We'll be spending a few days in Tuscany, specifically Chianti, in late September and I'm looking for some help in deciding between towns and hotels. We're most interested in the countryside, the view, and the vineyards -- less interested in architecture and museums. We don't have four star taste and don't need to be pampered in luxury in either food or lodging - but rather want something comfortable and genuinely Tuscan. We're really middle-of-the-road travelers.

I've been looking at Badia a Coltibuono (Gaiole in Chianti), Palazzo Squarcialupi (Castellina in Chianti), Locanda le Piazze (Castellina in Chianti), and La Camporena (Greve in Chianti).

Does anyone have any experience with these places? Or have you had a good experience with another location in Chianti you'd like to share? Your input would be greatly appreciated.

Look at Fattoria Tregole just south of Castellina.

I love it already - they have a dog! (I'm dog-crazy.) Thanks for your tip, bobthenavigator.

I posted on a previous forum that in October I stayed at Relais Villa L'Olmo located in Impruneta, 12 KMs from Florence. It is a working olive farm and there are several types of apartments from which to choose. The reason we liked it was the local bus into Florence stops 30 meters from the entrance, and it is within walking distance of the town of Impruneta where there are several restaurants, shops and banks. From here we made day trips throughout Tuscany--Greve being one of the charming towns nearby. The staff is wonderful and the apartments are well equipped. Here is the website for your perusal: www.relaisfarmhokiday.it
Rather than rent a car, we hired a driver from www.chiantidrivers.it Our driver, Simone, was punctual, informative and took us through the back roads visiting vineyards and other small towns.

Laurie,

I stayed at Hotel Residence San Sano several years ago and just loved it. TINY village 20 min. drive north of Siena. You won't even find it unless you have a very detailed map.
They are in the middle of olive groves and vineyards, nice pool, lovely flower/herb garden in front where they serve breakfast and (optional) dinner under the wisteria arbor.

The only other business in the village is a family run trattoria that was great. Very near the Castello di Brolio. We had requested a large room and got their largest, I think. It was Gli Archi.

From San Sano we did a day trip to San Gimignano & Volterra (long day), Greve to tour a leather factory, a wonderful lunch and tour at La Badia di Coltibuono and wine tasting, and a trip into Siena for the day. Also really enjoyed that pool.

Buon viaggio!

We've had dinner at Badia a Coltibuono a couple of times, going back a few years now. The dinner was very nice. The food was very good and the setting was beautiful. The grounds seemed nice. Maybe it was where we came from, but it seemed to be a bit of a remote location??

We like Tenuta di Lilliano, near Castellina in Chianti. Simple apartments decorated in the Tuscan style. We could fling open the shutters and view our pool (shared with only a couple of other people) and the surrounding fields.

We've stayed here 3 times (the last in 2006) and brought 2 groups of other people there with us, and everyone really liked the place. You definitely need a car to get around. I don't know how prices are currently, but they were always very reasonable when we stayed there.

Travelgirl2: Remote is ok, that's sort of what we're looking for, although close is ok, too.

I will check out Tenuta di Lilliano - thanks for the help!

Dayle: Excellent! Thanks for the info on Hotel Residence San Sano. I will definitely Google it!

I have not stayed at the properties you mentioned, but I can recommend Podere Torre, outside of Greve:

http://www.greve-in-chianti.com/poderetorre.htm

Four of us stayed there several years ago, but two sets of my friends have stayed there since then, and all of them loved the place.

A small agriturismo w/ loads of charm. Very peaceful, with great views, vineyard, rose bushes & herbs, friendly dogs, and a lovely owner, Cecilia, who will take care of you. There are only a couple of rooms in old farm buildings; nicely renovated bathrooms and everything you need, but slightly rustic. I have seldom felt so relaxed!

Down the road to Greve is the tiny village of Montefioralle with a very good restaurant: La Castellana.

We stayed at Locanda le Piazze. The buildings,rooms and vineyard setting are beautiful.
However,the road to it was either dirt or in poor shape and we didn't feel like driving in and out at night.
For a spler well located place look at Albergo Casafrassi.

Podere Torre in Greve. Easily, the best place (and bargain) ,IMHO, to stay in Chianti area for view, accomodations, etc. Will be there again this October.

Oh, jabez, I am jealous. As I recall, you have made quite a few trips to lovely Podere Torre. I didn't make it back to the Chianti area on my last trip to Italy, but I can remember that peaceful place and mellow Cecilia very, very well, however.

Jabez: Podere Torre sounds fantastic. What I love the most is that they have three dogs who laze around in the sun all day! I'll be leaving my four dogs behind when I travel to Italy, so I'll need my dog-fix! And it sounds like I can definitely get it at Podere Torre!

annabelle2: sorry, meant to add my thanks to you in that last post! The place looks absolutely fabulous. I've just emailed Cecelia to check availability. After seeing it, I wish we had longer to visit in Tuscany!

jabez: if Cecelia has availability, we'll be there in (very) early October. Would be neat to cross paths!

Oh rats! I just contacted the very wonderful and responsive Cecelia at Podere Torre and they have no vacancy when we'll be visiting. She did invite us to stop by, have a glass of wine and enjoy the view and the dogs. Which we will definitely do!

laurie,

We stayed in Greve in 2007 and 2009 at the Terre di Melazzano agriturismo and enjoyed it very much. The first time we stayed in Barbara, which really is just for two people but we were there only 3 nights. The second time, we tried to get Chiara, however, it was already booked (a year in advance), so we stayed in Patrizia for two weeks. It was very nice having the extra room, and the views of the vineyard were spectacular. The location was very convenient to SR222. We loved the pool and managed to barbeque a few dinners! There was even a washing machine that we could use at no extra charge!

http://www.terredimelazzano.it/en/in...3d30af70f97e0f

That's so nice that Cecilia invited you to stop by. Maybe she will have a cancellation! At any rate, if you are near there, the restaurant in the little village of Montefioralle was really fun and good: La Castellana. Cecilia recommended it and I had the best pork dish I think I've ever eaten. The name? All I could get from our darling young waiter was "typical pork cooked in the typical style."

You just might want to look at the Tenuta di Ricavo..that's all I'll say.

Eat at the tiny restaurant in Pievascata. Run by a Japanese couple who sold their chain of restaurants back home.

The lamb was from the field behind the place, the Chianti Classico was from the field to the side - best meal we ever ate.