Palazzo Bandino's Guestbook

Back to Palazzo Bandino

Hello In Italy,

I just wanted you to know how much we enjoyed Palazzo Bandino it was lovely and just as your web site described it to be. We look forward to returning there again. It was a pleasure dealing with your company. I would gladly recommend your service.

Thank You,
Agnes S.

In Italy,

We had a wonderful 3 weeks in Italy and the accommodations we made through In Italy were first rate.  Our week at the Palazzo Bandino farm stay in Central Tuscany will never be forgotten.  This little family winery was so much fun and what a location for exploring. Our favorite hill towns were Pienza and Gubbio.   Thanks for your help.

Dick and Marjie T.

Hello Kristin,

We had a really wonderful trip. A few comments below...

Rome - Roma Centro apt - very well-located, with lots of character and amenities in the 'hood. It was wonderful to stroll to the Piazza Navona and to try all the restaurants only steps away. The grocery downstairs was very convenient as well, and with our kitchen we were able to do breakfast daily at home before venturing out. We also felt very secure there, which was a plus in more ways than one. Our daughter needed to stay back from sightseeing to rest a couple of times, and we were comfortable leaving her there alone for a couple of hours. Two downers: the apt. downstairs was being renovated, and the hammering began at 6:30 a.m. every day and lasted most of the day. That was awful. Also the bed REALLY needs a new mattress. Otherwise a very nice accommodation.

Stefano's tour of Pompeii was a highlight of the trip. He did a marvelous job, and the experience really sparked my imagination. The whole commercial city came alive for us. Stefano is very pleasant and knowledgeable. He also related well to our 11 year old daughter and helped enliven the trip for her as much as possible.

Palazzo Bandino was the second major highlight of the trip, and hands-down our favorite week of the vacation. We were treated like kings and queens in every way--coffee any time for the asking, fabulous meals where our every desire was remembered from one day to the next and anticipated, lovely people on staff, well-planned outings to complement cooking school. My daughter and I enjoyed the cooking classes very much. Chef Luciano and his translators were informative and helped us understand Tuscan cooking traditions and culture as much as recipes and preparation. The accommodations were nice although the showers are very small. Gabriel and Marta were a treasure; my daughter was almost in tears over leaving Marta behind. The scenery is gorgeous, and the setting was very peaceful. And again--the FOOD! Unbeatable. We also enjoyed the wine tasting; PB has some very good ones. A great place to sight see, relax, breathe deeply, and eat well.

Florence and Milan were not our favorites although we're glad we went to both. The Anglo American Hotel in Florence gave us a gorgeous suite. The bed was firm  and the bathroom a good size. Breakfasts were delicious. English was less available but manageable. The downside is the hotel is located a good walk from central Florence, which may be why we didn't enjoy ourselves as much. I highly recommend Rampini Ceramics in Florence to anyone interested in buying pottery. Very high quality and custom-made to your desires. Also we discovered a fabulous restaurant, family-owned for 30 years--Il Profeto. Great food.

Our outings to Pisa and Venice were good; Venice better than Pisa (was a long walk from train to the tower in hot weather; I recommend a cab for folks with kids). We spent a quick overnight in Venice and stayed at the outstanding Hotel Abbazia. It is around the corner from the train station, and the staff here was the best of any hotel we experienced. They went out of their way to ensure we had a wonderful time in every way possible. While we gave up our room in the morning, our train wasn't until evening. They offered us their comfortable lobby with nice bathrooms at any time during the day, and provided drinks etc. at the bar while we waited for the train. Above and beyond the call of duty. Our triple room was small, and we were glad we weren't there long, but it was nice and the beds were good.

Our final stop was Milan and the most underwhelming of the trip. It was awesome to see the Last Supper, however.

Hope all that is helpful. Thanks again for everything! If I have missed anything, I will ask my husband to fill the gap.

Mary M.

