Casanovina

Everything about Casanovina met or exceeded our expectations. The location was excellent with stunning views in all directions. The accommodation was very comfortable with excellent facilities and the pool area was stunning , especially at night. Walking into Castellina was no problem despite the relatively steep hill and we were amazed and delighted to find that on clear days and nights both Siena and San Gimignano were visible from the villa. Fabrizce and his family made us feel very welcome and Francesco was also very helpful. Having enjoyed our stay at a luxury hotel village last year ( San Felice) we found Casanovina much more relaxing and would certainly consider a return there when we next visit Tuscany.

We found Castellina in Chianti very attractive and enjoyed excellent meals at several of the restaurants during our stay. We particularly liked the small restaurant attached to the butchers which served wonderful cuts of beef. Visiting local markets was enjoyable as we had with us an excellent amateur chef who made full use of the villa's main kitchen. San Galgano was well worth the drive and Siena was and still is one of our favourite places.

Wonderful stay at Casanova. Perfect place for wine and food lovers. Great place to relax in breathtaking surroundings.

Favorite restaurants. Re Gallo (Castellina in Chanti) and Osteria in Piazza (Piazza). It is a must to visit the local wine yard (Castellare). Prioritise Siena from Florence.

Everything! Location is wonderful, view is spectacular. The house and the apartment around the corner are modern, comfortable and well provided with essentials for light housekeeping. The welcoming gifts - wine, oil, juice - from the owner were very appreciated. Francesco, the rental agent, was a great ambassador - always ready to assist in a number of ways - visit to winery, thermal baths, restaurant suggestions and reservations. He also organized a dinner for all 8 of us (five adults, two children, one baby) at Casanovina completely planned and cooked by Maria.
We regretted not being at Casanovina during a warmer season so as to take advantage of the beautiful swimming pool!

We visited Panzano and the butcher shop of Dario Cechetti, then cooked a wonderful steak dinner on the BBQ at Casanovina. At Poggibonsi we spent an afternoon at a street food festival. Despite some rain, we had great visits to Siena and San Gimignano. The town of Castellina is very attractive and we enjoyed each visit (sometimes walked) as we ate at restaurants, shopped and toured the streets. The local people were very kind and tolerant of the lack of Italian language skills of some of our group. Just driving anywhere is a joy in this area of Chianti!

The villa and apartment suited our group of two families perfectly. The two teenagers were given the freedom of the apartment whilst the adults enjoyed the comforts of the house. Coming together to eat either under the jasmine covered seating area outside the front door, or down by the pool under the logia, will be our lasting memory of this lovely trip. With the shutter closed, the house was easy to keep cool. We didn't even use the lounge or dine in the kitchen as the outside spaces are so inviting.

The location was outstanding and exceeded our expectations. The views are exceptional. The pool was cool but very welcome once the heat of the day set in.
The furnishings are all high quality, they even supplied mats for the sun loungers.

Just a note if you don't buy the welcome pack (we hadn't) you'll need everything from toilet rolls to washing up liquid. However there was salt and pepper together with a bottle of wine and a bottle of the owners olive oil provided for us which was a nice gesture. The olive oil was delicious and made from the olives grown in the groves surrounding the pool area. The wine is from a vineyard located just down the road. There is an excellent supermarket in town, together with a bakery and a couple of small delis that sell most things. Top tip: You might want to buy a citronella candle or two, to keep the flies at bay whilst dining outside.

The lovely owner, Fabrizio checked us in before Francesco arrived and was charming. He lives next door, but we didn't see him, therefore it was very private.

We are planning to return....


There is nothing to dislike.

Other reviewers have mentioned barking dogs and cockerels but this is the countryside after all. We live in countryside in England so perhaps it wasn't noticeable for us!

We enjoyed our nightly walk into town (approx 20 mins). The first part of the walk is up a hill, but the stunning vistas give a good excuse to stop occasionally and drink in the views! At the top of the hill the road becomes one way, with a clearly marked wide walking area for pedestrians. The road is not too busy and it felt very safe. There is a good choice of restaurants in Castellina in Chianti. Make sure you leave room after your meal to enjoy an ice cream or sorbet from the gelato shop on your walk back. You might also be rewarded with a display of fireflies which were amazing. We particularly enjoyed the hospititality and food offered at the pizzeria on the way into town (10 mins walk). We took day trips to Siena, San Gimingnano, and further afield to San Quirco d'Orcia which was well worth the 90 min car journey. However to return to Casanovina and the pool was always a treat.

Beautiful location. Very nice owner and keyholder. The pictures on the web site do not do Casanovina justice. The Villa was beautiful and very comfortable. Close proximity to Florence and Sienna. We really enjoyed Castellina in Chianti. I wish we were still there.
Nothing. Would advise following GPS Directions as the directions on the To Tuscany web site were awful. That is our only complaint.

Re Gallo was wonderful.

Le site et la vue magnifique. L'aménagement extérieur. La disponibilité du locateur.
Le calme de la nuit était régulièrement perturbé par l'aboiement des chiens. Les matelas étaient trop fermes. Le chauffage était minimal, pour ne pas dire déficient, et le prix exigé pour ce dernier était disproportionné. Le manque de transparence concernant les bouteilles de vin qu'on nous laisse sur le comptoir à l'arrivée sans aucune note, qu'on croit offertes gracieusement, et qu'on nous réclame en fin de séjour. L'appartement annexe est humide et frais comme un sous-sol, et 2 petits scorpions ont dus être éliminés. Le stationnement en ligne n'est pas pratique pour plusieurs véhicules.

Les villages du Chianti

It's in a quiet rural location but within easy reach of everyday shopping requirements in the local town. Outdoor dining on the vine-covered patio just outside the kitchen was wonderful day or night. The pool was large and great for family activities.
Overall we had a great family holiday and were very pleased we chose this property.
No dislikes but 2 things to be aware of if young children/babies are in your party. The accommodation is split between two parts of the same building however there is no internal connection; baby monitoring devices will not penetrate the thick internal walls. The pool area is on a lower level and some 20m away with very limited visual/aural contact between it and the main building (however baby monitors just reach the pool area from the rear/upstairs bedroom windows :o) )
And one other thing - if you don't buy the 'Welcome Pack' then be sure that you buy essential items yourself as there were very few 'leftovers' from previous guests......

The local town (Castellina in Chianti) has a reasonable range of restaurants and shops that should satisfy most needs. Local countryside is beautiful. Many fine vineyards and historical sites are within easy reach.