Hello,

My husband and I are heading to Montalcino for a week in October, and are still trying to finalize accomodations. We want to be within the village, in order to be able to walk to and from the great restaurants that we have been reading about, but also wanted a kitchen to experiment with our own Tuscany cooking.

Has anyone stayed at any of these three apartments?

Residence Villa Santa Maria
http://www.residencesantamaria.com/eng/home.htm

Sante Marie
www.santemarie.it

La Casella Montalcino
http://www.lacasellamontalcino.com/eng/home_en.html

We must book soon! Any opinions/stoies would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Tanya

You could try www.slowtrav.com for their apartment reviews.

Hi Tanya,

From what I can tell from the web sites, only the first property is in the town (on the fringe). The second is definitely not within walking distance according to their description. The third, I can't tell. Looks pretty close to the walls, but probably outside.

You should contact them and ask whether they are within or outside the walls. That should help your decision. The last property especially looks nice to me!

enjoy dinner at Grappolo Blu.

Buon viaggio!

Thanks for the replies.

Lily, I have searched slowtrav for some reviews on any of them, but only come across one for Santa Maria; and it was fine.

Dayle, I am, indeed, looking forward to dinner at Grappolo Blu!

Another question, since you appear to have extensive knowledge about the town...is there a better area to be within? Both websites for Villa Santa Maria and La Casella Montalcino state being 400-500m away from the centre of the village. However, one is within the walls, the other not(I don't think; we have had difficulty communicating in english and google translate isn't helping too much!). If we are walking 15-20mins anyways, does it matter whether I am within the walls or not?

I look forward to any replies...
Thanks, Tanya

Hi again Tanya,

Montalcino is really very small, but also very steep in parts. I think it just depends on how much you are willing to walk.

I stayed at Il Giglio and was extremely happy with the location. I don't think in or outside the walls makes much difference.

You'll love Montalcino! Have a glass of Brunello for me, per favore.

tanya0070,
Just to complicate yout decision I will offer my opinion. La Casella offers a terazza which would sway me to it but it also appears that you would have to walk on the main road for a short distance to get inside the walls.

If you want more information on the area feel free to e-mail me.

Henry

Thanks again Dayle...
We tried to get an apartment at Il Giglio initially, however there was nothing available to us for the duration of our stay!
I am leaning towards La Casella-we are prepared for walking up hills, and they seem to offer wine and olive oil tasting on their working farm, plus will arrange for a Tuscan cooking lesson-which is something we are also interested in doing.
Any must see/must do, besides taste lots of yummy Brunello, you would like to offer?
Tanya

Tanya,

One true highlight was an early morning visit to Sant' Antimo to hear the Gregorian Chants. Beautiful and serene. Don't go for "visiting hours", that's when the tour buses roll in. Go early or late.

Buon viaggio!

Thanks, I will put that on my 'things to do' list...

Tanya:
If you want to walk to restaurants, I would want to be within the walls--otherwise you will be on a narrow road with cars I think. I agree with Dayle--It looks as if the first is within the walls.

tanya
look at this also

http://www.montalcino-tuscany.com/

Dayle what time is early am. I would like to hear the chants. Is it possible if you are not staying there.