donnaannie

We are looking for a villa/apartment for 6 in one of the villages/towns of Tuscany (i.e. San Gamignano, Volterra, Pienza). We would like to be in walking distance to cafes, shops & restaurants. Our trip is for 10/2006. We've looked a dozens of websites, but can't seem to find anything that is located right in town. Any suggestions?

lcthecat

We are renting a lovely apartment from Gianna Galeota in Florence. She owns quite a few properties, and if she can't help you directly, I would be surprised if she didn't know someone who could.
www.sleepinginflorence.com
She is lovely and very communicative! Good luck! We leave for our trip next week!

tuscanlifeedit

I have done a lot of work with the people that own

florencevillas.com
and
http://www.vacation-italy.com/

I am NOT a principle nor do I have anything to do with renting their properties. I do know them well and highly recommend them as great people. Feel free, if you contact them, to tell Meaghan that Debbie from the newsletter sent you.

If you write to her, you can tell her exactly what your requirements are and she will make some suggestions. try Meaghan at
[email protected]

I've stayed in a couple of their properties, and taken their cooking classes, all excellent and highly recommended.

DownUnder

We have rented with the Posarelli company, www.posarelli.it, on several occasions. They have many villas all over Italy including a wonderful Castle, Montegufoni, that has now become self contained apartments. If you wanted something right in town I think thay have a couple of apartments right in Cortona.

StuDudley

Our closest friends own an apt in San Quirico, which is between Pienza & Montalcino. They rent it out when they are not there.

The apt has 3 bedrooms, two "American" bathrooms with showers, Kitchen/DR, living room, laundry with dryer, and a lovely huge garden where you can pick herbs and use for dinner at the apt. There are three trattatorias within about a 4 min walk. The apt is on the main pedestrain only street - with ample parking just outside of the apt & down a flight of stairs.

Of all the small villages I've visited in Tuscany, San Quirico is where I would stay if I wanted to observe Italian living up close - very few tourists once the day trippers have left (compared to Pienza, Montalcino, and Montepulciano). Siena is 45 mins away. The area around San Quirico (Val d'Orcia) is the loveliest in Italy (IMHO).

Here is their web site. They are at their apt right now.

http://www.munsells.com/italy/

Stu Dudley

Elizabeth_S

Somebody just sent me this link - it seems to meet all your requirements - and it comes very highly recommended

http://www.ilborghettotuscanholidays.com/

donnaannie

Thanks Stu & Elizabeth - I'll check them out!

Eloise

Here are the Web sites for two sets of apartments in the town of Montepulciano:

www.appartamentialpoggiolo.it

www.politian.com

Both have received excellent reviews here, which you can check out through using the search box.

I doubt that six of you could stay in a single apartment, but my impression is that both places could accommodate a total of six people.

Budman

Both Politan apartments sleep 4. One with one bedroom & fold out sofa, and the other with two bedrooms (queen & 2 singles).

The two apartments have an adjoining door, so if you could get both for the week you want, you could leave the connecting door open.

Henry

donnaannie,
Check slow trav http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/vr/reviews.asp for apartment reviews.

Laidback

We stayed in the property that Stu recommends with another couple and loved it. "Coming home" to the wonderful garden and gazebo was wonderful. We would stay there again. Have a look.

Lily

We stayed in the Politan apartments that Budman is referring to last May and enjoyed the location and the apartment very much.

donnaannie

Thanks for all the responses. I am looking for something a little more upscale as our traveling friends are what I would call "accommodation snobs". Someone suggested Il Borghetto Country Inn, Borgo San Felice or Borgo Argenina. Any comments on these?

Eloise

As far as I am aware, the three establishments you name are in the countryside and not in a Tuscan hill town.

If you want the countryside, have a look at

http://www.ilborro.it/

It's owned by the Ferragamo family, which also owns a number of chic establishments in Florence and should be upscale enough for your friends.

Eloise

Or, in San Gimignano itself, you might want to have a look at

http://www.guicciardini.com/

The apartments are owned by the Guicciardini family; they are not as rich as the Ferragamos but they are a much older and more aristocratic family.

SRS

Eloise,

http://www.guicciardini.com/ looks great! Have you stayed there yourself? Do you happen to know how the bathrooms are - shower or tub?

Thanks!
Sally

Eloise

I have never stayed there; I read about it in some travel magazine or other.

Are you referring to San Gimignano or Florence? The San Gimignano apartment descriptions state whether the apartment has tub or shower.