettaglio, all’arrivo abbiamo trovato un gradevole kit di benvenuto (caffè biscotti noccioline e vino), a nostra disposizione ogni tipo di detergente, kit anti zanzare e mascherine. Il panorama e il giardino sono mozzafiato. Diversi borghi caratteristici nelle vicinanze. La proprietaria si è mostrata sempre accogliente e disponibile per ogni richiesta. Prezzo concorrenziale. Lo consiglio vivamente! (Valentina, Bergamo, direct booking, July 2021)

FIENILE (2020): Il Fienile è un posto speciale, nascosto tra ulivi e vigneti.
Abbiamo trascorso al Poggiolo una ventina di giorni con i nostri due bimbi piccoli, con la necessità di conciliare lavoro e relax, e fin dai primi momenti ci siamo sentiti a nostro agio! La casa è super accessoriata, gli spazi davvero comodi. Gli esterni bellissimi e curati. Posizione comodissima per brevi spostamenti nel cuore della Toscana: terre senesi, montagne casentine, Arezzo, Firenze, zone termali. I padroni di casa sono stati gentilissimi, attenti e disponibili, e tuttavia sempre molto discreti. Una vacanza da ricordare! (V.M., Bologna, direct booking, July 2020)

FIENILE (2019): I highly recommend Il Poggiolo if you are looking for an authentic experience in the Tuscan countryside. The location is ideal for day trips to most popular tourist sites and yet it is not in a highly tourist area. Our gracious hosts had excellent tips on how to get around, where to park, and recommendations for local places to enjoy delicious Italian food. More than anything though, we enjoyed walking from the house to be surrounded by vineyards and olive orchards, seeing the local families working the harvest. A hike to the 13th century Tower of Galatrona was one of our favorite outings. The Fienile was comfortable, spacious, and had everything we needed for an a truly memorable honeymoon. (S.H. Albuquerque,  direct booking, October 2019)

FIENILE (2019): Notre expérience dans la maison en Toscane de Sara et Allen est allée au-delà de nos espérances. Le lieu est sublime, dans un décor de rêve dans la campagne toscane. La maison est parfaite, avec toutes les commodités nécessaires. Il était difficile chaque matin de quitter notre petit paradis pour aller visiter la région. Bien que Sara n’était pas sur place pendant notre séjour, les échanges se sont toujours bien passés avec elle, avant et pendant le séjour. Elle nous avait même offert un magnifique panier de bienvenue. Les house-sitters furent vraiment accueillants et ils ont su répondre à nos questions à tous moments. Je recommande à 200% un échange avec Sara. Vous serez certainement charmés par le lieu et la gentillesse de l’hôte. Merci énormément Sara et Allen ainsi qu’à vos house-sitters Toni et Kent. (R.Latour, Montréal – Home Exchange testimonial, September 2019)

CASA COLONICA (2019): I can barely put into words how peaceful and rejuvenating our vacation at Il Poggiolo was, but I am going to try, because we are so grateful. We could not have asked for a better spot to get our breath back after a difficult year! Just enjoying our aperativi and dinner every evening in the gorgeous garden overlooking the stunning views of green hills, vineyards, olive groves and that medieval tower would have been special enough, but the fact that the spacious house has *everything* made it so comfortable. It stays so cool even during the hottest days – we never even needed the fans. (And I was so appreciative of the screens – not always present in Italy! – to keep the house mosquito-free.) The kitchen is better equipped than my own, which made preparing our meals so easy — the grocery stores were so simple to get to as well. And we loved Gelateria Mariani in Montevarchi! On a personal note, traveling with a toddler can be especially difficult, but the night-lights, potty, washing machine, child-gate at the top of the stairs, and the toy-chest and videos which kept him busy and happy the entire week — that made all the difference to *our* enjoyment. You thought of everything! Our day trips to Florence and Siena were so close and easy — and it was such an absolute relief to come home to Poggiolo after a long day in a city, to sit outside and unwind with some Prosecco or in the hammock. (“It’s a great day for hammocking!” said our little guy every day, ha!). Il Poggiolo is such a special space – historic but also fully equipped, comfortable and tasteful – we felt like we were really in the true Italy, but still as comfortable as at home.Thank you so much for all your kind help and information about the area, and making everything so clear and easy in the house. We cannot wait to come back…. Is it next year yet? (S & P Heltzel, direct booking for a stay in June 2019)

