Villa Avanella

A lovely, peaceful spot tucked away in the forest.

The staff were consistently kind and helpful, and bringing our dog caused no problems. The property is pet-friendly, which made all the difference for us. The views from both the rooms and the pool are stunning. The pool is very large and pleasant, though the water looked a little cloudy. It may have been from the salts used to keep it clean, or perhaps from sharing the property with a fairly large group of German kids who had just finished school. Relaxing didn't seem to be their main aim, but that's understandable. Villa Avanella is a beautiful place, with spacious, well-kept rooms. They can get a bit warm in summer, but each bed had a fan, a thoughtful detail we really appreciated.

The staff were hospitable and friendly, and the rooms were well maintained. It's fairly isolated, which makes for a peaceful holiday. Mr. Romano deserves a mention too: he can fix anything and drives around the estate in a legendary UAZ that apparently served in the war in Afghanistan.

The owner is a wonderful woman and very helpful. The service and cleanliness both get a 5 from me. The pool is great and large, cleaned every day until noon, though sometimes it wasn't available until around 10:00 a.m. The buildings and location are unique, if that kind of atmosphere suits you. I missed the light, though. It felt dim almost everywhere, and the building we stayed in had bars on the windows. I'd give the views a 3: I didn't get those beautiful Tuscan panoramas. The listing showed lovely scenery, and there was a view, but the trees were in the way. For a longer stay, bring household cleaning supplies, dish soap, paper towels, and basic spices. They weren't provided, so you'd need to buy them right away. Would I personally return? No, unfortunately it just isn't my cup of tea.