Acquapietra Guesthouse

The villa is gorgeous, and the countryside views from the patio are hard to beat. There's a long covered outdoor dining table for 20, plus cushioned seating for six at one end, facing two directions, four charcoal grills, and two views of the Tuscan hills. Flowers surround the deck, and the villa looks especially striking from the southwest approach. It sleeps at least 14, probably more. The pool is lovely, though it was too cold for me in late September. Getting there takes a winding drive almost all the way around the property, with signs marking the route. The final approach goes south down a fairly steep hill through vineyards, then you reach the villa from the west. After parking, it's a walk down the hill along the east side to the front, with the pool visible ahead. A patio partly shaded by a huge wisteria sits at the entrance. There are two sitting rooms and a kitchen on the south side of the ground floor, along with two exterior doors. One sitting room has a huge fireplace, but we couldn't find firewood. The kitchen has modern appliances and is well equipped. The doorways are barely tall enough for me at 6' 2", so take care if you're that tall. I learned that the hard way. On the east side there's a powder bath and a bedroom at the northeast corner. A large dining room is on the north side, with another bathroom and shower at the northwest corner for the ground-floor bedroom. Upstairs there are at least five bedrooms, all with en suite bathrooms. We arrived on a cool day and found just two blankets. Our downstairs room and most upstairs rooms had only sheets. We had a mini-split AC/heat pump, but the thick, cold masonry walls meant it took most of the night to warm our room. I later realized I hadn't set it to heat. Hot water takes a long time to reach most parts of the house. At the east end it never seemed to arrive, and after running for a while elsewhere it slowed to a trickle as the lights dimmed. It seems a pressure tank runs low and a pump starts. Cold water, by contrast, comes out strongly right away. Some boards on the pool side of the deck are broken, by the long table. A chair leg can rock over a board if someone walks behind you, and a cane can slip into a hole and get stuck. For all the rustic inconveniences, the beauty of the place wins out.

Alice made us feel at home right away, and room 81 was just our style, with its boutique vintage feel and brilliant shower. We loved the breathtaking views and sat outside for breakfast, which was buffet style with plenty to choose from, including homemade preserves. We were only there for two nights and wished we'd booked longer. Alice even put together a breakfast tray for our early airport start, which we really appreciated. The drive down is a bit bumpy, but worth it for the Tuscan scenery and hospitality. We'd definitely stay again and recommend it.

Alice, Carlo and Pietro were thoughtful hosts and had lots of ideas for things to do nearby. We found the breakfast generous, with good homemade bread, jams and great black coffee, and it was included in the price. This is a quiet place to rest with your partner, in a typical Tuscan house that's old but warmly decorated, with pleasant vineyard views. I was surprised to see the comment about breakfast.

Built in the 17th century, this villa has plenty of history. It worked wonderfully for a weekend gathering with friends and loved ones. You can arrange a personal chef for pizza, grilled meat, or a lovely breakfast fit for Italian dukes and royalty.