I've posted several messages on this board the last few weeks, and everyone has been so helpful. Five of us will be renting a villa or farmhouse in Tuscany in October for one week. We want to spend no more than around $3,000. I've gotten several suggestions from folks on this board about web sites to use to search for villas. But I'd love to hear your recommendations about specific villas that you've stayed at in the past and loved. We're looking at the areas near Siena, Lucca, Chianti or anywhere near there. (We'd like to be able to take a day trip to Florence during our week stay.) Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

Pretty please!

brooksari, if you are still considering La Foce and have any specific questions, feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]. That's my only Tuscan villa experience.

How about Fattoria del Colle, a agriturismo in the heart of Tuscany. My husband and I stayed there last Oct. and loved it.
Check out there website at: www.cinellicolombini.it
Several people we met there were using it as a homebase, taking day trips to Florence, Siena, etc.
Have a great trip!

A few years ago I was looking for a villa to stay in Tuscany in October.
I've been in Tuscany many times, but I wonder to stay for a long period to know it with more details.
So after a homework I decide to rent a villa in the outskirts of Siena. That
was a lovely experience!
From this point we went to the Chianti region, San Gimignano, Florence
(twice), and south of Siena to Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, etc.
A car is a must. The roads are great and the little back roads very nice.
Le Meridiane ís a villa in Siena. It could suit you.
>>My wife and I have been at Le Meridiane, for a week.
>>We liked it very much. The accomodations are very clean, large (you can see the bedroom where we slept at the website), comfortable and has all amenities. It has all cooking facilities and we had many meals at home.
There is a good view to the gardens with many olive trees and to a valley
with a avenue. It is located at the outskirts of Siena, fifteen minutes by
car to the Centro Storico and very near to the auto-route to Florence.
>There is a small grocery store nearby and a supermarket (COOP) a ten
minutes ride near the railstation.
>>The street, with many houses, ends at a cul-de-sac at Le Meridiane in a
small plaza where you can park your car. We had a car (leased from Renault
in Paris) and we've made many trips to the Chianti Region and south of Siena
(Montalcino, Montepulciano, Pienza, Sinalunga, etc.). Twice we went to
Florence (50 minutes by a no-toll auto-route). La signora Ana, who is in
charge of the villa, is very helpful and lives in another house nearby. I
looked for the website and I found it:
http:www.rpilo.it/meridian/meridian.htm
>>I'm a travel consultant in Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais State) in Brazil and I'll be glad to give more informations.

Not too much specific advice other than look for somewhere geographically between Firenze and Siena, it will give close access to nearly everywhere and the roads are great. You will love it !!!

Carmar: Fattoria del Colle looks fabulous. Do you remember which villa you stayed at: Cenerentola or Archi? Any more info you can give about the villa itself, the grounds, anything, would be much appreciated. Thank you!

We were looking for a villa for Octobe in the same price range only for 8 people! Found a great one with lots of bedrooms and baths and walking distance to Castello in Chianti at www.interhome.it at our price!

We're staying at Palazzo Leopoldo in Chianti in early July. Never been there but it gets rave reviews from travel agent and friends. Here is the url: http://www.palazzoleopoldo.it/inglese/homepage.htm
Good luck.
Ken

Brooksari, My last advice to you was to check out the reviews of rental properites at slowtrav.com That is the best single place on the web to find dozens of real life suggestions from experienced Tuscany travelers. You will never get that wealth of information here. Good luck !

Look into Corte Medicino on the RentVillas.com website. We rented this Summer of 2002 and it was great. Roomy, nice pool and grounds, great owners! About 20 minutes from Lucca, 1 1/2 hours from Florence. 1/2 hour from Pisa, and a 1 hour train ride to the Cinque Terre.

Hi Brooksari - I looked through my records but I didn't write down which building we stayed it. It was the main house - Apt. #7. We paid 83 euro per night.
The apt. consisted of a kitchen, lg. bathroom, living room, bedroom with a double bed, a loft with a bedroom with 2 twin beds and a sitting area in the loft. The night we stayed there, we had a cooking class and then enjoyed the food and wine with the cook.
The only negative was finding this place. It's near Trequanda which is near Sinaluga - maybe 30-40 min. off the autostada.
Any other ?'s, e-mail me at:
[email protected]

Visit a villa rental company website, it is serious and professional.
www.communicart.it
I have tried them

Libanio, I can't seem to find this URL on the internet. Can you help?


www.rpilo.it/meridian/meridian.htm

We are looking for a place to stay in/near Siena for one night before our two nights in Chianti Region.

I rented Villa Santa Lucia di Sopra with communicart.it but has 18 people occupancy....
if you contact them, they suggest you the most suitable to your needs and give several options.