Casa di Chianti

I was staying here with my family in late April 2016. At arrival we thought the place to be a bit smaller than expected, but soon we realized it's very well designed and cozy. Great location for day trips to Florence, Lucca, Pisa,... But you must have a car. Isabella is full with useful information and happy to help. She even offered us pasta with a true local sauce she made. All in all a great experience.

We spent over a week at Casadichianti in July. Just a few km southwest of Florence, it's a good base for visiting the neighboring towns including Volterra, San Gimignano, Siena, Arezzo, Pisa, Lucca… We were there during the hot spell and really appreciated the air-conditioned room. Isabella's bed and breakfast is definitely for lovers of vintage paraphernalia and collectors’ items. There are 2 rooms and a cosy kitchen/sitting room where you can have your breakfast which is included. Choose the loft room, it's more spacious. You will surely fall for Isabella's Italian charm, her warm and generous personality. As this is in a small town, it's easier with a car. Otherwise, there's the bus and the tram that takes you to Firenze.

This was our final stop on our tour of Italy, and I have to say, we saved the best til last. Casa di Chianti was nestled in the Tuscan hillside and offered some welcome peace and quiet after the hustle and bustle of the likes of Rome and Venice. Our family of four stayed in the loft room, which the kids (13 and 11) loved. Downstairs we had access to a living room/kitchen, where our host, Isabella, would lay out breakfast for us every morning. Each day we had a different treat to sample, but the kids loved the freshly baked chocolate croissants. We were a short drive to Scandicci where we could easily park the car for free and get on the tram to take us into Florence. Isabella was extremely helpful and accommodating, and on our final day, Paulo offered to take us for a tour of local farms, fatorria and shops to buy the best local produce. I have to say, this was the highlight for myself and my wife and something you would not get if you stayed in a hotel. I cannot recommend this place enough. You get such a better experience here than you would at a hotel. We would definitely come back if we visit Italy again.