TOSCANA

Leonardo Room

2008

We were lucky enough to spend three nights split between two rooms.

First, the Michelangelo which is considered to be their premium room due to its expansive view of the Piazza della Signoria. It was lovely and has a canopy bed and frescoed ceiling.

The second was the Giotto next door. Of all the rooms we have stayed in...so far our favourite! It is very bright with light terra cotta coloured walls, frescoed ceiling and excellent view of the Piazza.

Each room and bath is individualized and one feature of the Giotto is that it has an interesting door to the closet which looks like it is a gigantic oriental mirror...it is stunning!

Best of all is to wake up in the morning and see the Palazzo Vecchio tower while lying in bed. Magnifico!! Our friends had the Dante which is every bit as spacious and lovely as the front rooms except it does not have a view of the Piazza.

Breakfast Room

InPiazziaDellaSignoria is a gem that needs no polishing. They have thought of everything. Even down to providing a glass pitcher which can be filled with bottled mineral water from the coolers in the hallway on each floor.

The location is second to none and what good fortune that it is only about one block from one of the best gelaterias in Italy. Walk straight out the door into the Piazza until you get to the first street, turn right and immediately on your left you will find your way to gelato heaven!!

Botticelli Room.

The staff are warm, friendly and helpful in every way. Their assistance with restaurant recommendations and reservations is invaluable in a city that has restaurants on every street.

We don't know how we missed it before, but there is a fabulous restaurant and wine bar right next door to the hotel which can be a blessing after a long day of walking the streets of Firenze. It is called the dei Frescobaldi Ristorante & Wine Bar www.frescobaldiwinebar.it See more about the restaurant under their name.

Piazza della Signoria

Also new in 2008, is the addition of four independent rooms across the Piazza. We have not seen these rooms but have no doubt that the management of InPiazziaDellaSignoria have put as much care and attention to detail in these suites as they have in the B&B.

Two of the four have small kitchenettes while the other two have minibars. Included in the price of the room is breakfast which is a very short walk, across the Piazza at the B&B. See their web site for details on what is offered. www.2piazzasignoria.com

Our excitement of going to Firenze is that much more by knowing that we are going to stay here. Since we have travelled in Italy so much we consider the pleasure of staying in nice accommodations part of the experience and not just a place to park our suitcases. It is all part of living la dolce vita!!

Eating at this restaurant has been a tradition of ours for a number of years. Great food. Worth each of its Michelin Two-Fork rating. The Mamma Gina Cannaloni will certainly keep bringing you back.

Back many times we have been, as recent at 2008 and 2007. Be hungry when you arrive as you will get very generous portions In 2008 we tried to pace ourselves by only having an appetizer, a pasta and then a dessert. That was more than enough. The canneloni is a dish you will be talking about well after you return from your vacation!.

It is easy to find. Walk across the bridge, turn right at the first corner and walk down street four or five blocks, it is on the left hand side.

We have had a number of great meals at this little restaurant in Pienza. When travelling in Tuscany we just say, let's to Pienza for lunch!

The small trattoria is located at the end of town, on the main street via San Carlo. Walk out of the duomo across the piazza, turn right on via San Carlo and within a few blocks you are at the end of the via and there is the Latte di Luna. Be there just before 12:30 or you will not be able to get one of the outdoor tabels.

The food has always been great. The roast meat special dish of the day has always been outstanding. One visit it was pork, an our last visit it was rabbit. The bruschetta is not to be missed. It was so good that our friend Chris Grant ordered another dish for dessert! Confussed the serving staff but hell, taste those tomatoes, olive oil and garlic!

The crew of the film, English Patient, which was shot near Pienza, frequented the restaurant. There are pictures of Ralph Fiennes and other stars on the walls.

The restaurant does not take credit cards so take enough money with you. And again, it fills up fast so don't be the last off the streets for the noon meal. Reasonably priced, in 2006, two bruschetta, two pastas, half litre of house wine and a larger bottle of water can to 25 Euros.

The Pescille is located in a old farm estate.

