ACCOMMODATION IN TUSCANY/ITALY

[mike_kane]

We spent a delightful two weeks in an agriturismo in Alberoro, in the Val di Chiana area of Tuscany, Italy in June ’04. It is a 20-minute ride from Arezzo and is located midway between Florence and Siena with easy access to the A1 autostrada.
The Foresteria Il Giardino di Fontarronco ( http://www.foresteria.it ) is an 18th-century villa that has been lovingly restored and furnished by the proprietor Francesco Illuminati. The Illuminati family owns the farm on which La Foresteria is located as well as other farms, vineyard and olive groves in the area.
Francesco is on site mornings and afternoons to give advice on nearby hill towns to visit, to make reservation at local restaurants, to give any other assistance needed or just to chat. He is most personable and knowledgeable and speaks fluent English, having done his graduate studies at Cambridge University.
There are 10 apartments of various sizes and configurations located in either the manor house or various outbuildings. All have views of the adjoining fruit orchards and mountains beyond. Each has modern bath, patio, satellite TV and Internet-accessible telephone.
Our one bedroom apartment, which slept three, cost € 700 ($ 800) per week.
In addition, there is a large, sparkling pool on the grounds.
Twice a week, an outstanding 4 course gourmet dinner is offered to guests of the Foresteria at a cost of € 30 ($ 34) per person. These meals were among the finest we have ever had anywhere!
We fully intend to return on a future visit and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

Mike and Ellen Kane