CASA COLONICA (2019): The owners are as awesome as the place! The house had everything you could possibly need with a welcome basket to get you started. It had a feeling of a “home” rather than a house. The owners are great too. Sad to leave. (S & T, Home Away testimonial, June 2019).

CASA COLONICA (2019): Accueil extrêmement chaleureux et cordial par nos hôtes. Point de vue très impressionnant sur les montagnes et les vignobles, terrasse agréable et bien aménagée, intérieur spacieux et confortable, décoration soignée, cuisine très bien équipée. (Gabrielle C. via Booking, May 2019).

FIENILE (2018): A tranquil stay in beautiful Tuscany. Our family of 4 spent a week in mid-August relaxing in the Fienile in lovely Il Poggiolo, situated in the heart of Tuscany and surrounded by beautiful vistas and vineyards. Being weary New Yorkers, we wanted a quiet and peaceful sanctuary that was also conveniently located. The Montevarchi train station, which is a short 35 minute-ride to Florence, is 10 mins away by car. We also explored nearby towns such as Siena, Chianti, and Arezzo, which are all within an hour’s drive. But part of the pleasure of staying at Il Poggiolo is that you don’t always have to be out doing something. We also enjoyed staying put and simply soaking up our surroundings. There are walking trails from the house that take you along nearby vineyards. The house itself is spacious, clean and very well-equipped and if you need groceries, there’s a large COOP supermarket in Montevarchi that has practically everything. We happened to be there during a heat wave but even without air conditioning, the house gets a cool breeze especially at night. The hosts, who live next door, are warm and friendly but never obtrusive. We left Il Poggiolo wishing we could have stayed longer… (Therese D. via Home Away/VRBO, August 2018)

FIENILE (2018): Il Poggiolo is a jewell of a property. The house has a superb layout, the amenities were excellent, perfectly clean and functional. The setting of the property is absolutely dreamy – with endless views over the surrounding valleys, sprinkled with vineyards, cyprus trees and rolling hills – accompanied by the musical sound of chirping birds and the sounds of silence ! The sunsets and evenings – a glass of cold Chianti at hand – were all that demanding Tuscan lovers could ever ask for and more. Sara and Allen – our neighbours who take care of the property – were as gracious and warm as you could ever ask for not to say their exquisitely cultured background which so enriched our stay. And that quaint nearby restaurant, that they recommended, served the best pizzas we have ever, ever eaten ! My wife and I cannot but give our very highest praise and rating of Il Poggiolo and of our hosts. We have travelled the world quite extensively and in our holidays – as we do work hard – we are quite demanding. (Marcelo b. Home Away testimonial for a stay in July 2018)

CASA COLONICA (2018): With stunning views over hills and valleys in central Tuscany this wonderful villa surpassed our expectations. Our hosts Sara and Allen were very pleasant and helpful with advice on local restaurants,activities,walks,transport to all those wonderful Tuscan Towns and Cities. To be able to visit the attractions of Florence,Siena Arezzo,etc,etc for the day and be back in the serenity of this quite cool and well appointed villa in the evenings to watch a spectacular sunset with a glass of wine are lifelong memories.We have no hesitation in recommending this Villa to prospective visitors. We will be back! (Ian H. VRBO testimonial for a stay in June 2018)

