Villa Castiglione

You'll need a car to get here, but if you drive and want somewhere quiet with views over the countryside, this place is beautiful, peaceful, and relaxing for the price. The rooms are huge, and the hallway is a lovely spot to sit and chat with friends. Breakfast was thoughtfully prepared, especially the eggs, which were done really nicely. The coffee was full of flavor too. One thing to know about driving here: we came across an accident on a narrow, one-way country road, and getting out of the area took some frustration and courage. A small car would be the better choice.

The grounds and the views were lovely, and the rooms were clean and comfortable. It was so quiet that we slept well, and the staff were warm, attentive and happy to help us get a few bottles of wine. We didn't eat at the hotel. The pool was the letdown. It wasn't open and looked more like a pond, even though Italy was in a heat wave and the photos had made us look forward to swimming. I assume it was closed because it was out of season. Since UK booking sites make it seem available all year, I'd recommend checking with the hotel before you book. That's why I gave it four stars rather than five.

We only stopped by for dinner and didn't stay at the hotel. The meal was delicious, and the views are stunning, but the service is what we'll remember. Constanza and Sham made our family feel so welcome, and were especially lovely with me and my 3 year old son. We had such a good time. I'd happily recommend it for families, or for couples after a romantic dinner.

A great stop when you're driving through and want to visit Florence. The staff were lovely, breakfast was good, and Cesar was friendly and helpful. Give him a tip and he'll call you Don, lol. The rooms are spacious, with an old-fashioned Italian villa feel, or a bit of a “the godfather” vibe if that's what you're after. The building used to be an old church and is now a vineyard, in a very quiet spot with a lovely view of Florence. It's ideal if you have a car and want to stay away from the city's noisy streets. It's farther away if you don't have one.