Went for the cooking class- had so much fun! Learned so much, and the food was so great, got to…read moreenjoy all the food we made and lots of wine. Our host and chef were great. We went with a group of family and friends and had a great time!

From the owner: Nell'amabile campagna di Chianciano, adagiata tra vigneti secolari e meravigliosi ulivi, avvolto…read moredai colori e dai profumi delle valli toscane...sorge Palazzo Bandino. Palazzo Bandino: nove appartamenti, quattro camere con bagno, servizio di I° colazione, ristorazione tipica solo su prenotazione, con la possibilità di organizzare lezioni e corsi di cucina e di vino per individuali e piccoli gruppi; visita alle cantine con degustazione e spuntini di prodotti tipici. Di recentissima apertura l'Area Relax "Sensi DiVini" con tanto di piscina idromassaggio riscaldata per massaggio dorsale, lombare e idro a cascata per il beneficio di tutto il corpo, vasca idromassaggio esterna riscaldata, percorso kneipp, doccia emozionale, sauna finlandese e hammam ( bagno turco). Ma questo non è tutto! Nelle tue vacanze benessere in Toscana potrai rilassarti nel raxul (hammam munito di possibilità' di programmazione personalizzata) e ricevere massaggi in cabina su prenotazione.

My husband and I were lucky enough to stay at Fonte Martino Guest House and Estate in October 2018,…read morebefore David and Toby began taking reservations. We stayed in the Montepulciano suite, which is in the main house, and were blown away by the amenities and care they took in making the room luxurious. The suite was spacious, modern, clean and had everything we needed to make us feel at home. The views from Fonte Martino of the Tuscan landscape, as well as a commanding view of Montepulciano, made down time at the Inn a pleasure and eye candy for my soul. The location of Fonte Martino was also ideal. A quick 20min walk or 5min drive, made excursions into town easy and fun. In addition to Montepulciano, Fonte Martino is also a easy drive to Cortona, Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Pienza and many other small towns that are nestled in the Tuscan countryside. I would highly recommend visiting Montepulciano and staying at Fonte Martino Guest House and Estate. I'm excited to go back!

From the owner: Exclusively situated 5 minutes from historic Montepulciano, Fonte Martino is the ideal destination…read morefor your Tuscan adventure. It's easy to understand why Rick Steves said, "Montepulciano is one of my favorites for exploring Tuscany and its wine country." Upon your arrival, you will be greeted with panoramic views of Montepulciano and the Tuscan countryside. With the most perfect weather, you will find yourself immersed in our beautiful gardens and relaxing suites. Designed to accommodate a limited number of guests with all modern comforts, Fonte Martino will provide lasting memories for your Tuscan holiday.

I'd give it ten if I could. Our 2nd trip to quiet Il Fontanaro, near historic Paciano, Italy. A…read morefamily business which has honey, olive oil, wine and an amazing guest houses. Clean, classy, well appointed. You immediately feel both at home and on vacation. I can't stay long enough, wine tours, cooking classes, ancient towns, hand made Italian leather shoes! You know what - Don't go....leave it all for me MamaK and Glammom totally approve!

