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Back to Castello nel Chianti
Dear In Italy,
For the past several years my wife and I have used InItaly.com to help with our travels to Italy. We are so pleased with your services, I can't imagine a trip to Italy and not using you.
In Rome we stayed at Daniels Hotel on the via Frattina. It is a real delight; elegant well decorated rooms and despite the location so close to the Spanish Steps very quiet. The roof top terrace is a great place for breakfast and to look over the city. The location is excellent for shopping, people watching, and moving about the city. This is a real jewel.
Thanks for setting up a great trip.
Mike S.
Ciao Kristin,
Un'altro anno, un'altra bella vacanza italiana. Another year, another beautiful Italian vacation. Our theme this year was wine! Brunello in Montalcino, Chianti Classico in Gaiole-in-Chianti and homemade family wine in Pescia. We invited all our children, spouses and grandchildren to come with us. Everyone was able to do so - a very magical fete indeed. All behaved quite well, believe it or not, and the grandchildren even learned to speak some Italian.
In Montalcino we stayed at a lovely small family run hotel for 5 days, right in the heart of town. The town is very small (you can walk it in half an hour) and sits up on the mountain surrounded by Sangiovese Grosso vines. As in Napa, there is varying quality of soil and microclimates to give you quite distinctive Brunello wines. We did our best to sample and enjoy as many wines as possible. One of the wineries, Il Paradiso di Frassina, has Bose speakers throughout their vineyards where they broadcast both classical and jazz music to the vines. The agricultural department of the University of Firenze is a partner in this experiment to see if music produces better grapes. Quite interesting and pleasant to walk among the vines listening to Beethoven. No jazz that day.
We have traveled to Italy quite often over the last 10 years and In Italy has been a big part of making many of the experiences a very pleasant one. This June 2006, we stayed at Castello nei Chianti near Gaiole-in-Chainti - another success. The whole family joined us at the Villa and apartment #4. The villa has a covered terazza that overlooks the castle and the vines of the countryside. Again we were up on a high hill (where castles are usually found). The villa has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, dining area and the terazza, plus AC. The apartment is extremely large with a huge kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 3 ensuite bathrooms, 2 double sized sofa beds and also AC. Actually, for June, the weather wasn't too bad. Since we were high up in altitude the mornings and evenings were cool. Hot, hot in the cities, though, and in the plains of Pescia. We had over 100* F in Firenze.
Again we explored the vineyards and went to small towns all around the area. Vertine, Radda in Chianti, Volpaia, San Gimignano, Fonterùtoli, Monterrigioni, etc. We took the whole crew with us to Orvieto in Umbria, one of our favorite towns. The facade of the Duomo is gold gilded with mosaics and sparkles from afar as the sun shines down upon it. Some of our children took a cooking class at Badia a Coltibuono that was 10 minutes from our villa. (I arranged this through their web-site.) They had 5 students in all so it was practically a private class. Totally enjoyed. Other children went off on their own and Grandpa and Grandma (Nonno and Nonna) took care of the kids. Found a nice art gallery (high end) and sculpture park nearby. After the usual lunch of pasta and vino and lots of aqua naturale, Grandpa took the kids to the pool. Grandma relaxed at the villa. We all gathered at our villa and thoroughly enjoyed the terrazza dining al fresco and drinking Brunello wines, Chianti Classico wines and eating panforte from Nannini's in Siena. We had a one day layover between Montalcino and Siena so I arranged for a lovely old hotel 200 meters from the Campo and right next door to Nannini's!
Penny was delightful. The head of housekeeping, Marzia, was also very nice, very accommodating as to what bed arrangements I needed in the apartment. She took a shine to my husband thinking him "molto simpatico". She is right. After the dinner at the castle (optional cost) she gave him a large bag full of the most delicious cantuccini ever (biscotti to the uninitiated). Bianca offered us, as guests, a wine tasting, Penny took us on a tour of the castle. It is true at times there was no one in the office, which doesn't matter unless that is the time you want to speak with someone. If there is a large group staying at the castle hotel the staff is pretty busy taking care of their tours, meetings, etc. So it is a balancing act. We did have to ask them to clean out the pool, however. It was quite dirty and our grandchildren would not go in, nor would their parents let them. Penny saw to the cleaning immediately.
A funny story - always one in every trip. Our daughter
rented a station wagon and had difficulty with the clutch. We buck-broncoed our
way from Firenze to Gaiole. She couldn't get up the gravel drive to the Castello.
Her brothers came to the rescue but even they said something was not right. The
car rental company
was called and they right away sent out a tow truck to get the car. This was
at midnight, dark, lights flashing, small access gravel road that included a
small bridge, etc. My husband went down to the castle to lead the tow truck
in. The truck driver had to back his big equipment up the drive.. Kristin, you
know the
road and angles getting up to the villa. It was comedy in action and a big entertainment
for all who were out - and everyone was.
All in all, the Castello nei Chianti was most enjoyable and the town of Gaiole-in-Chianti most convenient. Nice restaurants, Coop and alimentary (grocery stores). We were there on Sunday when they celebrated Corpus Christi Day. Flower petals adorned the street and after Mass the townspeople followed the priest on a procession around town. There were 10 first communicants as well - all girls who helped lead the procession.
