Rental Property in Tuscany

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The wife and I are thinking of renting a villa/farmhouse/house in the Tuscan countryside late this summer for a couple of weeks

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Lovely!! Definitely, it’s a nice holiday. A lot of foreign turist spend their holiday this way, so I’m quite certain most rental companies/agencies are highly reputable. There’s really a wide choice, and you shouldn’t have any problem in picking up the one you like most.

As you may know, everybody in Italy goes on holiday early in august. So best period in my opinion is late august/early september. The weather is pleasant, no overcrowded resorts and lower prices (up to 40% less than august).

Area recommandation: I prefer Siena countryside. Beautiful landscapes, arts, culture, delicious food and wine, no crowds, no traffic… Siena is an ancient and lovely city. The Palio of Siena (an ancient and traditional horse race) takes place in late august and the town and its countryside get surprisingly overcrowded in those days (and people seem to go mad, BTW).
Moreover, Florence is quite near (approx one hour drive from Siena).

Other interesting areas are Maremma (Grosseto countryside) and Livorno and Pisa countryside. Those places are closer to the sea, if you’re interested.
You might also consider splitting your staying in two (one week here, one week there).
My wife’s sister runs a farmhouse by the sea, but I’m not going to advertise here.

Personally, I would avoid the area north of Florence (which is where I live, BTW).

A useful site is www.agriturismo.com they have an English site as well with many contacts. You can contact the farmhouses directly, most speak English and will be happy to help and deal directly.
Italian keywords for a web search are ‘agriturismo’ and ‘toscana’.

As far as prices are concerned, a farmhouse accomodation shouldn’t be that expensive! Of course, if it’s luxury that you’re looking for, you will have to pay for that. If you want to rent a whole villa (including servants, eventually) for you and your family it would certainly cost a fortune. But if you don’t mind staying in a 3 rooms nicely furnished apartment, with use of swimming pool and tennis court (as most people do) in a villa or farmhouse, then prices should be reasonable (although I have no idea of rental agencies margins, which might increase the bill).

Most farmhouses do not provide restaurant facilities, but you can cook in your apartment, or go out for a typical delicious meal or pizza.

Hope this helps. Do feel free to ask or email for any kind of info.

Stefano.

Stefano,

I too am interested in going to Italy for ten days or so the last week in August first week in Sept.

We are thinking of visiting the same sort of area but we would like to visit Rome for a few days as well. We have been informed that this is very expensive.

I wondered if you could recommend anywhere in Rome accomodation wise and also if it is feasible to rent a farmhouse in the Tuscany area and then drive around to see the majority of it? Or are some of the cities to large to do in a day?

Many Thanks

Sonny.

Sonny
yes hotel accomodation in some Italian cities (Rome, Florence, Venezia...) is rather expensive, especially if you want to stay in downtown, which is highly recommended because you can walk around instead of using a taxi or an inefficient bus service. Otherwise you could rent a bike (and DO LOCK IT when not in use).
Last time I was in Rome I stayed at hotel Concordia (www.concordiahotel.it) next to Piazza di Spagna (the heart of social life in Rome) the price was approx 160 Euro per night for two people, including breakfast. Bed & breakfast are not so popular, unfortunately I have no recommendation, sorry. I think you could search some accomodation on the web, but just ask if you think I could help!
If you're driving to Rome with your own car, make sure the hotel has parking facilities and book in advance. There's *no* safe parking otherwise in the town center. And never leave luggage or valuables in the car!!

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it is feasible to rent a farmhouse in the Tuscany area and then drive around to see the majority of it?

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Certainly! Personally (but I'm talking about ME), I would stay in Siena coutryside, which is well worth a holiday, but is also quite close to most interesting sites:
-Florence (minimum two days if you want to see also the Uffizi museum, one whole day for sightseeing);
-Siena and its surrounding villages, such as Monteriggioni;
-Pisa and the leaning tower
-the Maremma region
-Monte Argentario, a famous sea resort

Of course there are many other interesting places but you must cut something out.
Some farmhouses require minimum one week, others two nights so you might consider staying in different places if you prefer.

Hope this help
Stefano.

Marvellous,

Thanks very much Stefano. I think we will look into the farmhouse idea as it sounds very appealing. I will also look at the website that you suggested for the hotel in Rome.

Thanks for all the advice.

Cheers

Sonny

Stefano,

Can you email me privately. You email addressdoes not seem to be working.

Edwin

I'm off there in a few days. Based upon 4 sharing a 2 bedroom farmhouse apartment, it's £350 per person for a fortnight. Maybe a bit too late for you, but I'll report back on my experiences once I return...

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."

It is down a road near the "with our without guts" building, Palazzo Vecchio. Sorry can't be more specific.

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Originally posted by RichardN:
It is down a road near the "with our without guts" building, Palazzo Vecchio. Sorry can't be more specific.

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There's one across the piazza from il duomo, on the 'arno' side. Looks like CDs mostly from the outside but has LPs in the backroom. Some expensive jazz records, or so it seemed, and a load of crap 70s and 80s stuff.

YMMV.

Peter

sounds like the b*stards are selling my record collection .....

Parallel with the Arno and in the opposite direction from Ponte Vecchio... It is in the next street towards the Arno to the one with all the leather factory shops... Bollocks, I'm going to have to find an online map of Florence, now...

Town Map

Borgo Dei Greci in the central box on the map.

Almost all vinyl and with a small dog sitting by the door

There is also a record stall in the cloisters near Plaza Della Republica.

[This message was edited by RichardN on FRIDAY 23 August 2002 at 15:15.]

..it might be in Via Dei Neri. The shop was full to bursting with vinyl, so can't be bad!

Sorry for not being more specific, but I'm not sure which road we walked down.

Having gone shopping along Berwick Street, I wouldn't recommend looking for records in Florence to you Brits.
There are many record shops, but I have never found one interesting. Some used to sell second hand, but I don't remember which ones. I live only 15 km far from Florence, but I can't help you much because I go shopping in Prato, my town.

Stefano.

Hi Edwin,
what is the result of your search for Tuscany? We intend to go there this summer and we are particularly interested in the region around San Vincenzo (= close to the sea). Any recommandations?
Thanks,
Uwe