Hotel Agriturismo La Sovana^{(4 stars)}

The rooms was amazingly clean, exceptionally quiet and very comfortable. While we didn't see all of the rooms, ours was perfectly fitting for my wife and I. Furnished with flat screen modern TV's and sturdy quality furniture...the linens were fresh and without wrinkles....better than Mom's! The bathrooms are modern and equipped with all of today's appliances like hair dryers, towel warmers, large showers with hand-held sprays, plenty of hot water, wall-hung toilets. Each room has a private patio with sun furniture. I guess there are fancier rooms at big city hotels, but none more comfortable than here.

The outdoor restaurant (in good weather) is incredibly beautiful architecturally, and functions superbly for small to mid-size dinners. Expect no more than 6-15 guests at dinnertime, small enough to get acquainted with other visitors, Giuseppe and his family dined with us every night, which was also enjoyable to see the Proprietor interact with guests on this level. You can tell the Olivi family really enjoys sharing the land and their lives with their guests. The food is first rate, from only the freshest and locally grown vegetables and meats. The Chianini steak Florentine was exceptional, the salads to die for, and better deserts can't be matched. Their Le Buche wine (both reds and whites) are reasonably priced, of highest quality, and you might be dining with the keeper of the vines or the winemaker at dinner! It simply does not get any better than this!

Giuseppe and Riccardo, along with the lovely wives, do the utmost for the guests. We do not speak Italian (or any other language) but communicating was not a problem in the least. While we were there, guests from Belgium, France, Holland, Italy and USA were all there, and we all had a great time learning of each others heritage. The entire staff at La Savona is impeccable, each doing anything in their power to make our stay the absolute best. I spent several hours one morning with Giuseppe working in the vineyards and winery (his job, my holiday) which was an incredible time for me. His vines and olive trees are the healthiest and robust of any I've seen, taking great care to make a high quality wine and oil. This same measure of quality is evident in the accommodations at La Savona. No disappointments here!

We were not there long enough to do everything we wanted to do, but there are plenty of activities to fill a week or more at La Savona. From the well kept and sparkling swimming pool, to the Bocci ball court, to the grass tennis courts....there is also offsite horseback riding at a nearby stable. One morning I spent a couple hours walking the grounds and the local gravel roads while the roosters were crowing and the deer were feeding in the hay fields and vineyards. It was an amazing experience, and one I will always remember. When you go here, plan to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday lives, and throw in a few activities for the kids!

The accommodations are immaculate, the cleanest and most organized you will find. From the rooms, to the grounds, to the private kitchen....you could eat off the floors here. Giuseppe, Riccardo and their families run a "tight ship" and know how important this is for visitors. The breakfasts are very nice with homemade pastries, breads, fresh meats, cheeses and juices. The lunches are prepared "as you ask"...we enjoyed a caprese salad and bread meal with their own Le Buche white wine - Awesome! And the dinners are like no others - everything is fresh and in season from their gardens and vineyard. I can't imagine how the meals could get any better, anywhere. And reasonably priced too! My wife and I are young 40's, from Arizona USA and will definitely be back. I might also say that the grounds and activities are kid-friendly too.

La Savona is located in the Tuscan countryside near Chuisi, the terminal being 1.5 hours from Rome, or 1 hour south of Florence. Easy to get to. We arrived at the termi in Chuisi and within 5 minutes, had a taxi who took us directly to La Savona. It's a great place to reach Montepulciano, Florence, Siena and Rome while not being buried in the hustle and bustle of the big cities. They have lots of activities at La Savona for the entire family, like Bocci ball, swimming, hiking, horseback riding. We much prefer the serenity of the countryside in Tuscany to staying in the cities (no garbage trucks at 2AM to awake you).