LoveItaly

Hello LowCountryIslander, I am familar with the area where LaFocolare is located as I have Italian friends in Florence that have a second home on the outskirts of Reggello where I have stayed and personally I find that area paradise. For someone who has never been to Italy before it would probably be to quiet so to speak but from what you have said I think if your group decided on LaFocolare you would be most happy staying there.

LowCountryIslander

lilybud...thanks for the information I will check out craigslist, I hadn't thought to look there.

LoveItaly...thanks for the personal recommendation. I'm not too worried about being in a more "off the beaten path" location. This group has been to Tuscany before at least once (some more then once) and this trip will be more of a relax and enjoy the wine and food vacation instead of trying to see every site in Tuscany.

sammy123

www.villaeurope.com;
Suzanne Cohen is the owner, based in Maine. We rented a fabulous villa
near Castellina in Chianti, which unfortunately is no longer available.
We were able to speak with Suzanne and her staff several times; she had stayed in the villa herself and answered all of our questions, as well as getting a rental car for us, arranging a special birthday dinner, and recommending local tour guides.

jnjfraz

Hi Lowcountry,

Instead of one villa give thought to a property like this http://www.chiantinet.it/leselvole/
eng.html. We stay here every year and have booked the whole place for larger groups. They have 4 two bedroom aptmts and 2 one bedroom apartments... 20 people all told. The grounds are beautiful.. 12 acres fenced, large pool, 500 olive trees, flowers everywhere and great fun for a crowd. Le Selvole is about a mile from Radda in Chianti, which of course is close to Gaiole so you might have been there.

In May the 2 bedrooms rent for about 700 euros. If you rent the whole place it is not out of line to ask Francesca for a discount.

LowCountryIslander

sammy123 and jnjfraz...

Thanks for the information both accommodations look like what we have in mind.

joanna_53

I am going to Tuscany with 16 friends and family in just over a week. We booked a villa through TuscanyNow.com. It is called le Celle and is located in Lecchi in Chianti near Radda and can accommodate up to 20 people. The villa has a main house as well as some small cottages and a pool. The photos look gorgeous. The villa is 20 minutes from Sienna and an hour from Florence. Lecchi is a small village with a few amenities and is in the heart of Chianti wine country. The company will send you a catalogue of their villas if you are interested.

LowCountryIslander

Joana...

Thanks for the information, I will check it out.

Have a great time in Tuscany!