Agriturismo Tontenano

Stefano, Manuela, and Antonella were wonderful hosts. During the wedding planning, Stefano and Manuela were always there to help, and went above and beyond with organizing and cooking. The Friday pizza party was a particular highlight. The decor and food were lovely, and it was great seeing everyone having such a good time. We celebrated our wedding at beautiful Tontenano this September. Its picturesque, rustic agriturismo among the vineyards and olive trees was exactly the atmosphere we wanted. We had 45 guests, and 30 stayed in the apartments on site. I'd recommend it for a small, intimate, fun wedding. You're in great hands with Stefano and Manuela. Our guests already want to arrange another weekend together in Bucine, so see you all next summer! Grazie a tutti!

We had loads of fun with the kids using the wood BBQs and pizza oven, and the pool area was great for relaxing. The gardens were well kept and the surroundings beautiful. We stayed for 10 days in July in this authentic, self-contained Tuscan farmhouse, and spent lots of time exploring the region. There's a supermarket and pizza nearby. We knew to bring bug spray after researching the area, and would definitely recommend it. The only thing we wished we'd done was spend more time relaxing by the pool.

We stayed for a full month. The large pool and playground were the main reasons we chose this place, based on reviews saying it was kid friendly. Those are its two highlights, and there were many families staying during the month. The pool was mostly nice and my kids went every day, but after they both swallowed water while playing more roughly one day, they felt ill about 30 minutes later and each vomited around seven times over the next two to three hours. I didn't see the pool robot move during that time, and I don't know who checks the pH. I travel often around Europe and the world, and this was one of the worst hotels I've stayed in. There are serious hazards. Stefano said the property used to be a farm and was renovated as an agriturismo in the early 2000s. I don't know whether it's considered historic or whether building codes apply, but apartment h has no handrails, and its stone steps are slippery. Two days into the trip my wife fell and broke her hand. Some decorative rails are broken too, as my uploaded photos show. Be very careful, especially with children. Electrical fittings are also poorly maintained, with outlets and switches coming loose from the walls. Water flooded downstairs and nearly reached a loose outlet. The breaker box smoked, sparked, and caught fire after I tried to make coffee while the AC was on. I had warned Stefano before it burned, but nobody was sent because it was the weekend. I switched off the breaker overnight to prevent a fire, but it caught fire the next morning anyway. The photos and video show the burnt breaker and smoke. There were bugs everywhere, around 50 a day by my count, including mosquitoes, ants, centipedes, millipedes, scorpions, gnats, spiders, and a European wasp about six inches long. My kids woke with spider bites. Close gaps around the doors and stonework are visible in the photos. Cleanliness was very poor too. There are three hosts, Stefano, Antonella, and her mother. I believe Antonella or her mother does the cleaning, and I'd rate it one star. Old cobwebs, dirt, soap scum, mold, and mildew were everywhere. I had to buy a shower curtain and bathroom cleaner. The shared washing machine was disgustingly moldy smelling and took almost three hours per cycle. There's also a wasp nest in the bathroom and shower in the photo. The main bathroom shower flush switches didn't work properly. The beds were the most uncomfortable I've experienced, sagging in the middle. I usually get 90+ on my sleep tracker but was in the 60s or lower for the month. Other renters said the same. There were no pillow or mattress protectors. I bought a mattress topper at the Coop supermarket, but it didn't help. Don't stay here if sleep matters to you. Stefano, a cohost, was nice and responsive but doesn't live there. The other two hosts live on site but evidently have full-time jobs and weren't around. The older woman seemed to think I didn't understand Italian. I understood her annoyed comments about the renters when she came over. Check the reviews and dates carefully. Some may be fake or for the wrong location, since they mention good breakfasts and such, but there's no breakfast or restaurant here. The pictures are outdated too: the pool hall shown is closed off. This is a very poor place. Don't book if safety, sleep, and cleanliness matter to you.

Stefano welcomed us like we were at home, with a bottle of wine and really useful local advice. The house has a lovely rustic feel and combines comfort with authenticity. It rained, so we couldn't use the pool, but we still explored the region's vineyards. His tips for seeing Tuscany were spot on. It was a magical, unforgettable stay, and we hope to return.