This is where we had our wedding reception 9 years ago. Unfortunately, that was back in the dark…read moreages before Yelp so I couldn't write a review at the time. However I do recall the many, many courses of molto delicioso cibo. Irma, the proprietor, is such a wonderful hostess and chef. Every time we come back to visit, we stop here for a meal. Our last trip to Italy in July was 2 and a half weeks long and without question, our meal here was the best of the trip. I had a plate of spinach ravioli drenched in ricotta sauce with tartufo shavings that was absolutely rapturous. It was...glorious. How glorious was it you ask? It was SO glorious that as I'm writing this and trying to pay homage to its gloriousness, I'm starting to drool--I am NOT kidding. I mean...imagine you're eating a plate of the sexiest pasta you've ever had. As the olfactory/gustatory pleasure mounts, you can almost hear the cherubim and seraphim moaning at the pleasure of your pleasure in the background. Yeah. THAT glorious. The Huzby had some cinghiale pappardelle that also knocked it out of the park. He didn't mention anything about angels, but not a noodle was left behind. The tiramisu was divine in its own right. Thankfully, the grounds are equipped with a recovery bed and canopy to allow you to digest in full repose. Ahh.... Mille grazie and we'll see you again in a year or three, Irma.

After leaving Venice we drove toward Firenza (Florence) in the Tuscany region. We booked this…read moreproperty for a week instead of bouncing around various hotels and it was SO worth it! This is a family owned working vineyard which produces a wonderful Chianti as well as their own olive oil. They've got three buildings they've converted to "apartments" for tourist rental. Each apartment has a living room area with TV, fireplace, a full kitchen (stocked with dishes, cooking utensils, etc), a dining area, a bathroom and a small outdoor patio area. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-scopa-montaione?select=Bdbg61ItH_A6wCdWVYCDYg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-scopa-montaione?select=9N7YKzfx2X335EP3YNT_Hw The largest building has 4 apartments and most are 3 bedrooms. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-scopa-montaione?select=6927dBtfHFGpLTz-Ys4PBA The mid-size building has a 3 bedroom and 4 bedroom unit. We took both the 3 & 4 bedroom units in the mid-size building as we had 11 in our group. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-scopa-montaione?select=mnQBKHtwkXDBXmIJWhBOeA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-scopa-montaione?select=NLry2gOyytmCGXsDF5jrhg The smallest building is a one bedroom and perfect for a couple. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=1LuajXJsCypM-UgtQjpUBg&userid=Jcbj338NjXtSiqvK3LYghQ Amenities include: Outdoor wood burning grilling area, 2 swimming pools (not heated), http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/la-scopa-montaione?select=4IcOQViQll2a0caRYfsN8g laundry facilities (a small washing machine) and absolutely breath taking views of the vinyard and rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside! The "staff" was extremely friendly, accomodating, very pleasant to talk to and more then happy to show their very O-L-D S-C-H-O-O-L wine production facilities. La Scopa is located in Montaione, about 40 km Southwest of Florence. If you have the option of renting a villa like this instead of staying in hotels, I VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! P.S... I found this video on Youtube showing the accommodations. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUoaG8BR5WM

The location is great, it's less than a 5 minute walk to the main gate of San Gimignano! It is…read moreuphill, so it might take you longer, but a reasonably fit person can do it in less than 5 minutes. The property is in the middle of a quiet residential neighborhood. It's safe and quiet. If you book this property, do so because of its stellar location! And if you have a car, it's easy to park here (though there's a hefty fee, I believe we paid 15 Euros per night) and not have to fuss with the ZTL zones inside San Gimignano's walls! The hotel has lots of extra "gotcha" charges -- extra for wi-fi, extra fee for parking in their lot out front, etc. The grounds were lovely and the views spectacular. If you book a cheap room, get ready to overlook houses. If you are staying more than a night, it's worth it to book a view room -- the views of the Tuscan hillside are breathtaking. The free breakfast was abysmal, I left without eating. Lots of dried out boxed pastries, sliced deli meat and yogurt. Not many options. Sleep in and don't waste your time on it, there's too much GOOD food to eat in Tuscany! The hotel itself is just okay. It's old and dated and our "Small Double" room was not as nice as the common areas suggest. It was dark and tiny. The bathroom was so cramped it was ridiculous. Yeah, I've stayed in lots of hotels all over the world and I know European rooms are always smaller than rooms in North America, but banging my shins on the bidet and squeezing into the shower is my idea of tiny living! The staff was friendly. I did enjoy the large balcony attached to our room although we had no view. It was nice to sleep with the doors open to let the fresh, cool air inside. Nice toiletries were provided as well. The pictures on their website are pretty accurate, they don't really try to "sugar coat" their representation of what you get.