Dear In Italy,

Palazzo Bandino was more than I had hoped for! It was gorgeous, the apartment was huge and so comfortable. We loved the location as we were close to many of the great hill top towns and wine tasting shops. The property was really nice, the pool was refreshing and it was the highlight of our entire trip to Italy (we visited the entire country) and rank Tuscany our favorite. Montepulciano and Pienza were our favorite little villages. Montichiello was adorable as well. The dinners at Palazzo Bandino are well worth it, no need to go out. The food is amazing, and you will eat way too much and all you can drink wine is too good to pass up. The host Marta is great. It would be worthwhile to try to organize a winery tour next time. Thanks for a great trip.

Tammy C.

Hi!

Our stay in Italy was wonderful, and Palazzo Bandino couldn't have been nicer! We were able to blend sightseeing in nearby Siena and Assisi with chilling out by the pool is a gorgeous setting. The owners were friendly, helpful, and have a very professional operation going there! The van rental worked out for us as my husband is brave and handled the extra large size well (except for breaking off a side mirror on a very narrow street). We were glad we had the insurance, and the return went without a hitch. Just so you know, it is a 6 gear manual transmission with both foot and hand brakes. There were times when stopping on a hill my husband wished he had a fifth hand to steer with! It was spacious and very comfortable inside for our party of 7. We ventured to Ravenna to see the magnificent Byzantine mosaics, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Referred to as a Backwater of Italy in the few guidebooks mentioning it, it was a delightful respite from the crowded tourist filled cities. The city is perfectly flat with a relaxed atmosphere and more bicycles than Vespas. The people were very friendly and clearly proud of the treasures housed in their city. When asking for directions (it is similar in layout to Venice) people were helpful and unrushed. I plan to go back sometime and spend a couple of days.

Ann M.

Hi Kristin,

We expressed some dissatisfaction during one of our days there when we were not able to contact any of the staff. On the day that we required some assistance, we found the door to the main house (where we checked in on arrival) locked, and no one nearby. When we finally found Gabrielle in the evening and complained, he apologized profusely and told as that everyone was in the wine cellar working, but we could have dialed '9' on our telephone to talk with them--that he was always reachable by phone. That was never mentioned to us when we arrived. (While our apartado was right next door to the owners' house, we did not feel comfortable knocking on their door.) It is probably important for your clients to know that while the property is situated in an absolutely gorgeous and tranquil place, and we really loved being there, the Palazzo is more a working farm than anything else. The staff was very busy with the wine harvest; there often was no one around to consult with (for directions, etc.). I think after this experience, however, they will be sure to tell their guests how to contact them in the event they are busy working.  

Thanks very much.
Rae D.

Dear In Italy,

YOU WERE WONDERFUL!!!!! The car you suggested and the way you handled our arrangements couldn’t have been smoother. We had a fabulous time and it will be a vacation to remember. More than once we said to ourselves how helpful your advice was. Thanks a million to Kristin.

Micheal W.

Dear In Italy,

Thanks so much for all of your help with our trip.  We would never have planned such an exciting time on our own.

I do have a few observations.  Our first two nights were spent at Palazzo Bandino in Chianciano Terme.  Our hostess was wonderful, and the accommodations were acceptable.  Our dinner at the restaurant on Sunday evening was not great, but it was a Sunday night, and the wonderful breakfasts made up for it.  Our dinner on Monday at L'Osteria La Solita Zuppa in Chiusi was fantastic - we'd definitely recommend it.

The highlight of our trip was the private tour of the Vatican that you arranged for us with the Geofirias Agency.  Our guide, Sarah, was an art history student and very knowledgeable - we could not have effectively navigated the museum without her.

All in all, our trip was a great pleasure.  We hope to return next year, and you can be sure we'll be back in touch.

Regards,
Joe and Terry-Ann G.

Dear Jessica,

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Palazzo Bandino. They were in the midst of pressing grapes during our stay and our comfortable apartment was right upstairs.

