Best homebase in Tuscany from these choices, also agriturismo help.
 

Family of 4, 2 adults and 2 children ages 7 and 11 traveling to Tuscany in June 2007. We are in search of a nice agriturismo/Apartment/Villa. We have narrowed the choices to 3 finalist:

Agriturismo La Valle in Tavernelle Val D Pesa

Agricola Quercia Grossa in Cortona

Podere Casseta in Val d'Elsa, Siena

Do you know any of these places? If not, which of these places would make the best home base to visit Tuscany and Umbria?

Please pick one and why.

Thanks for your help!

I've been to none of these places, but can offer these comments...

Tavernelle and Colle di Val d'Elsa are good locations for Tuscany but not for Umbria. Cortona is not a good base for either IMO, because it is too distant from the beauties of both Tuscany and Umbria.

Ideally, for best of Tuscany, your base should be in the vicinity of Siena and for Umbria, in the vicinity of Assisi.

I agree with Tuck--none of these are good for both Tuscany and Umbria. You really need to prioritize which areas you must see. Get a good map and and a good guide book and make some tough choices. Then, go to slowtrav.com to see rental reviews by area. I think the Montepulciano and Pienza area is best to cover the best of Tuscany and parts of Umbria.

I also can't help with your three choices but I did want to offer another one -- we stayed here last year with our young daughter. We found it on slowtrav.com, with a lot of helpful reviews. From here we did daytrips to Siena, Assisi, San Gimiango and other small hill towns. I hope this helps - good luck and have a wonderful trip!

www.sanantonio.it

Another possibility is Fattoria dei Barbi (agriturismo) outside Montalcino. It is a working farm and vineyard with two apartments to rent. If the tour of the winery and the meal we had at the Taverna on the property is any indication of the rest of what it has to offer, it might be spectacular. From this location, you can drive in any direction to discovery the magic of Tuscany and Umbria. (Don't miss Orvieto in Umbria!)
http://www.fattoriadeibarbi.it/index_e.html

Thank you all very much for your kind reply. I forgot to mention that during the same visit but earlier in the month I will stay 3 days in the city of Florence. From there I will visit Pisa, Lucca and the city of Florence. Do you still think Cortona is not a good choice?

Yes.
Cortona is lovely but is better located for Umbria than Tuscany day trips. I think you want near or south of Siena.

>Do you still think Cortona is not a good choice?<

Yes, I do. For Umbria, the best base would be near Assisi. For Tuscany, ideally you should be in the area of the Val d'Orcia.

Also, your family would enjoy San Gimignano and Siena, so I'd include these highlights (even at the loss of Umbria on this trip).

As I libe in Colle Val d'Elsa, I can say that t is a good base for day trips in Tuscany, but not for Umbria. Obviously, you need to hire a car, since public transportation is not always convenient to reach all destinations.

Siena is 15 miles away, or 25 minutes by car
Florence is 30 miles away, or 1 hour to arrive into downtown (by car)
Pisa and Lucca are 65 miles away, or 1h30 by car
San Gimignano is only 7 miles away

As an alternative agriturismo, you could check this one

http://www.bardeggiano.it/inglese/index2.htm

It is only 1 1/2 mile from the Colle Val d'Elsa South exit of the Florence-Siena freeway, and yet it is rather calm and quiet.

Have fun!