If I could give Fontanaro 10 or 10,000 stars, I would. It is a slice of paradise operated by two of…read morethe most wonderful women I've ever met and who have become friends for life. Located in Paciano, a small village in Umbria with a population of 1000, Fontanaro is an agriturismo which produces wine, olive oil (Silver medal winner in the world olive oil competition), honey and saffron. They also operate an organic cooking school and rent beautiful villas. We stayed in Frantoio, one of the two villas for rent on the Fontanaro farm property. The other villas are in very close proximity to Fontanaro and Paciano. Upon arriving, one is greeted with a gorgeous stone villa where the owners Lucia & Alina live, and the air is sweet with the many varieties of roses that blanket the property. Lucia and Alina go above and beyond in showing wonderful hospitality to their guests, and we left feeling like we were leaving family. They are so very kind, always keen to any needs their guests might have, and we spent hours talking with them and enjoying their perfect wine, along with the most delectable prosciutto and pecorino cheese with truffles I have ever had. All the food we ate while there was perfect, including homemade gnocchi and ravioli we made during our cooking class. It was also nice meeting other guests from different parts of the US and other countries. It is a very comfortable, homey setting. Our villa was rustic and beautifully decorated and stocked with all the basic food items we needed such as pasta, garlic, butter, olive oil, honey, wine, bread and eggs. We were welcome to pick food from their organic garden, so we enjoyed sauteed spinach, salads and the most sweetly satisfying strawberries I have ever had. The property includes a saltwater infinity pool and jacuzzi with beautiful views of Paciano and the valley, in addition to many hammocks and seating areas in which to enjoy the views of the countryside. I also highly recommend taking a tour of their olive mill and honey lab. They produce their olive oil on site in order to ensure their high standards of quality and taste. Very important to us, they use solar panels for power and collect rainwater in which to water their gardens and crops. A two hour drive from Rome, Fontanaro is very conveniently located for day trips to other cities in Umbria and Tuscany. We visited Montepulciano and Cortona while there - both medieval towns located on top of hills within a 40 minute drive (Cortona is where Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed). Alina is a master map drawer and had a plethora of shopping and dining suggestions for us wherever we went. She knows people everywhere, and upon entering any shop or restaurant, all we had to say was we were staying at Fontanaro or mention Lucia or Alina's name and receive a big smile and hugs of welcome in return. I could write for days about our experience here. It was the best vacation we've ever been on, and there is not one thing we did not enjoy. It was so perfect, we do not wish to go anywhere else... ever!

A very slow food place, the Locanda del Principato is a circle opened only 3 days per week…read more http://www.locandadelprincipato.com/ita/raggiungerci.htm Each night with a different theme. Usually for example on Friday night in autumn is the baby carriage served after dinner full of on made grappas! the fish, but for this week we will enjoy the white truffle cooked in all the best way from appetizer to accompaing the meat. The full dinner cost is 30 euro + wines and consist in almost 6/8 different dishes. Tip and cash are very appreciated (NO CREDIT CARD). Best of the area!! More info at http://www.umbriatuscanyreview.com/restaurant-review-2/a-very-slow-food/

We spent time in this intimate, romantic, gorgeous, and meticulously furnished converted monastery…read morefor a memorable wedding. The 18-room inn is located in the Umbria / Tuscany region, close to lovely Renaissance villages such as Cortona. Corte del Sole's grounds, including a vineyard, rose gardens and an outdoor swimming pool, are stunning, with the backdrop of rolling Tuscan hills and Lake Trasimeno. The restaurant and wine cellar (and wine collection) are phenomenal. Expect to gain about a pound a day - and have fun with it. As the inn is nestled away in the countryside, eating something other than the restaurant's heavy gourmet Italian fare requires venturing to nearby towns. Definitely on the list for a return visit.

After spending time in Positano and Rome, this was by far my favorite. The town is beautiful but…read morestaying at Il Tosco made it even more special. I felt like a local walking into my Tuscan home each night. We had two rooms which were next to each other and shared a common sitting area. The common area was a great place to read and play cards. There are homemade snacks all around for your enjoyment. If you want a bottle of wine, there are plenty all around the place. Our room was spacious and bed and pillows comfortable. The breakfast, oh the breakfast, it was amazing. Homemade cakes, fresh fruit, cooked to order eggs, cheeses, meats,.... There was so much food! It was outstanding. The staff was wonderful in helping us with reservations and such. Absolutely loved this place.

This is a beautiful hill top town full of wonderful shops restaurants and history on every street,…read moreso if you are here, you are already a winner. Choosing to stay at Il Tosco will take it from perfect to sublime. This property is a labor of love owned by a family and run by the same. You will quickly realize that as impossible as it seems, this project of theirs is more driven by their need for perfection than money. The breakfast that comes with the room is ridiculously elaborate and delicious. There are only 4 rooms, but every morning you walk into walls lined with food. Fruits and meats, cheeses and pastries, egg dishes, grilled vegetables cakes cakes and more cakes, breads, jams,jellies, juices, what ever kind of coffee or expresso or tea you wish, etc etc. Had to add the etcs because I know I'm leaving things out. The bedrooms are large and appointed with antiques while being also thoroughly modern. The bathroom was expansive, contemporary. The linens on the bed gorgeous. You will be made to feel at home and the gracious hospitality offered covered our every wish, without ever being obtrusive.