PLANNING TO GO TO ITALY IN THE FALL OF 2000 WITH 2 OR 3 OTHER COUPLES. CAN ANYONE RECOMMEND A GOOD VILLA IN TUSCANY WHERE WE COULD ALL STAY TOGETHER FOR APPROX 1 WEEK(IE COTTAGE, FARMHOUSE, APT) THAT WOULD BE CENTRALLY LOCATED AND REASONABLY PRICED. ALSO WHAT NOT TO MISS IN ITALY, AND WHAT TO AVOID.

There are tons of websites where you can browse pictures of villas. I've booked mine from the Parker Company at www.theparkercompany.com. Other sites are italianvillas.com, www.initaly.com, www.awts.com, www.rentavilla.com, and http://www.vaanyc.com/html/italyoverview.htm. There are hundreds of possibilities. Good luck with your search!

Sorry I can't offer anything specific, but as far as websites go there's also: <BR>http://www.regencyintapts.com/default.html <BR>

Suggest you look at the following web site : <BR> <BR>www.awts.com/tuscany <BR> <BR>They list a number of lovely villas for rent in and around Cortona. The managers (Donatella and Rupert) are nearby and speak perfect English and offer a warm welcome. If you want you can stay at the "Under the Tuscan Sun" house - look under "La Certosa" - it's walking distance to Cortona and "reasonable" (whatever that is) at around $2300US/week for up to 8 people. <BR> <BR>

We stayed with a group like this at Castelnuova Beraredenga, an agritourism place, otside a village called Castelnuava, about 15 miles from Siena. They had a reange of apartments converted from old farm buildings and there was a shared pool. <BR> <BR>The farm makes lovely classico chianti wine, and olive oil. <BR> <BR>Good touring base.

Check out Villa Vignamaggio outside of Greve in Tuscany on the S222 between Florence and Siena at www.vignamaggio.com. Lovely villa which was the setting for the movie "Much Ado About Nothing", by Kenneth Brannagh available on video. The entire villa is not available, but there are nice setups for groups such as yours.