Locazione turistica Casa dei Ciliegi

We were five women staying at Casa Dei Ciliegi. I ran a workshop there, though it would be just as fantastic for a holiday. The setting is magical, with quiet, peace, and views over the vineyards. The rooms are simple but full of character, and having a private bathroom in each one was lovely. The kitchen has plenty of equipment for making a good meal, which we ate at the long outdoor table overlooking the vines. It felt like the ultimate Italian experience. The location is great too, within easy reach of places like Florence and Siena, and there are lovely nearby villages worth visiting. The pool was wonderful, with another beautiful view. Fabrizio, the owner, does everything he can to make you comfortable, and Roberto, the pool attendant, is very friendly. I was also delighted to find we had a cat of our own, Pulpita. She loves cuddles and food, waits by the door in the morning, and always stays outside. Such a lovely place!

It's a lovely holiday in a beautiful house, and with very little effort it could be much better. We enjoyed the pool and its surrounding lawn, as well as the house's own vineyard. It's well suited to families, and because the pool is a bit away from the house, we could relax with a glass of wine even if the kids were noisy. The location works well for day trips, with large supermarkets and restaurants about a 10-minute drive away. With no Wi-Fi and virtually no mobile reception, it's a good digital detox, which we actually found to be an advantage. The owner was only moderately friendly and could have been more hospitable. After spending several thousand euros on a vineyard holiday home, I expected a glass of wine and a warmer welcome. Instead, there was a dispute about an extra sheet for the baby cot, and it carried on until breakfast at 8 a.m. on our departure day, when a leaf blower and petrol lawnmower sent us off. There was no mosquito repellent, and a natural pond is nearby. Simple window screens would make nights much better. Even using insect repellent, we got bitten a lot because we had to air out the bedrooms at night to bring down the temperature. The basics were missing too, including kitchen towels, cleaning cloths, thick curtains to darken the rooms, soap, and other things you'd normally expect in a rental. Usually people leave something for the next guests, and at least I've always found salt in every holiday rental I've stayed in. Still, it was a nice vacation.

The host was very friendly, and we could watch the grape harvest from the terrace. The house is secluded among vineyards, with a lovely terrace for a leisurely dinner and a good-sized pool set in a lawn. Getting to that pool does mean going down a rather long flight of stairs. It's a good place for day trips, and the house has what you need for sleeping and cooking. But the road from the street is so bumpy that you often scrape the car's underside, and there are no basics like dish soap, tea towels, salt, or pepper. Cell reception at the house is very poor, which could be a plus or a drawback.