Our final week was at San Lorenzo, near Pescia, near Lucca, half way between Pisa and Firenze. We stayed at the same paper factory turned hotel. Really quite a nice place, especially since it has a long family history to it (mine) .Albergo San Lorenzo e Santa Caterina. We pretty much visited family and went to the Church and Civil Archives to research family history. The kids went to Siena, Firenze, Pisa, Marina di Pisa for swimming, Lucca, etc. One request I had was that they all be back by 7:00 PM for an 8:00 PM meal with family. I loved hearing our 5 year old grandaughter say, "Buona notte Paolo, ciao".
One nice thing about this trip was, for the most part, no sightseeing. Or, at least, done in small doses. We really enjoyed just being in Italy. I have a suggestion for all travelers: flow with the people, speak to them even if you do not know the language. Better yet, study a few words. You will be well rewarded with a smile and inclusion into their Italian life. The less English you hear the more memories you will have: good, bad and funny.
We are already thinking about our next trip. In Italy will certainly be a part of it.
Migliori saluti,
Carol Ann N.
Good afternoon.
In a word, our visit to Castello nel Chianti was "fantastic"!
The location was central and so many smaller towns/cities were easily within
range for short day trips. Having a rental car of course, was a necessity if
one intends to see Siena, Cortona, Florence, San Gimignano, Pisa, and all the
other cities in the area.
We stayed in Apartment 4 in the villa above the castle and found it to be clean, comfortable and very spacious. There were six of us and there was room for two in each room. Each room also had its own bathroom. The kitchen was also fully equipped, with the exception of an oven. There was a dishwasher, refrigerator, cook top, and plenty of pots, pans, dishes and utensils. The china cabinet on the other side of the kitchen/dining area had glasses, wine glasses, cups and saucers. The table itself was also nice because it folded open and could have easily accommodated eight to ten people.
A note on the "InItaly" site also suggested
bringing extra towels, face towels, and so forth, but they were not needed -
at least at this location. There were plenty of towels, hand towels, and pool
towels in each room.
The television left a lot to be desired (limited reception), but we were not there to watch television. We were happy when we found a classical radio station on the television, and mainly listened to that.
Mosquitos, mosquitos, mosquitos. While we knew they were nearby, they really were not an issue for any of us indoors. During the hottest part of the day when we were out we closed the windows and inside solid wood shutters to keep the place cool. When we returned at the end of each day it was much cooler, so we opened the windows to let the breeze blow through. By the way, there was a wonderful cool breeze each evening because the building sits on a hilltop. When the sun finally went down, we again closed the glass windows before turning on the lights. By keeping the lights off while the windows were open in the evening, we did not have a problem with mosquitos at all. Once we were ready for bed and turned out our lights, we opened the windows once again.
One other little warning, is to be aware there are wild boars in the nearby woods. Each morning I got up early and went walking by myself toward the top of the hill behind our villa. I did not however, find out until the very last morning, that there are wild boars living there. I was awakened the last morning at about 5:30 AM by what sounded like people walking in the dry grass and on the gravel outside my window. When I looked outside however, I found two large females with full tusks with about a dozen little ones. Of course they did not seem to be a real threat because when I pushed the window open further to take a photo, they all rushed off into the brush.
The local town closest to the castle, Gaiole, was also
a treat. There were shops to buy everything one would need or might forget. There
is a local butcher, an enoteca for wines, a grocery store for everything else,
and even a pharmacy. Our first night we enjoyed a fantastic meal at "Sfizio" on
the piazza there. Roberta offered outstanding service and showed great patience
as she explained the menu and helped those of us less traveled. The chef there
served me one of the best meals I have had anywhere. Try the ravioli in a tartuffi
cream sauce!
In spite of the boars and mosquitos, and the unplanned
scenic tour of Florence the first day, all of us can easily recommend Castello
nel Chianti and the "InItaly" web site. Everyone was most accommodating and helpful. I do not think we could have been in a more ideal location or found better accommodations anywhere in the region. Thank you for a wonderful experience and an extremely memorable trip. We will definitely use "InItaly" again.
Ciao!
Dean J.
Dear In Italy,
Our trip was fantastic, especially the 2 hotels we stayed at that were booked through you. Castello nel Chianti was nice. The castle was beautiful, although we didn't find the staff as helpful, but were still friendly and helped us make reservations etc. It was a bonus that they were having a free guided tour of Siena while we were there as well.
Kelly R.
Dear Jessica,
We arrived home a few hours ago. I am happy to respond to your inquiry. We enjoyed our stay at the Castello after a rocky start. The road directions from the expressway take a little getting used to. As you probably know, the directions can be somewhat confusing.....this was NOT our first driving experience in Italy. The accommodations were O.K. not luxurious. The room was small without a comfortable seat to sit in. The bath had cracked tile on the floor. But the shower worked well and the towels were good. I did not think the pictures of the room adequately represent the accommodations. The staff at the Castello were very helpful...the "English woman" was the BEST.... Restaurant recommendations, winery information, tips about the Arezzo antique market. We really enjoyed "Lo Sfizio di Bianchi," an Osteria, Gelateria Artigianale in Gaiole in Chianti. We had dinner there 3 nights. The owner speaks English and is helpful to non-Italian speaking customers. The food tasted like it was made in your Nonna's kitchen.