FIENILE (2017): Perfect location for exploring Tuscany! Il Poggiolo is a perfectly and carefully restored old building, now equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay. Everything is clean , the kitchen equipment absolutely complete and in perfect conditions. Nice places to sit outside, beautiful surroundings. Firenze (by train), Arezzo, Siena and the other highlights of Tuscany can easily be reached. The communication with the owners before and during our stay was intense and always helpful. Kyra, the owner´s daughter was always available,friendly, communicative and extremely helpful with her suggestions and finding solutions for some minor problems. We will gratefully remember this wonderful stay at Il Poggiolo. Thank you very much to the whole Grieco family! (Hans Peter K., Home Away testimonial for a stay in Oct. 2017)

FIENILE (2017): Perfect! Il Poggiolo was the perfect location for our stay in Tuscany! We stayed with another couple in the Fienile home and found it comfortable and equipped with everything we could possibly need. The setting and location are fabulous and we enjoyed time relaxing in the various seating areas outside. From start to finish, Sara and Allen communicated all the details we needed to enjoy our stay. We found ourselves asking many times, “What did Sara say about (fill in the blank)” and her green information book always had the answer! We appreciated the attention to detail! We would highly recommend this location to anyone considering a stay in Tuscany. (Lloya F., Home Away testimonial for a stay in Sept-Oct 2017)

CASA COLONICA (2017): A Fantastic Tuscan Vacation ! Casa Colonica was everything my wife and I fantasized about for a vacation to Tuscany.It is ideally situated for day jaunts to innumerable beautiful and historic towns and villages. Florence is only 40 min by car (a must for this area) or a train from the nearby town of Montevarchi. The apartment is on two floors in a large yellow house on top of a secluded Tuscan hill with beautiful views down to the countryside. My favorite view from inside the house was looking out of a small iron-grated window halfway down the stairs from the bedrooms. The window frames a typical Tuscan prospective of steep hills and a small vineyard and hill-top castle. It is reminded me of a Renaissance painting. The thick walls and high ceilings kept the rooms cool as long as the shutters were closed during the day to block the sun. While there was no air conditioning and the weather was unusually hot for June, we slept well on very comfortable beds with cool cross breezes helped by floor fans in each room. The ample sized rooms are uncluttered and beautifully furnished with solid, well-crafted cabinets and furniture. The kitchen is large with a gas stove and very well stocked for cooking. The appliances were in excellent shape. (Although with the abundance of delicious and reasonably priced restaurants in the towns and villages nearby, we did little cooking other than simple breakfasts). Water-pressure is very good and plenty of hot water. Sara our host and her husband Allen were very friendly, informative and accommodating, helpful but in no way intrusive. Sara is an American who has lived in Italy for many years and Allen is a native Florentine who speaks flawless English. The rental cost, we felt, was very reasonable considering the quality of the accommodations. With the favorable Euro/dollar exchange when we went, it was a bargain. Overall Casa Colonica was the ideal house for an ideal vacation and we look forward to returning. Recommended for: Families with Young Children, Sightseeing, Adventure Seekers, Age 55+, Romantic Getaway. ( Stan K., VRBO testimonial for a stay in June 2017)

FIENILE (2017): Fantastic! I stayed with my family at Poggiolo / Montevarchi and it was fantastic. The location is perfect to move around Tuscany as it is just 30 – 40 minutes away from Florence, Siena, San Giminiano, etc Every sunset was espectacular, the views over the wineyards are beautiful The condo is very well equipped with all kind of housewares Sara (the owner) was very helpful to organize the trip, ready to provide answers and advices. Hope we can return soon. (Pablo G., Home Away testimonial for a stay in July 2017)

CASA COLONICA (2017): Off The Beaten Path… This was our third visit to Il Poggiolo which continued to make us feel at home in the beautiful hills of Tuscany. Sara and Allen are warm and welcoming hosts–the house is very comfortable and well equipped–a lovely basket of Italian goodies was waiting for us when we arrived–we loved eating dinner outdoors where we had a great view of the countryside at sunset. There are a lot of beautiful villages to visit and cultural sites to explore.Recommended for: Sightseeing, Girls Getaway, Adventure Seekers, Age 55+, Romantic Getaway. (Bobbie, VRBO testimonial for a stay in 2017)