The Palazzo was a great location for daytrips around Tuscany and Umbria. Close to the A1 and convenient for all of the small towns. I want to note an especially nice little trattoria in Chuisi that we found. It's run by a young couple who also run an enoteca (wine cellar). They, like Palazzo Bandino, participate in the Slow Food movement. When it came time to choose our wine for dinner he took us into the wine cellar and helped us choose. The name is "Il Grillo E'Buoncantore" and is located on the main square. Phone 0578 20112 Fax 0578 296019. In addition to full meals there's 6 pages of Pizza! Fabulous.

Thank you,
Anna S.  

Dear In Italy,

We had a great time, everyone was very helpful, the wine is very good, the few meals to took were well done and reasonable, $20.00 per person including all the wine you wanted in the price of the meal. We're, golfers, trying to find the golf course was very difficult, there were no signs, except a small one right at the road leading in and then none for the mile or so drive to the course, through a farm. The personnel at Bandino didn't have a clue, we took 2 and a half hours to find to, It's not physically in the town listed as the physical address, but down at the foot of the mountain village, in the flat farm land only 30 km from the winery. Also they have moved the cars to Bologna. The overnight car ferry to Polarmo was fun. We feel that south eastern beach area's of Sicily were the best part of the trip, friendliest, best food, reasonable hotel rates, very modern, super clean. Venice, English spelling, very interesting, fun but get cost before ordering, could be very expensive, we learned quickly. We'll recommend you to friends, thanks.

Joe L.

Dear In Italy,

Absolutely charming place with great hospitality. Location is A+ ----  definitely would return there!!

Diku M.

Dear In Italy,

Thank you for the welcome home note! We had a very nice time, and your website made the whole pre-trip experience so easy - we really appreciate it!

We do have some comments to share about each of the properties, and hope it will help your future visitors in making their decisions:

Palazzo Bandino - in Chianciano Terme
- Great Pool and very cozy, comfortable, and functional rooms
- Exceptionally nice and helpful staff
- Very reasonable wine bundles are offered to guests - we even bought extra to take on the balance of our trip.
- An Excellent in-house dinner (both quality and price) was available each night.
- There was significant construction taking place at the farmhouse. Air conditioners were being installed and all walls were being stucko'd and re-painted. At one point, the electricity was turned off for several hours with no notice to the guests. One of us even slipped on the steps as there
was so much dust and debris from the work being done. We think it would have been fair to mention that construction was underway during our planned stay.
- L'Osteria La Solita Zuppa in Chiusi was by far the best restaurant during our stay in Italy. Roberto and Luana were excellent hosts. Despite the many choices and experiences available, we all enjoyed it so much we went back for a second meal the next day.
- We had read about Chianciano Terme and the spas, so the Palazzo staff helped us in making reservations for a spa day. We all agreed it was the worst experience of the entire trip. We were sent to Selene Spa. It was VERY clinical and not comfortable at all. Later, we found out about places such as Hotel Adler Thermae and others that would have probably been much better recommendations.
- Pienza was our favorite day trip. It's a quaint little village with very friendly locals and shopkeepers.
- A deposit wasn't needed; and they seemed surprised that we had one ready

Thank you for the opportunity to let you know both what worked out very well for us, and which property descriptions may need to be updated. Overall, it was a very nice trip and you all made it so easy to arrange.

Steve W.

Hi there,

We absolutely LOVED Palazzo Bandino!! We were there for 3 weeks and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The accommodations were perfect for our family. My husband took cooking classes for 2 days. The option to have dinner and breakfast there was a BIG PLUS!! The food and wine were AWESOME too! Gabrielle has a welcome wine tasting party on Sundays that allows all of the guests to get to know each other...regardless of nationalities and it is such a nice touch. I would recommend staying there to anyone. We just had a wonderful time. Thank you also for your recommendations for restaurants too as we used many of them and they were great.
 
