Villa Senni

The food was average at best, even though the service was quite good. There aren’t many places to choose from in the area, but I’m still not sure I’d come back.

Enjoying Italy’s relaxing way of life.

We were six adults and two children under three, and stayed three nights in a spacious apartment at Villa Senni. It sleeps six, with room to add cots, and the large rooms made sharing with several families easier. Mrs. Marzia was attentive and helpful from our first contact, and the adjacent La Limonaia restaurant was convenient. The pool, lawn, guest tables, and barbecue were nice to have, too. The setting is a rustic old farmhouse complex owned by the Frescobaldi family, with plenty of green space for relaxing. The countryside is mostly quiet, though the racetrack can be heard during the day. The apartments are in an original 18th-century manor house with period furnishings and a solid, rustic feel. The property is well signposted and easy to reach, a few kilometers from the Barberino motorway exit and 25 kilometers from Florence. Our stay was very positive despite some flaws, and the price seemed good for the area and time of year. The apartment had a microwave, toaster, dishes, and kitchen utensils, but the bathrooms, plumbing, systems, and finishes seemed old and neglected, and could use attention. Wi-Fi in apartment 1 was practically unusable; together with the weak mobile signal indoors, it made getting online difficult. You can also hear both the railway and Mugello racetrack. Advance payment is accepted only by bank transfer or cash.

The pool was large, pleasant, and a real bright spot, and the staff quickly brought extra kitchen utensils when we asked. But for the price, our two weeks at Villa Senni in summer 2021 were very disappointing. The kitchen was badly equipped and needed renovation. The fridge door wouldn’t shut properly, and the oven was too dirty to use. Though the apartment was spacious, the furniture was poor: some cupboards had water damage and the smell that came with it, so we lived out of our suitcases. Plaster was falling from the renovated ceilings, and there was old trail mix in a bedside table. A railway line is close by, and noise from the Mugello train often disturbed us. Around 6:30 pm, waiters set up restaurant tables by the pool, so this isn’t a good choice for a quiet, undisturbed holiday.