The Pescille has a great pool -- really needed when touring in the heat of the summer in Tuscany and Umbria.

We have visited this hotel in 1994, 1997 and again in 2006. On all our stays, and from the comments we have heard back from the many people we have referred to this hotel, the location is noted as being excellent.

Touring Tuscany? You have to also see San Giminano. Despite being a target for tourists, the town is remarkable and worth putting up with the crowds.

The Pescille is located just 4.5 km south of the town, with the hotel on the location of what was previously an old farm.

Over the many years we have stayed here, the Pescille remains a very beautiful hotel. One of the nicest locations at which to rest while touring Tuscany. On a hot day the pool and the gardens are most enjoyable.

When we stayed in one of the suites the decor was top notch, when we took one of the standard rooms, the decor was more on the basic level. But not the worry, the hotel itself is stunning.

The towers of San Gimignano as seen from the hotel.

There is no restaurant in the hotel, but we noticed that they run a shuttle bus service from the hotel to San Gimignano so it is easy to get back and forth. If going into town for dinner in the evening, the day trip tourists have left and it is easier to get a parking slot.

Agriturismo Le Anfore has surrounded by vineyards is a great place to stay in Tuscany.

We are always on the lookout for a great place to stay that is an easy drive from Rome. This is one of them. Located only 6 km from the A1 Autostrada (Florence to Rome) you can stay here and within 90 minutes be on the Grande Raccordo Annulare (GRA) - which circles Rome. From there it is into Rome, the airport, or any of the other Autostrada's that network fom the GRA.

We first stayed here in June, 2006 in a beautiful suite that could sleep up to four. There was a livingroom with a balcony, a large king size bed in one room and two twin beds in another bedroom. The bathroom was huge. The decor was beautiful with some antique pieces and alot of attention given to details such as bathrobes, individually coloured bath towels which made it feel more like home than a hotel.

We stayed again in 2007 and the only thing we want to report is that things have stayed pretty much the same and as before we had a great experience.

While sitting outside playing cards, we were treated to a glass of the Le Anfore's private label prosecco.  We had one dinner and as usual it was exceptional!  Highly recommended and would suggest that you request the Carroll suite which overlooks the pool, olive grove & vineyard.  It is real good value and for a small extra charge you can use the 2nd bedroom to accommodate four. 

If you are not able to get that suite ask for the suite directly behind it overlooking the courtyard called the Atoll.

The 3rd suite we thought was broken up and did not have a view.  

If taking a standard room, ask for the 3rd floor which has a bit of a view. 

The 2nd floor rooms do not have views. All standard rooms are pretty small but nicely decorated.

The grounds are well kept and charming.

A wonderful pool to return to at the end of a day of touring Umbria and Tuscany.

They have a fabulous pool which is surrounded by vineyards & olive groves. Lots of comfortable pool furniture so after a day or touring Umbria or Tuscany you can return for a swim and relax.

We took the half-board option (Breakfast and dinner) and this was a great decision as the meals we had were outstanding. Dinner was server in the small courtyard and each of the three nights we were there we were impressed. They produce wines and the Le Anfore white was 5.50 Euros a bottle and very good.

There is a little english spoken but don't let that be a factor in not selecting this as a great place to stay.

It took two passes to find Le Anfore. From the A1 Autostrada, about 41 km north of Orvieto, take the exit for Sarteano. Follow S478 for 6km and the small road (via Oriato) will be on your left just at the bend in the road. The town of Sarteano is only 1.5 km down the S478 so if you arrive in town, you have missed the turn!

This is a great base location for touring. Siena is only 84 km, Florence 135 km and Rome just 168 km away!

We are aiming for this place, dates to 945 A.D. a country house halfway between Florence and Siena in at medieval hamlet on top of a hill in the Chianti countryside. The house, restructured to be a hotel with old world charm maintained. Think swimming pool with a view to return to after a day of touring the country-side.

Location: Ponzano, Barberino Val d'Elsa, (Florence), Italy

E-Mail: agriponzano@hotmail.com

Web Site: www.ponzano.wide.it