Here are a list of our favorites:
Gallo Nero - you recommended this and it was awesome food
La Solita Zuppa - another wonderful place!
Estrucan Museum tour - well worth doing
Pienza - I would recommend people going here
Sarteano - We found this to be the least friendly town
 
As I go thru our journal, if I find any other good recommendations, I'll write under a separate cover. Just wanted to get back to you quickly on Palazzo Bandino.

Thanks so much for your help!!
Tracy T.

Dear Jessica--

Overall Palazzo Bandino was all we could ask. The staff are uniformly pleasant, friendly and helpful. Having breakfast and dinner with the other guests at large tables was great fun--I got to try out my extremely limited Italian and they got to use their far better English. Plus we met guests from Belgium, England, Switzerland, Canada, Germany and the US.

The wine tasting the first night was really nice--they poor generous glasses, much to my son's delight--and the wine is very good, as is the olive oil. Plus a bottle of wine is provided in your room as a welcome gift.

All of the meals were excellent. Breakfast is continental but there is plenty to choose from, breads, sweets, meat and cheese, fruit, yogurt, cereal, juice and coffee (by the way, the server always remembered after the first time how you liked your coffee!). Dinners were very abundant and delicious--plus more wine of your choice.

The cooking class was a ball. The chef spoke very, very little English but a charming translator was provided. And the techniques, etc. were obvious anyway. Plus we got to eat what we cooked for lunch. And the chef was as charming as the translator.

InItaly's directions and map were perfect--had no problem finding the Palazzo.

Minor comments--the showers are very small--but we found that was true of one of the other places we stayed during our trip, so it may be the norm. My room, which was truly comfortable, was also a little noisy at times. A small child was upstairs and began running around with a rolling toy fairly early every day. Plus, with the windows open, you get early morning noise from outside. However, the noises were not at unreasonably early or late times, so not really a problem.

The nearby town of Chiusi is a very pleasant day trip. A small Italian hill town with an excellent Etruscan museum and a wonderful restaurant--Osteria La Solita Zuppa.

We also very much enjoyed Orvieta--another charming hill town.

During a weekend in the Naples area, we stayed at Il Nido in Sorrento--fine hotel with excellent meals (they have a web site). Rooms were spacious, the dining room overlooks the Bay of Naples and free internet access is available in the lobby.

Driving in Italy is an adventure--particularly in the Naples area. The drivers there are truly insane--two lanes become three at any time--even on narrow, curving roads, and the motorcycle riders pass you on both sides of the car and come at you down the middle of the road between lanes. Plus meeting a bus coming the other direction on a narrow curve is nerve-racking to put it mildly. And in August, the area is crowded--making the roads even more terrifying.

Climbing Vesuvius is a fun side trip in that area--you drive a large part of the distance and then hike. There are refreshment/souvenir places at several points on the trail and the views are outstanding. Climb is not terribly steep--my son found it very easy, I was a bit more challenged, being out of shape.

For those who like ruins, Ostia Antica outside Rome is huge and has a number of interesting sites. But plan in advance as to what you want to see, or you will spend a lot of time wandering around looking at the less important things--it's a very, very large site. Easy to get to from Rome via Metro and rail.

Hotel Lancelot in Rome is a great place to stay. Rooms are not large, but adequate, impeccably clean and very quiet. Rates are reasonable. Dinners were outstanding and the owner, Mrs. Khan, and her staff are excellent. It is about two blocks from the Colosseum and Forum in a quiet neighborhood with a couple of restaurants nearby. There is also a nearby church which is built over an Early Christian basilica which in turn is built over a Roman Mithraic temple--you can go all the way down to the temple level.

Lucy W.

Dear In Italy,

We had a great trip, thanks. The accommodations were good at both places. Noce at Palazzo Bandino is adorable, and the staff there were super-helpful. They organized a tasting for us at a lovely winery (Altesino) in Montalcino and even gave us bread and tomatoes for some sandwiches we were making for a picnic lunch one day. The dinner there was also very good and gave us a chance to meet some other guests.

We did get a little lost trying to find the place, but it was dark and we weren't coming from the autostrada.