FIENILE (2017):  Doesn’t get better than this! Sara warned us that the weather might be cool and rainy when we planned our visit in March, but it was clear and sunny and spring-like every day, the cherries and almonds were in bloom, and the crowds in Florence were much more manageable than in the summer. It’s so helpful to have hosts who are both Italians (with an intimate knowledge of local sights and customs) and Americans (no language barrier, and lots of insight into quirks and pitfalls of travelers.) The apartment (Fienile) is GORGEOUS, with every comfort from fluffy oversized towels to exceptional water pressure, indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy and a big, well-stocked kitchen. Il Poggiolo sits atop a hill, with dramatic views of the surrounding vineyards and olive groves, a secluded getaway yet only a few minutes to the train station (with free parking) for a quick trip in to Florence. An hour in any direction by car gets you to someplace spectacular – Siena, Lucca, Pisa, Florence – or with a bit more driving, Deruta, the coast, or Bologna. It feels both like “the middle of nowhere” and “the middle of everything”. A week was much too short! Grazie tante, Sara ed Allan! (Guy P., Trip Advisor Review for a stay in March 2017)

CASA COLONICA (2016): Absolument Merveilleux. Nous avons réservé pour 1 semaine la CASA COLONICA chez Sara. L’accueil est formidable. Sara nous attendait avec impatience et nous a fait visité les lieux et la propriété. C’est un ensemble de maison perché sur une colline “toscane”. les maisons ont été entièrement restaurées en respectant totalement l’esprit toscan. La vue est absolument merveilleuse depuis la terrasse de la Casa Colonica sur la campagne Toscane. C’est très sauvage et au petit matin, nous avons vu des chevreuils et des sangliers se promenaient dans les champs. Sara est toujours présente pour nous guidée et nous aidée à gérer la maison ou nos visites et nous a conseillé sur plusieurs visites. Les enfants ont été enchantées car ils ont découverts la campagne et un paysage idyllique. la maison est très bien équipée et rien n’a manqué durant le séjour. Un seul défaut : nous n’avons pas pu emporté la maison dans les valises….. Merci Sara pour ta gentillesse, ton accueil, tes conseils et ton sourire. Promis nous reviendrons. (Vanessa from Bordeaux, Trip Advisor Review for a stay in Aug. 2016).

FIENILE (2016): Beautiful stay. Relaxing, but central to everything. Four of us stayed on this beautiful knob of a hill in a lovely converted barn (but really, I could see no evidence of barn). The home was quite comfortable, the kitchen very well stocked, and the hosts were our friends by trip’s end. The home is near the Prada Outlet if that’s your thing; near more remote hill towns; near the A1 for speeding to other areas; near grocery stores (you have to drive), and very near to nature. (Mary Anna, Trip Advisor Review for a stay in Oct. 2016)

CASA COLONICA (2016): Casa fantastica e attrezzata, paesaggio mozzafiato e infinita cortesia della proprietaria. La casa è immersa nel verde della Toscana. E’ molto grande ed è provvista di tutto il necessario!Non ci sono rumori ed è molto fresca. La cortesia dei proprietari ha aggiunto un tocco di benessere al nostro soggiorno. Bellissima casa coloniale, tenuta molto bene. Ci torneremo sicuramente! (Sara C. Trip Advisor Review for a stay in July 2016)

FIENILE (2016) : Super Tuscany felt like home. We enjoyed Beautiful views and a memorable stay at Il Poggiolo. We shared a few days here with our dear friends. We were very happy with our room and accommodations. We had a well-equipped kitchen, which we cooked in each night. Il Poggiolo is near Florence, Arezzo, Siena and many other day excursions. Our hosts, Sara and Allen, were so kind and thoughtful. We look forward to visiting again. (Trip Advisor Member, for a stay in October 2016)

