Casa Degli Olivi, Siena Tuscany

WhenMay 19th to June 17th 2007, 1 month Review by Jules S. from Canada LocationThe apartment is situated above the owners’ home and is accessed through a separate door. The owners are into bio-culture of fruits and vegetables and also raise a few animals on their mini-farm.The décor is typical of the Southern Tuscany panorama with incredible views and a sense of calm and serenity emanates from the beauty of the olive trees interlaced with numerous flower beds . Nearby AmenitiesThe premises are situated in Cetona, a little village with a rather lively piazza when the weather is nice. One will find all basic necessities in Cetona including a variety of boutiques that sell anything from meat, fruits, vegetables and sundries. We counted at least five restaurants in the village mostly frequented by locals. The Sports Bar at one end of the piazza is remembered for the conviviality of the staff.Close by in Chiusi, you will find a train station and most of the amenities of a small Italian town with supermarkets and plenty of shops. The House/ApartmentThe house is just wonderful and quiet. Our quarters were located above the owner’s house and the general appearance was even better than we expected. There is a large bedroom with a king size bed, a well equipped kitchen and a large balcony with table and chairs offering a wonderful view of the Tuscan countryside. We found the place to be extremely clean and very private. We rarely saw the owners and they knew how to make us feel at home.GardenThe surrounding gardens are also beautiful. We were welcomed to use the table and chairs in the garden to relax amongst the smell of roses and lavender. Olive trees are plenty and we enjoyed walking through the elaborate landscape of the garden.Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living AreasFurniture is new and spotless. The apartment is very well appointed with all accessories that made our stay very enjoyable.Bedrooms/BathroomsBoth were large and offered the comfort we were looking for.KitchenThough limited in size, the kitchen offered anything one would need to cook a dinner for two. There are plenty of pots, pans and dishes, even an espresso coffee maker.All appliances were almost new and we did enjoy the wood stove (warmer) on a few evenings where the temperature was lower than normal. There is even firewood on the terrace for that purpose. Problems or BonusesProblems: absolutely none.Bonuses: the kindness of our hosts and their family. We were offered organic honey (the best we ever had), olive oil from the olive trees on the property, pasta sauce, wine, strawberries, raspberries and loganberries, not to forget the tomato sauce that we used for some of our pasta dinners. Moreover, the owners were even helpful in getting us to the Chiusi Avis agency and they had made arrangements for us to pick up our car a couple of days after our arrival. The service at this Avis agency is extraordinary. Agency and Representatives (and price)We had reserved directly from the owner a few weeks before our scheduled arrival through email. Both owners speak English fluently (one is British) and we booked everything in the most pleasant manner.Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?Absolutely. It is a place we will recommend to anyone wishing for a home away from home. The apartment’s location allows for anyone to easily visit Southern Tuscany and Northern Umbria. The location calls for the use of a rented car but the train station is within a 10 minute drive from the house. Florence, Siena, Orvieto, Perugia, Assisi and many smaller towns are within 100 kms.Things to do in this areaHaving spent a full month at Casa degli Olivi in Cetona, we found great pleasure in discovering most of the suggested tourist destinations in Tuscany and Umbria: Florence, Siena, Orvieto, Rome, Perugia, Pienza, Arezzo, Colle di Val d’Elsa, the Chianti wine region and the Thermes of San Casciano dei Bagni found in the vicinity. However, we found even greater pleasure in discovering little towns or villages away from the tourists where the Italian lifestyle has been preserved from outside influences.To name a few, we loved taking in the Saturday morning market activity found in Chiusi or Citta della Pieve, discovering villages like Monteleone (where the total absence of tourism allows for an unforgettable experience of calm and serenity), Piazze (for its Gentili vineyard) and Sarteano for an outstanding vantage point on the Tuscan countryside.We both enjoyed the food, especially Pecorino cheese, pasta and *pizze*. The wine selection is awesome; we will never forget the rose trees flowering in the vineyards and the fields of sunflowers basking in the Tuscan and Umbrian sun. The weather was great between mid-May and mid-June with a mixture of hot days followed by more comfortable periods of cooler temperature.The speed limit on the Italian autostradas is surprising to North Americans and the unending bends of national roads took some time to get used to. To summarize our experience, we can find only one way to express our satisfaction: we would do it again if the opportunity arises.