We especially loved Pienza and recommend it as a lovely little hill town to visit. And Cortona was a great day trip as well.

Overall it was a great trip and I appreciate your services tremendously!

Best,
Johanna S.

Hello!

I want to thank you and all of your staff for making this one of the best vacations ever. We found all of the reservations you had booked for us to be not just good but Great!! The staff were so friendly, especially at the Duomo B&B and Palazzo Bandino. They both went out of their way to make you feel like family visiting from out of town.

Air France is the way to go! The crew was friendly, food and drinks were plentiful and good. We got to France and there was a bomb scare. The airport shut down completely. (scary) Yet an Air France crew member walked us right to the front and directed on which way to go (no one in the airport was helping or directing...but she did).

Avis rent a car worked well. We were able to change our reservation pick up day and time so that we could pick it up out of Florence ( that city is too crazy to drive in)...They did not refund any of our money for taking it late or turning it in early but the car was new, clean, and drove well.

We ended up taking a taxi to the rental car and to the airport (too hard to carry our bags on the streets of Florence) that the gentleman at Duomo B&B worked out for us. It was the best answer. I suggest that you let people know that it is an option, a good one. The taxis work great in Italy.

We recommended your site to so many people we met along the trip. They had all used different travel agencies and did not have as great of accommodations as we did.

The cooking school at Palazzo Bandino is so much fun! Our 2 college age daughters joined me for one day on cooking. They loved it! Our host chef made it so much fun for all of us. They were even able to change the menu for my vegetarian daughter.

**We did not know that it was in the middle of the best spas in Europe until we got home. Let people know about that in the future.

Molto ringraziamenti per il vostro aiuto! (my poor Italian)

Arrivederci
Mary and Bob J.

Jessica,

Thanks for your inquiry. My stay at the Palazzo Bandino went well, although you might factor in a few of my thoughts....understanding that others could have a completely opposite opinion. Actually, have you ever been there? Its on nice grounds but overall its a bit tatty and undercared for. The rooms border on youth hostel quality and frankly not inviting, but, still o.k. Its primarily a cooking school, looked after by the owner's daughter who, with her helpers, is helpful but very business like and, again, doesn't seem too concerned about the premises or ambience. The nights we were there, a lot of truly "ugly" Americans were up to 11 every night yelling and singing until we others asked them to please be respectful of our sleep too. Would I stay there again.....probably not, but I could....its wasn't that bad, but, I stayed in much better throughout my trip. If you want to know other accomodations that I discovered and highly recommend, just let me know and thanks for your help....

Keith R.

Jessica

The trip was great. Everything exceeded our expectations. The days we spent at the Palazzo Bandino were absolutely wonderful. Our hostess Marta could not have been nicer. To our surprise they now have dinner available all days at a $20 Euros and breakfast at $7 Euros. At first we were reluctant, so we cautiously settled in for our Sunday night dinner. Were we surprised, we had a 5 course dinner all the wine we
wanted with a closing cordial. We ate and drank  from 8 PM to 10 PM, the food kept rolling out. We could not have received better service in a 5 star restaurant. Just for a change of pace we had dinner in two local restaurants, they were nothing in comparison to the meal at the Palazzo Bandino. It did not take us long to realize we had the best deal
in town.

I am a marathon runner, so everyday I took a nice long run. It was a little dangerous on the main roads, but once inside the Chianciano Terme  city limits it was safe. Some real challenging hills, but lots of fun.

The accommodations we had were acceptable. Nothing fancy, but nice. The small shower we had could have been a little larger, but it was acceptable. While we were there they were proceeding with adding air conditioning to accommodate, as they put it "our American guess". The days we were there the weather was cool, so no air-conditioning was required. While we were there they also treated us to a wine tasting and a tour. When I say wine tasting, I mean wine tasting. It was a good thing we did not have to drive anywhere afterwards. We toured the country side, saw some great sites, ate small lunches knowing  that we were in for  a treat at night. We left the Palazzo Bandino with boxes of wine and oil. Their oil, that flowed like wine at dinner, was out of this world. You haven't tasted good olive oil until you taste fresh oil, you can have it by the spoon.