CASA COLONICA (2016): Posto meraviglioso. Sono stata in questa struttura dal 20 al 28 luglio 2016 in quanto frequentavo la settimana intensiva della scuola di specializzazione in pedagogia clinica Isfar. L’alloggio era vicino alla sede di studio e raggiungibile in 10 minuti a piedi. Posto stupendo immerso nel verde, struttura pulitissima, ordinata, dotata di ogni comfort con una cucina ben attrezzata in ogni sua parte. Eravamo in 5 quattro adulti e una bambina, casa spaziosa con un arredamento di alto livello. Accoglienza e cordialità davvero speciali da parte della proprietaria. Posto consigliatissimo. (Silvia T., Trip Advisor Review for a stay in July 2016)

FIENILE  (2016): A place to unwind and recharge with breathtaking views and extraordinary hospitality! I had the pleasure of spending a long weekend here in mid-July and by the end of the weekend I felt so recharged. Coming from a hectic work week here in Florence, the Fienile house was just what I needed. This home is located on a very beautiful piece of property. The house itself is a spacious 3 bedroom/2 bathroom home and the big kitchen has all the gear necessary to make some delicious meals. Personally, my favorite time was spent enjoying the evening view from the patio, watching the sunset while enjoying a cold glass of wine and some local goodies. There is beautiful su n room perfect for entertaining and a great place to chat while enjoying a spectacular view. Even in the heat of July, I was able to stay cool under the trees and the inside temperature was always nice. I got to sleep in the ground floor room and I was very comfortable, I loved the skylight in the room. I didn’t have to worry about mosquitoes while I slept, as there were screens on all the windows. Something that is not a common amenity here in Italy. Everything was so clean and comfy and all the kitchen items seemed brand new. I have a lot of allergies so I appreciated that everything was dust free and accommodating to those who are very sensitive to dust and harsh cleaning products. I enjoyed my time away from the overcrowded streets of Florence, walking around in nature and taking my time to soak up all the clean country air and Tuscan sun. There are many places around to hike and explore and the little town of Montevarchi can easily be reached by car. It’s a perfect to location between Florence and Sienna as well as the other small towns in the Chianti area. You can’t go wrong – this is an real gem run by wonderful people. So if you want to take a warm memory home from your travels – you’ll easily make many here! (Taylor Z. Trip Advisor Review for a stay in July 2016)

FIENILE (2016):  Un posto da sognare e per sognare. Sono stata una settimana a luglio per motivi di studio (corso ISFAR) e devo dire che è la mia permanenza è stata piacevolissima: ero, con altre ragazze, vicinissima alla sede del corso; il fienile è spazioso, confortevole (cucina super attrezzata!), bagni nuovissimi, arredato con stile (luci soffuse, lampade, candele, colori ed elementi naturali), una biblioteca fornitissima di libri in italiano, inglese e francese, videoteca, la disponibilità al collegamento internet, e davvero molto pulito (biancheria profumata, morbida, avvolgente). Al mattino presto nel giardino si potevano vedere scoiattoli e alla sera caprioli. La sig.ra Sara, la proprietaria, è molto accogliente, simpatica, discreta… una persona con la quale scambiare piacevoli chiacchierate all’ombra di qualche albero secolare. Il prossimo anno ci tornerò per il corso ma spero anche con la mia famiglia ed amici! (Isabella, Trip Advisor Review for a stay in July 2016)

CASA COLONICA (2015): Bliss in Tuscany! My wife I enjoyed 5 glorious nights in the heart of Tuscany in August 2015. Some highlights for us: 1. The tomatoes, grapes, apples, peaches and pears were all in peak season 2. We were about an hour away from everywhere we wanted to go (Siena, Florence) but on a couple of the days we didn’t go anywhere – we just wanted to be quiet and relaxed 3. We ran all through the countryside on dirt roads, up to a tower, through vineyards, it was nothing short of magical 4. Sara and Allen were welcoming and incredible: a stocked kitchen awaited us, linens that smelled like they had been dried in a summer breeze, the house spotless 5. There was a great community library that we took advantage of in the house and a bunch of board games too 6. The local grocery store was huge and had fantastic selections so we didn’t eat out except for once during our 6 days – we chose to go “home” and eat there It was everything we hoped that Tuscany would be. Added bonus: even though it was high 30’s outside the house stayed cool and breezy without air conditioning. (JD from Austin, VRBO #207356 l. Date of Stay:  Aug. 2015)

