Villa Il Cerretaccio

Villa IL Cerretaccio was a dream come true for my mother and our family, who had always wanted to return to her grandparents’ roots in Italy. Alessandro and his father Pino greeted us so warmly, and with the villa’s amazing views, it felt like we were on a movie set. The spacious, comfortable rooms and inviting kitchen made it easy to prepare meals, and the pool was perfect for cooling off and gathering in the July heat. We also asked to have dinner prepared for us on two nights. Alessandro’s mother Betty made wonderful three-course Tuscan meals with local ingredients, including a gluten-free option for my sister-in-law. We couldn’t stop talking about the food. The family has a vineyard, too, and makes a really nice Chianti. We feel so lucky to have found this place and made memories that will last a lifetime.

I spent many years making Torre Antica my home, and it will always have a place in my heart. It’s a beautiful spot and a great base for exploring Chianti, visiting the castle ruins, or walking through the surrounding vineyards. It really feels like heaven on earth. The family-owned place is lovingly cared for.

Alessandro, the son, was a lifesaver and so helpful, and the family were lovely. But to be honest, this felt like a three-star stay. A car is essential: taxis don’t know where the villa is, so use La Fontanelle Hotel as your map destination, then the villa is just beyond it. There’s a good Coop grocery store in Siena and a small nearby shop, but you’ll need a car for either. There were lots of stairs up to the bedrooms. The AC couldn’t cool the rooms well, especially upstairs, and we couldn’t leave it running all day. The pool was nice, but there wasn’t enough shade in the heat. The chef’s dinner tasted very good, but at E60 per person it was overpriced compared with some great, much cheaper restaurants we tried. A few smaller things kept it from feeling like a five-star experience: rough sheets, beds that weren’t plush, too little lighting, a rickety shower, no toiletries, and a hair dryer that didn’t get hot enough.

We’d all love to go back, even the little kids. I took my whole family of 15, including children and grandchildren as young as 18 months, to Villa Il Cerretaccio for a week for my wife’s 65th birthday. We got home on June 28th, and it was the best family vacation we’ve had so far. The villa dates to the 12th century, when it served as a guardhouse for a nearby castle, now in ruins. It has been renovated beautifully, with Wi-Fi, satellite TV, and a lovely pool. Across two buildings, it sleeps 18, with large rooms, most of them with en suite bathrooms and a sitting or living room. We could place families with children so they wouldn’t disturb others. The weather was perfect, and everyone was so happy with the villa and pool that nobody gathered around the big TVs in the common rooms. It’s set on a large farmed estate with lovely scenery, so relaxing outdoors came easily. You’ll need a rental car in Tuscany, but we had no trouble driving to Siena several times or to Pianella for provisions. We also used the villa as a base for trips to Florence and Rome. Housekeeping and cleaning were provided for two hours a day. Our host Pino and his wife Betty, an excellent cook, stocked the small but capable kitchen before we arrived and made gourmet Tuscan dinners when we asked. Dining outside over the Tuscan hills was magical, and the food and wine were outstanding. We also took advantage of the massages and pasta and pizza making classes. Somehow, we had no negatives at all during our week.