We had a great trip. I would like to thank you for everything. The trip was smooth, no problems with any vouchers or confirmations, and our hosts were exceptional. I would not be hesitant in recommending  the same trip and the same accommodations.

Regards
Joe

Dear Jessica,

I must say that I was glad I had the foresight to book my accommodations before reaching Italy, especially through the Initaly website! Hotel Abbazia and Palazzo Bandino were both really great and lovely.

Palazzo Bandino was a true gem for us. Conveniently located near Chianciano Terme town, it allowed us to have a taste of living at the countryside without the hassle of driving for miles locating for a grocery store or restaurant. Also the towns near there especially Pienza and Montepulciano were really lovely and different from the big
cities such as Rome and Naples. Gabriele was very helpful and gave us a lift to Chianciano when we missed our connection due to a train delay. A pity that it was too cold for us to enjoy the natural surroundings.

Italy was really beautiful and memorable. Wished we had more time to spend there though...

Cheers !
Simon L.

Dear In Italy,

The Palazzo Bandino was wonderful - your directions and suggestions for trip planning were well organized and useful. Thank you.

The Palazzo was charming and the staff were friendly -- we were the only guests for most of the week, but they still were thoroughly attentive to us. We stayed in the Noce House, which I would highly recommend for a romantic getaway for a couple! We also were given directions to the nearby olive press/processing plant, which was a great experience, considering November is the month to harvest. I wish we had the time to actually help with the olive picking, but I think we came a week too late. We were still able to see some of the harvesting.

Overall, a good location in Tuscany - a car is a must since it's not within walking distance to any public transportation. But great for day trips to Assisi, Siena, and Montepulciano.

Thanks Again.
Carina S.

Kristin -

Well - I think my trip to Italy just ruined me! The food was too good, the scenery too beautiful and the people too nice!! I fear that I will never again have such delicious mozzarella cheese! I had no idea that a caprese salad could be so delicious! And Tuscany was the way to go. Even Italians from other areas (we had a chance to visit Venice and, as you know, did the Amalfi Coast) said that the food in Tuscany is fantastic! You could throw a dart and hit a good restaurant. I seriously considered moving there.

As far as our accommodations, I have included my comments below. Thank you for all of your help on planning the trip, Kristin, and for responding to ALL of my e-mails so promptly and with so much information. Will you do InFrance now? And then InGreece, etc.??? Thanks!!!

The breakfasts were DELICIOUS! Best sunny-side-up egg I've ever had! We stayed in Vigneto, which is the downstairs portion of one of the small, stone houses on the property. It was quiet large and had TWO bathrooms which was great since we were there week! It was a little...sterile (as I noted another guest pointed out), but the views more than made up for it. The bathrooms and showers were just fine, the bed comfy and the armoire was HUGE, which was great because I definitely overpacked! The main house was absolutely beautiful. Our hosts were great - friendly, helpful and very sweet. I did get a chance to see the upstairs portion of the stone house in which we stayed - I think it is Cipresso - it was more warm and cozy, with a very cute bathroom. I would probably stay in that one if we returned (when we return!).

But the best part about Palazzo Bandino was its proximity to so many great hill towns in Tuscany. Kristin was absolutely right in that it was a perfect home base for many, many day trips!

Oh, and the pool was great also. The whole place was just heaven. I went for morning runs, and saw pheasant and huge jackrabbits. I've been daydreaming about it ever since!

Mary R.

Dear Jessica,

We had a fabulous stay at Palazzo Bandino! The Mandorlo/Mimosa combination was spacious and so comfortable. We found the kitchen well stocked, the showers in good working order, the staff friendly and helpful. We joined 4 other families there and all agreed the Palazzo Bandino was a superb choice. Beautifully located - surrounded by olive groves and grape vines and yet only minutes from lovely Chianciano Terme. We enjoyed exploring the region and visiting hill towns. We had two superb dinners at Mondo X and Chiusi (spelling?) - however, be warned that when you describe these restaurants as expensive it means $125 a person at least. We also enjoyed a day at a spa in Bagni Vignone. So many special memories - we would certainly go back.