Review by Heather D from US LocationThe apartment was attached to the owners home on their beautiful, organic farm overlooking vineyards, olive trees and sunflowers. It was in the country, but still convienient for touring the rest of Tuscany. The area was absolutely stunning with incredible views. It was completely peaceful and serene.Nearby AmenitiesIt was about a 10-15 minute walk to the town of Cetona where you could have coffee in the piazza with the locals. There is also a shop that sells produce, one that sells meat, a bakery and convienience store for anything else you may need. There are only a few restaurants in the town.The House/ApartmentThe apartment was beautiful, well decorated, and comfortable. The owners went above and beyond in their consideration of the guests that would be staying there. It was the only apartment on the property. The bedroom had one large (king size) bed as well as a futon couch if needed. Looking out the bedroom window you see beautiful hills, an old stone house and fields of sunflowers and olive trees. The bathroom had everything you could need, as did the kitchen. Each morning I would sit at the table eating my breakfast looking out at the most spectacular views. There was also a balcony to sit and relax and enjoy the view.GardenThere was a table and chairs in the garden to use sitting amongst the flowers and butterflys. This would be shared with the owners. Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living AreasEverything was in perfect condition and the apartment would be comfortable for 2-3 people.Bedrooms/BathroomsThe bed and bedroom were fantastic. Bathroom had everything you would need.KitchenThe kitchen was perfect for however much or how little you wanted to cook. There were plenty of dishes, pots and pans. When I arrived there was organic, home made olive oil, honey, pasta sauce, wine, and eggs waiting for me.Problems or BonusesThe only surprise was how wonderful and peaceful the place was.would you recommend this vacation rental to others?I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone, friends and family included. This was the most wonderful, relaxing holiday I've ever had and the apartment had a lot to do with that.Things to do in this areaIn Cetona I enjoyed having coffee in the piazza as well as wandering the narrow stone streets. There is also a thermal spa nearby, but I didn't go. There is easy access to the main highway (A1) so I was able to see a lot of the area (Florence, Siena, Chianti wine region, and numerous beautiful hilltop towns).

Review by James from Canada May 2006, 7 days LocationThe apartment is located on the upper floor of a house on a beautiful small farm on the road in to Cetona. The area generally is a stunning, wild and rugged part of Tuscany, a little off the beaten track, but within easy drives of Siena, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Cortona, Lake Trasimeno and Orvieto. The A1 motorway is about 10 minutes from the house if you want to travel further afield. The area is totally charming, quiet, peaceful, free from hordes of tourists, and an excellent place to relax for a week while taking in the charms of the area.The centre of Cetona, a classic Tuscan hill town, is about 15 minutes brisk walk from the house. There is a supermarket, bakery, restaurants etc. in the town centre. It was beautiful to walk into town for an evening meal and stroll back under the stars.The house is in excellent shape. The house consists of the upper floor apartment that is rented out to visitors and, via a separate entrance, the part where the owners live. The apartment consists of one large bedroom, a large bathroom, a ktichen and a large balcony where you can sit out and eat admiring the views of the Tuscan countryside. Everything was spotlessly clean and well maintained by the owners who, since they live in the same building, were always on hand if we needed anything.There is an utterly gorgeous garden where you can sit out and have breakfast, read etc. In late May the roses were out and the scent was exquisite. All the furniture was in good shape, either new purchases or sturdy country antiques.Bedrooms/BathroomsAll was spotless and comfortable. The bath is large and inviting, and there is also a shower. KitchenThe kitchen was fairly basic but well equipped and perfectly adequate for two people. There were plenty of pots and pans, cutlery, glasses etc. It's not a place for cooking elaborate dinner parties for eight, but since we were just there to relax, it was just fine.Problems or BonusesThe owners had provided organic olive oil, wine, honey and eggs from their farm. The eggs were so fresh and delicious, and the owners took me to visit the hens that had laid them. Also, the honey was probably the best honey that I had ever tasted anywhere, with scents of lavender and clover from the owners' farm. I bought three jars to take back as gifts.Agency and Representatives (and price)The owners are Italian and English and were very helpful in giving advice about the local area. Unlike many other farms rentals, they only have one apartment to rent out, and since they live right next door we had the reassurance that if any poblems were to arise, they would be on site to fix them. The price was very reasonable.Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?I would aboslutely recommend this without hesitation to anyone who wants to live in Italy for a few days or a week away from the tourist hordes, but with the convenience of being able to tour around the small towns of southern Tuscany or northern Umbria.Things to do in this areaDinner at the fabulous nearby Frateria di Padre Ligio is worth it if you prepare yourself in advance for the 100 euro eight course tasting menu set in a lovingly restored monastery.