FIENILE (2015):  Excellent base to explore Tuscany. My wife and I rented Fienile at il Poggiolo with our two grown boys. We also had an Italian cousin stay with us. The house was very roomy and especially the kitchen. It was stocked with everything we needed to cook and enjoy our meals, wine, etc.. It was a very welcome place to come “home” to after drives in the Chianti hills and visits to Florence. The train station in Montevarchi had free parking and it was only a few euros to Florence. Sara was wonderful and was very eager to share her knowledge of the area and assist us with anything we needed. There were some basic supplies when we arrived so we didn’t need to go to the store the evening we arrived. There is a wonderful supermarket in Montevarchi. Sara had two baskets filled with brochures and maps of various towns in the region, and there were some guide books as well in her nicely stocked library. We really appreciated having this resource. Late afternoons and evenings were beautiful and there were nice views of the surrounding hills and the sunset, and plenty of room to sit outside. We would love to return and highly recommend staying in the spacious Fienile at il Poggiolo. Thanks Sara for a wonderful and memorable stay and all your great hospitality!!! Peters family, St. Louis, Missouri. (Adrian P., Home Away # 202254, Date of stay: July 2015)

FIENILE (2015):  The perfect place to stay in Tuscany. Sara and Alan’s beautiful villa made a wonderful home base as we toured Tuscany. It was the perfect size for my husband and I, and 3 adult children. The villa had lovely historic touches but with all the modern updates and was very well equipped. Sara’s welcome book includes everything that you could think of to make the visit go smoothly. And Sara, Alan and their daughter Kyra couldn’t have been nicer. Wish we could go back next year! (Marla R. Home Away # 202254. Date of stay: June 2015)

FIENILE (2015):  Stunning location with knowledgeable hosts! My brother, sister and I stayed for four nights in Il Poggiolo. What a wonderful time! The guest house used to be the barn, and it’s all been beautifully renovated. Our hosts Sara and Alan are both professors – Sara of art history, and Alan of the history of food! They were so helpful in pointing out all of their favorite locations in Florence for us to visit. Il Poggiolo is in the middle of the most picturesque Tuscan countryside. Long, dirt roads lead through rolling olive and grape vineyards. One day, Sara dropped us off near Mercatale, a tiny town 15 minutes away. From there, we walked to a giant, medieval watchtower that stood tall and imposing from everywhere nearby. It was a gentle hike, under an hour, and had the most spectacular views of Tuscany. On the way back, we stopped in one of Mercatale’s three coffee shops and got a cappuccino for the walk home. I will never forget this trip, and If I ever go back to Tuscany, I will definitely stay at Il Poggiolo again! It was a home away from home. (Caitlin & Alec – Concord, Massachusetts, Reviewed on Trip Advisor, Date of stay: April 2015)