Thank you for all your help.
Sara

Hi Kristin,

Our trip was fabulous. Palazzo Bandino was incredible and the family was great. We made new friends.... We would go back.

We had a bus tour that was bad though. I think the company wasVastours. I'm sure that Sally will write to you about it.- I don't think you made the arrangements for that tour - the other couple we were with had a credit from a friend for it. Sally got her camera stolen!

Other than that - we had a ball. Thanks for all of you work.

Gail T.

Dear David,

Thank you and everyone at In Italy Online for helping us have the best vacation ever! We have been privileged to do a lot of traveling and have been to Italy many times before, but this trip and our stay at Palazzo Bandino was so very special, we will remember it always. We traveled with another couple, friends of ours for more than 30 years, and selected to stay in the little house, Olivo, which was just perfect for two couples. The website picture of Olivo doesn't do its charm justice. We loved the view from our breakfast table over the vineyards and Tuscan hillside. We were there in April so the weather was getting warmer during the day but nights were still cool. We loved enjoying fires in our own fireplace several nights while we sipped Palazzo Bandino or Montelcino wines. Olivo has two bedrooms each with bath separated by the center living area so each couple had privacy, but all we needed in terms of the shared living space with well-equipped kitchenette and TV with lively, entertaining Italian shows.

Every member of the staff at Palazzo Bandino was very friendly and helpful, making dinner reservations and giving suggestions or directions for day trips, and meeting our needs for firewood or fresh towels. We loved the Tuesday night Tuscan dinner they served which was an amazing bargain at 20 euros for four courses, several kinds of wine and after dinner drinks. That day was my husband's birthday and mine the day after so the staff surprised us with a cake and song (we now know how to say Happy Birthday in Italian--Buon Compleanno!) We were very touched by this special treatment.

We took great day trips driving from Palazzo and its location is perfect. We found the travel time to some of the places is slightly longer than estimates given on the website but that may be a product of narrow roads and unpredictable traffic, although our friend who did all the driving became an excellent Italian driver within hours of our arrival in the country. We rented the car through InItaly and bought a detailed map at your suggestion from your website and that helped a great deal. We enjoyed the many sights in Tuscany, especially Siena which was magical, Pienza where we loved the market, Montepulciano where we went to mass, and San Gimignano where we had my birthday dinner at the great restaurant La Cisterna. But we were pleasantly surprised at how close Umbria is to Palazzo Bandino and it's a beautiful region. We were moved by Assisi even though it is full of tourists as warned. We very much liked Orvieto which we found to be very close by via the autostrada. We used the train to go to Florence and would recommend that although the trip is actually 2 hours rather than 1 hour.

We used your website to pick restaurants, making a list of ones that were recommended several times in your comment section. That proved to be a great idea because the meals were exceptionally good and of great value. We LOVED La Solita Zuppa in Chuisi (the service, food, and wines recommended for each course were perfect). We also enjoyed very much Osteria di Gagliani in Sarteano, and Restaurante Alle Casale (right near Palazzo.)

Your website was so informative and helpful. We appreciated the recommended list of things to bring. We've already recommended your website and Palazzo Bandino to many friends and will continue to do so. Thank you very much for all you did to make this such a memorable trip for all four of us. It will be very hard to top,

Sue B.

