Villa I Leoni

The grounds are lovely, and the pool was a nice bonus on hot afternoons. A winery and Castle Montofugoni are just a short distance away; Montespertoli is nearby, and there’s a small grocery store about two miles away. I’d come back, though I’d bring bug spray, since the mosquitoes are fierce and the windows have no screens. It’s a lovely building from 1916, with lots of small suites, so it works well for large groups. We’re in a two-bedroom apartment on the third floor, and thankfully it has air conditioning. The shower setup is awkward, with two curtains in the middle of the room. Water floods the bathroom, though it does drain away.

It’s a beautiful area, and we felt honored to stay in their home. Still, we would have planned differently if we’d known some of the practical details. For transport and dining convenience, a hotel closer to the city might suit you better. The nearby bus stop has limited service. The more frequent bus runs from town, about 1.5 miles away up a steep hill, which was hard for the healthy seniors in our group. Taxis and rideshares won’t pick up here, and the private shuttle needs to be arranged well ahead and costs a lot. We’d recommend getting an international license and renting a car. Dining was also less convenient than advertised. The nearby restaurant often closes before its posted hours, and the pizzeria about a mile away won’t do takeout after 7 pm, though it’s a great place to eat in. On our first night, its owner kindly brought us pizzas and wine, included from another nearby pizzeria. The house is beautiful, with many bedroom and apartment combinations, and privacy wasn’t a problem. A few family members live on the property, but we didn’t cross paths or notice them. Only two bedrooms are wheelchair accessible. The third-floor apartment in the main house has a very mildewed bathroom because the whole floor is the shower area, so bring sandals. Wi-Fi was reliable on the first floor but didn’t work at all on the third.

The location is a big consideration: it’s about 30 minutes by car from Florence, so you’ll need to rent one. Taxis are too expensive for the trip back and forth. There’s a beautiful hotel and restaurant next door with amazing sunsets and excellent food. The villa was clean and nice, with lots of room for a big group. The beds were decent, and we enjoyed hanging out outside. Wi-Fi was terrible, so we all used our cell service instead. Not every room has its own bathroom, and we shared one bath among four people, though we did have our own kitchen. Bring ice trays, extra towels, and toilet paper. The washing machine didn’t work, and the windows don’t have screens.

We had a great time here with friends for New Year's Eve 2017/2018. The owner was helpful, and the apartments were well equipped and looked after. There’s a barbecue, pool, and other amenities, with plenty of different apartments to choose from. It’s a bit removed from nightlife and the city, but there’s a small town a few kilometers away for groceries and other services. There were some misunderstandings with the owner, and he hadn’t set a timer for the heating, so our bill at the end of the holiday was very high.