CASA COLONICA (2014): La dolce vita!!! Nous avons beaucoup apprécié l’accueil et le grand sens de l’hospitalité de Sara et Allan. Ce sont des hôtes disponibles et avec plein de petites attentions (beau panier d’accueil, invitation à un 5 à 7 à leur domicile et à se joindre à une fête de village). Nous avons trouvé fort intéressant d’échanger avec eux. Ils ont su nous faire partager leur passion de l’histoire et de la culture italienne. La Casa Colonica , où nous avons séjourné, est une vielle maison de campagne qui a été restaurée. Elle est spacieuse, bien entretenue et très confortable. La cuisine est particulièrement bien équipée. Elle est située entre les montagnes des Apennins et celles du Chianti. Le paysage extérieur est enchanteur. Les couchers de soleil sont superbes. En dépit de l’absence de climatisation, la maison reste fraîche l’été en raison de ses murs de pierres et du vent provenant des montagnes. Elle est située à proximité des régions de Sienne, Florence, Arezzo, Chianti… Toutefois, il faut savoir que les routes sinueuses rendent les temps de déplacement plus long notamment en suivant les indications des GPS. La gare de Montevarchi est une alternative intéressante et à proximité pour accéder aux principales villes. Aucun doute que les amateurs de la campagne Toscane y trouveront un lieu merveilleux de vacances. (Angela R., VRBO #207356. Date of Stay:  July 2014)

FIENILE (2014) : Wonderful hilltop Villa in central Tuscany. Fabulous!! My wife and I enjoyed two weeks in this beautiful restored Villa. As an architect, I appreciate the respect shown for the original structure in the restoration and we enjoyed the modern conveniences of new bathrooms, windows, kitchen etc. all done with elegant taste. The furnishing was equally well done and complemented the Villa architecture as well as one can imagine. The Owners and managers are both history professors who have obviously put their passion into creating a wonderful facility. They maintain the building and the gardens in perfect condition. The listing is well done and gives a complete description of the facility – it is well furnished with all the little things one needs for an extended stay and it would be a perfect place for a family reunion. Located near the town of Montevarchi, it is centrally located within Tuscany so we were able to conveniently visit a different historic hill town each day: Bucine, Logo, Pienza, Cortona, Orvieto, Arezzo and Volterra all within a convenient drive. Yes, we highly recommend this rental and look forward to our next opportunity to visit Tuscany. (ROY L., Home Away # 202254. Date of stay: Sept. 2014)

CASA COLONICA (2014): Truly …. “la dolce vita”! Il Poggiolo is a wonderful old Italian villa situated on a hill-top over-looking the Arno valley and surrounding hills with scattered vineyards and olive groves. My daughter and I stayed there for a week, and one of our most enjoyable experiences was sitting in the garden at any time of day basking in the surrounding beauty and quietude. The rooms were spacious, with high ceilings, comfortable chairs and couches, and large, sturdy tables. On our arrival,our hostess Sara had provided a welcome basket containing pasta, fruit, and other snacks, as well as bouquets of beautiful fresh-cut flowers. There are 2 large bed-rooms on the 2nd floor, beautifully furnished and the beds equipped with smooth, extremely comfortable mattresses. The kitchen was well-stocked with utensils, utilities and ample counter-space, and was a pleasure to work in. Sara is warm, welcoming, friendly and extremely knowledgeable about Tuscany and has made numerous folders of suggested trips, places to visit, best routes to get there and good places to dine. I recommend Il Poggiolo most highly and plan to stay there on future visits to Tuscany. (Christina F. – Washington DC Trip Advisor October 2014, date of stay May 2014).

And here below are some particularly moving testimonials from the more distant past:

Il Poggiolo (a poem, September 2008)

Alone, upon her private hill,
Il Poggiolo stands at will,
Her Tuscan family, free and easy;
Olive, Cypress, Sangiovese.
She seldom seems to be perturbed,
Whene’er her silence is disturbed,
By tell-tale wheel on gravel crunch
Of lodgers coming home for lunch.
The Grieco family has shown,
To all who come here, far from home,
That this is the only place to be,
If you want to visit Tuscany.
——-

Sabine (de Paris, 2008)

Très chers Sara et Allen, de retour a la vie citadine, je dois vous remercier pour ce (toujours trop court) séjour a Poggiolo. Je me suis sentie régénérée après ces belles ballades entre oliviers et vignes: quel plaisir de passer d’un vallon a l’autre et de découvrir un étang …. une maison colonica ….quelques bosquets ….. décidément cette campagne toscane est un enchantement … j’adore cette lumière si particulière du petit matin, douce et dorée .. je m’attends toujours à voir surgir des anges dans les nuages bluettes!!!!!!!! et la vue sur les montagnes du Casentino…. j’espère une prochaine fois aller visiter l’abbaye de Vallombrosa si proche en voiture …..mais Poggiolo porte à une certaine et douce paresse …. A très bientôt j’espère, très amicalement.
——-