From the owner: A pochi minuti dalle mura medievali di San Gimignano, incantevole borgo toscano dichiarato…read moredall'Unesco patrimonio dell'Umanità, si trova l'Hotel Relais Santa Chiara, un'elegante e discreta struttura circondata dai paesaggi più belli della campagna toscana, che vi darà il benvenuto con il suo staff sempre attento e ospitale. La posizione centrale, le eleganti camere, molte delle quali con vista sulle magnifiche distese di viti ed ulivi del Chianti, la piscina a conchiglia con idromassaggio incorniciata dal giardino privato, fanno del Relais Santa Chiara l'hotel ideale per trascorrere un soggiorno di totale riposo e tranquillità, alla scoperta degli affascinanti tesori culturali ed eno-gastronomici della Toscana.

Amazing and racing stay with beautiful scenery all around. They have the best olive oil I have ever…read morehad and it has a beautiful green color and the local Ostrea wine was delicious! The best birrata I have ever had was here!

I'm not a 5 star giver, usually, but I can't think of one thing wrong with this place! We spent 4…read morenights there. Finding it, is tricky use the longitude and latitude to make it easier and allow a lot of daylight to get lost. That's even worth it because of the amazing views! Everything from the first person we met to our room, to the food, pool, views, staff, the grounds, parking etc was perfect. We rolled in after being lost for a bit, checked in, and a nice young man helped with our bags to the room - we had the room over the restaurant with the San Gimignano and vineyard view. The room was spacious and clean. The fridge had times for purchase but it was large enough we could put in some of our own water or food - not huge though - I guess thats the only flaw? ha ha a wee more space in there for personal items. We were starving and they let us order some bites off the menu we got sort of an antipasti plate, cheese, bread and bruschetta..delish and reasonably priced. the setting for dining is outstanding, the view of the sunset, the pool, the grounds is just stunning. The pool is crystal blue. There were some children there but I think only for 1 of the days we were there. I would venture to say this is more on the adult side, but certianly kid friendly. I jsut dont see kids enjoying it as much as adults looking for a getaway, romance and relaxation. We had a car and being from the states we thought it was nicely located too, an hour or 2 and you were everywhere! Pisa, Florence, Genoa... we trotted around and took trips all over. It was indeed the perfect Tuscany honeymoon spot. They have their own vineyard and olive oil too ! It's not a cheap place to stay, but worth every penny. I'll finish up with my queer-o-meter!!! we had NO issues in Italy at all on our honeymoon and this place was perfect. The staff and guests - no problems having a romantic dinner there or being together on the ground walking around. Mormoraia, thank you for a trip of a lifetime - we hope to be back!!!

The best hotel I've ever stayed in. Period. My wife and I stayed here on our honeymoon and hardly a…read moreday goes by when I don't think about it. The grounds are beautiful, our room was enormous and the staff paid attention to every detail during our stay. My wife and I just renovated our house and we put in a pool and landscaping that borrows from the aesthetic of Castello del Nero's pool area. We are already planning to return for my 40th birthday...3 Years from now. We spent 3 weeks in Italy at 6 different hotels and this is the only one I think about and have to return to. The restaurants are both amazing and the breakfast is the best we had on our trip. If I could give 10 stars I would, so if you're even considering a stay at Castello del Nero I'd say look no further...it's time to book a reservation.

My husband and I stayed here 4 nights of a two-week trip to Italy to celebrate our 10 year wedding…read moreanniversary. This hotel is a really high-end boutique hotel that really goes above and beyond to deliver an outstanding experience for all guests. The hotel is conveniently located in a small town about 30-40 minutes by car from Florence (between Florence and Siena). It is in the Chianti wine region of Tuscany. We stayed in a basic room, which was very nice. It was very large (one of the largest hotel rooms I have ever stayed in that wasn't a suite). There was a welcome bottle of champagne (already chilled for us) as well as a bottle of red wine and a huge basket of fresh fruit ready for us on our coffee table. There was a hand-written note to us that was a nice personal touch. The room had a beautiful view of the Tuscan countryside. The things that really stood out to me were: 1. Complimentary welcome champagne and wine 2. Abundant fruit basket that got replenished daily. 3. Complimentary bottled still and sparkling water replenished daily. 4. A pillow menu for guests! 5. Full breakfast every morning included with the room - there were 10 different kinds of milk out to suit everyone's preference (almond, soy, rice, goat, etc.) 5. The very nice spa 6. The setting of course! You literally couldn't ask for a more picturesque place! 7. Complimentary up to date movies on your TV 8. Great hiking trails right on the property My only (very small) complaints are that there was no dresser or shelves in the room - I had nowhere to unpack any of my folded clothes (there is only hanging space in the closet), and the mattress is very firm (this is just a personal issue though!). This hotel is very special and truly understands how to deliver a higher than 5-star experience to guests. I would highly recommend it for honeymooners, or anyone wanting a relaxing getaway in a beautiful place!