As a travel agent, I take lots of notes so I can make recommendations to our clients. We loved the Chianti region, this was not our first trip to the area and will not be our last. Thanks for your help.
Fredene B.
Dear In Italy,
The Castello was in a great location, grounds were well kept, staff was wonderful. Two major drawbacks: no access to a telephone after 8 p.m. making it impossible to call our family back home at a reasonable hour. A phone should be accessible 24 hours a day. The nearest town Gaiola I think, closed down at about 8 except for restaurants. second, no place close to buy food for picnics daytrips etc. We ate twice at a wonderful restaurant Le Contrada. That was by far our favorite dining experience! Our waitress was fluent in English and answered all of our questions about life in Italy.
Margot H.
Dear In Italy,
Fabulous castle, fabulous apartment, fabulous location! We didn't have hot water the first day, but they fixed the problem as quickly as they could. The Castle's wines are superb; unfortunately, the enoteca was undergoing remodeling, but it should be open for subsequent visitors (we purchased our bottles from reception).
We were more than adequately supplied with cooking utensils and dinnerware. The shops and markets in Gaiole provided everything we needed (the macelleria in town is excellent; they make their own pork products).
Our Dachshund loved the apartment and castle grounds as well. A lot of room to run around.
It truly is Bella Toscana, and the Castello was a magnificent location from which to see it. In Italy did it again; you've always come through for us. Thanks for booking us a great week.
Ken C.
Dear In Italy,
Hello...we stayed at Castello nel Chianti, which we booked through your service - and I'm so happy to say that it exceeded my expectations. It's a beautiful place, accommodations were very good, in fact, great, and I would not hesitate to either return there or recommend it to friends. Thank you for your service.
Tamara P.
Dear In Italy,
Castello nel Chianti was a great place to stay in the heart of Tuscany. We stayed in the old parish house, which was very quaint. The views around the Castle are spectacular. Breakfast is in the ancient castle on the second floor. A tour of the castle is a must. It has the oldest private and original theater in all of Europe. October is a spectacular month to travel Italy...This is an excellent location for day tripping all of Tuscany region. Radda and Siena is very close by. We had lots of fun visiting and tasting wine at the vineyards. Lots to do, so little time! This was our 25th anniversary trip - don't know why we waited so long to visit Italy. Can't wait to return. Great hospitality.
Cathy G.
Dear In Italy,
At Castello nel Chianti, the room was basic but comfortable. Breakfast consisted of the standard B&B breakfast of yogurt, croissants, biscotti, coffee, granola and juice. I would recommend touring the grounds and the castle (very beautiful) participating in the wine tasting, and driving around the countryside. There are lots of great little towns to visit and this was a good hub for getting to many of them. A trip to Radda is a must. Our flight was late due to airport issues at London's Heathrow and the hosts were gracious enough to stay until our arrival at 2:00AM.
Brian N.
We had a fun time, Cynthia.
Castello nel Chianti was a great place to unwind after a week in Siena. We stayed in the guesthouse. The room was rustic but large and comfortable. The place caters mostly to German tourists so all of the satellite TV channels were in German. The remainder of the guests were British. Americans were few and far between in "Chianti-shire." There were showers but no bathtubs in most of the places we stayed at in Italy. Normally this is not a concern but it made bathing our 18-month-old boy a bit of a chore. There were a few kids there and at least one other baby. All three of us enjoyed the swimming pool. The water was cold but the up-close view of the vineyards made up for that. At night the fireflies and the Castle light up. One evening we ate at a wonderful restaurant a few miles up the road at the foot of Castello del Brolio called "Osteria del Castello." Reservations are necessary of course. Italian is helpful in some places but most proprietors in Chianti speak English.
Stephen J.
Dear In Italy,
Castello nel Chianti is in the heart of Chianti wine country. An amazing castle dating from the middle ages. A gorgeous view of the surrounding vineyards and a great base for exploring wineries, San Gimigiano and Siena. Wonderful restaurants nearby. Penny was very accommodating. A great choice.
David B.
Hi Cynthia.
We stayed in Room 400 at Castello nel Chianti which was a suite with a very large bedroom and a living room. What was nice about it was the fact that it was well renovated with all the modern amenities including cooking facilities and had a nice view. The pretty "infinity" pool overlooking the vineyards would be a huge plus in the summer months. The reception services could be improved though. There was very little by way of information about the restaurants, vineyards and sights around the area and the duty staff was often too busy or not around to attend to guests. Breakfast in the Castle was novel but not terribly enjoyable as it was held in a small, dark and dreary room.
Your website should note that apart from the guesthouse, there are rooms within the old castle itself to be let. More cottages and rooms on the grounds are also being built.
In all, it was a very enjoyable stay and I would recommend it.
Regards,
Eileen T.
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