Leonore und Peter aus der Schweiz (2007):

Zwei wunderschöne Wochen haben wir in dieser geschichtsträchtigen Gegend verbracht. Bei Sara und Allen wurden unsere Träume wahr. Das schöne alte Haus, mit viel Liebe eingerichtet, gab uns so richtig das Gefühl von romantischen Ferien und Entspannung. Spaziergänge durch die Weinberge der Umgebung und auch mal ein Bad im nahen kleinen See erfrischten uns an heissen Sommertagen. Wenn man dann vielleicht mal am Abend von den Gastgebern mit einem Glas Wein und Geschichten aus der Umgebung verwöhnt wird, schläft man unter dem klaren sternenbesäten Himmel wie im Paradies. Sara und Allen, wir danken Euch von Herzen für diese unvergesslichen Ferien.
—–

Professors Diane and Ron Reichertz, McGill University, Montreal Canada (2006):

As we leave Tuscany we want to share some of our memories and impressions with others who might visit Il Poggiolo. Imagine a commodious half of very large casa colonica that welcomes you with flowers, the makings of a meal and a spacious kitchen as fully equipped as any North American home. But there is a big difference that constantly reminds you that you are in the hills of Tuscany. This lightsome house is filled with the richness of antiques against a background of arched windows and doors upstairs and down, all of which have views of treed hills, vineyards, olive groves and winding tiny roads. If you are on a writing mission your computer and other necessities are equally at home. If you are touring, you are within easy distance of endless sites of interest. Imagine that this house is up a country road and that it is surrounded by cypress trees and other beautiful vegetation through which you can see other colonicas spotted here and there across the hills. All this privacy and the vistas collaborate to create a quiet getaway from the hustle and bustle of the nearby tourist magnets such as Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Lucca and Pisa.
The two very knowledgeable owners of Il Poggiolo will point you in the direction of nearby villages – Montevarchi, San Giovanni, Bucine, Torre – all of which offer little-known beauty and most of which offer Italian staples and luxuries. If you are willing to travel a bit further there are half-day adventures to beautiful areas like the Vallombrosa, which is a forest, topped by a beautiful monastery. Loro Ciuffenna is a small medieval town built on a ravine with cascading water rushing through it. In the central piazza you can sit with a coffee and eat some of the best gelato in the world while listening to the many sounds of the river.
Another four minutes up the mountain and you are in an 11th century village called Gropina which is built around a 1000 year-old Romanesque Church. Here there are both aesthetic and everyday delights. After a short walk past the church you see a small cemetery from which can be seen the entire sweep of the Val D’Arno, full of medieval villages, vineyards and trees. Across from the church there is the tiny office of the Gropina wine cooperative, where you can buy excellent whites and reds (and extra virgin olive oil) at wholesale prices. Throughout the Val D’Arno there are fattorie, which sell their excellent wines from owner’s vineyards. All of these towns have hidden surprises such as houses where major artists were born (e.g. Massaccio in San Giovanni) and small churches with paintings that the government has returned to their sites. A brief talk with the owners (both professional historians) will acquaint you with special itineraries, such as the route that connects seven Romanesque churches.
After all this feasting on painting and architecture you then return to the wonderful house and its mixture of night sounds such as the hooting of owls, the singing of nightingales. Each morning the wonderful light of Tuscany is announced by a distant rooster’s praise of dawn. And all this doesn’t even constitute half of the area’s treats. Don’t just imagine Il Poggiolo. Experience it, as our family has over a period of 15 years. It has become a special place for all of us and remains in our minds as we go on about our University chores. We hope that you find it as special as we have.