Amazing place to stay if you are visiting Tuscany. Central location in Tuscany easy drive to Lucca,…read morePisa, Florence etc. Very friendly staff. Beautiful rooms and pool. Onsite restaurant prepared one of the best 3 course meals we have had.

From the owner: soggiorni di relax, ristorante e enoteca sempre a disposizione degli ospiti, 2 piscine e receptionread more

Ristorante Bel Soggiorno feels like a natural stop in San Gimignano. It is located along the town's…read morenarrow stone streets, the restaurant opens into a warm, elegant space with terracotta floors, wooden beams, and a relaxed atmosphere that reflects its long history. What truly sets it apart is the view. From the terrace and dining room windows, the Tuscan countryside stretches across rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves, turning the meal into something memorable. The menu focuses on classic Tuscan dishes...handmade pastas, rich ragùs, roasted meats, and seasonal ingredients...prepared with simplicity and care. The atmosphere is refined yet informal, with attentive service and an unhurried pace that encourages you to linger. Bel Soggiorno focuses on good food, spectacular scenery, and the kind of dining experience that makes Tuscany feel exactly the way you imagined it would.

Ambiance is great, food and service mediocre. Very salty and heavy on sauce. We did not have…read morereservations. Not sure if that had any influenced?

What a great hotel! Excellent location, friendly staff, great facilities. The room was very nice…read moreand clean, I loved that they set the A/c on upon our arrival. I surely recommend this hotel. The down sides were a window without a curtain that disturbed me all night and the breakfast not that fresh, you could tell that some of the food were from other days. Besides that, great location indeed!

This hotel is absolutely centrally located in the Piazza Cisterna in San Gimignano, The price for…read morethe room was a steal, I only paid $89 a night because I booked early the beds are not that comfortable a lil hard and FYI in Italy or Europe in general they just don't have wash cloths not understanding what the deal is with that lol The bed was a little hard but they were so super sweet when I let them know that I wondered if they had a different room with a little bit better bed next thing you know the owner has gone and found a mattress that was a little softer brought it into the room and fixed it for us and it was a lot better awww and we were met with a smile every day all day! it was just absolutely the perfect location if you're in Tuscany if you can stay in San Gimignano you'll be so happy it's the most charming little city we stayed there for a week and loved it every moment of it! I will be back to Hotel Leon Bianca

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Chianti 25, a 3-bedroom villa at HGV's Borgo alle Vigne. We received…read morea very friendly and kind welcome when we arrived and were instantly impressed with the beauty and cleanliness of the property. The check-in process went smoothly, we were given information about the local area, then accompanied to our villa. The 3 spacious bedrooms all had en-suite bathrooms which were decorated beautifully and provided sufficient storage space for our clothes and luggage. The living and dining rooms were also very well appointed and comfortable for our group of 6 adults. Though those spaces were not large, we were all able to sit comfortably and enjoy breakfast in the mornings and wine and movies at night. One of my favourite things to do while there was watching the sunrise every morning while relaxing under the Tuscan sun and reading my book, before preparing for a day of exploration. The kitchen, though small, was quite adequate and functional. There was a minor issue with the refrigerator which was quickly resolved after contacting the Front Desk. The view every morning and every evening was nothing short of fantastic! I definitely recommend this property for couples and adult groups. Not so much for young children. You will surely need a vehicle in this area of Tuscany, but don't worry, there are ample parking spots in the covered parking garage and also a few outside. The property is about a 20-minute drive to the local train station, Pontedera Casciana. On our day trip to Rome, we parked at Casciana Terme and took a local train to Florence. From there, we took the high-speed Frecciarosa train to Roma Termini. After a busy day in Rome, we did the trip in reverse and found our vehicle right where we left it earlier that morning, undisturbed at Casciana Terme. Drove back to Borgo alle Vigne to enjoy another night of drinking wine and watching a movie before going to bed. Many thanks to the lovely staff at Borgo alle Vigne for a wonderful, enjoyable, and memorable stay. Thanks also for the complimentary bottle of delicious wine celebrating the property's 10th anniversary. Looking forward to a return visit.

Beautiful Hilton property. Hilton Grand Vacations. Beautiful clean rooms. Love my stay here in…read moreTuscany near markets and restaurants. Very beautiful place. 2 bedroom upstairs and Downstairs. No breakfast but we would go to the restaurants or the market and make our own food. I definitely want to return. Hilton Grand Vacation property.