Dear Jessica,

Please excuse us for not writing sooner, but with the holidays, it's been pretty hectic since our trip to Tuscany. The Palazzo Bandino was the setting for an unforgettable vacation. It is charming, rustic, and very beautiful. The staff was very friendly and although, the owner didn't speak English, his daughter did and we found them to be very nice. Enrica, our hostess, was very nice (we learned that Franz left awhile ago). They make their own wine, honey and grow olives for their own olive oil, which we were able to taste and purchase. They also had a bottle of their wine waiting for us when we arrived, which was a very nice touch. Each season has its own benefit and charm. November is not typically crowded with tourists and in our case we were the only tourists" at the Palazzo Bandino. November is their "winter" and we did experience dense fog and having never driven in Italy before, was a bit scary, but not intolerable. We arrived after their grape harvest and olive picking, but Enrica did arrange for us to visit a local olive press, the Antico Frantoio la Macina. We watched as local farmers celebrated in the extraction of oil from their olives. It was a page right out of Frances Mayes book. Thank you for your tips and for recommending this beautiful family run location. We will go back there.

Sincerely,
Rick and Joyce L.

Dear Jessica,

We loved Palazzo Bandino! Our host, Franz and his staff were fabulous! The location couldn't have been better for exploring Tuscany. All the help and tips we received from Initaly were top notch. I have a friend going in January and told him this was one stop shopping!

Thanks again,
Kim and Jim G.

Sorry it has taken so long to respond, but it's been sort of a whirlwind since we returned. Our overall experience at the Palazzo Bandino was super - the only "complaint per se" was when they had to turn off the power, and when it came back on we were without heat or hot water and unable to let anyone know. The phones didn't work, so there was no way to get in touch with anyone to let them know our dilemma!

The food overall was superb everywhere - including the Banfi Winery which was a beautiful drive and wonderful wine. We will definitely use initaly.com in the future!

Thanks for everything!
Kim P.

Hi Jessica!

I'm so sorry for the delay in responding to you - I saved this email as a draft and forgot to send it! We absolutely LOVED our stay at Palazzo Bandino - the place was really gorgeous! We were delighted with our separate cabin, La Noce, just off the main house - the accommodations were perfect! We loved waking up each morning to a gorgeous sunrise and the cock-a-doodle-doo of the roosters!

We stayed at Palazzo Bandino while another couple was taking Bandino's week-long cooking class and we had the opportunity to dine with them, tasting their delicious Tuscan creations along with food made by Bandino's chef. The meals were always delicious and the food was ample - all for only 20 Euros, including wine - we didn't find a better deal anywhere in Italy!

The pool was so peaceful and beautiful and we loved the fact that it was available to us any time of the day or night. We had some beautiful midnight swims to work off some of those delicious meals.

Barbara and Enrica were such wonderful hosts - they helped us with anything we needed, even booking a wonderful massage for us in Chianciano and directing us to a near-by olive oil mill where we learned how olive oil is made!

We came home with bottles of wine and olive oil from Palazzo Bandino (and olive oil from the local mill!) and memories that will last forever! We are so glad we found Palazzo Bandino on InItaly.com - our stay there was incredible - it made our stay in Tuscany even better than we imagined!

Regards,
Karen and Mark K.

Dear Jessica,

Thank you for your concern regarding our trip. Pallazo Bandino is great, the hosts are very nice people and very helpful, I had real fun jogging thru all the dirt back roads leading from Palazzo to Chianciano and eventually Montepulciano. People were mostly amused, I guess not too many people jog at 6 a.m. in that area. Siena is a real treat, its Duomo is impressive; Montepulciano, Arezzo and San Gimigniano are also very notable. La Cisterna in this last town is a great place to eat, even though entrance was difficult because they were redoing the floor; also the ice cream shop right in front of it has got to be the best ice cream in the world. In general the whole area is great and I have already started to tell friends and relatives about it; I am certainly recommending they use your services. I also rented a car from you, upon picking it up in Rome we realized the trunk space was too small, they were able to accommodate us and gave us another for the same rate. Thanks again and we will contact you in the future.

Best Regards,
Siney and Laura

In general, we enjoyed our stay. There were a couple of things, however, that we thought that we should pass on to you. We think that it is a nice location, and in general, a nice place to stay.

They should probably adjust the way they talk about the pool area. It was already closed when we arrived in late October. That is probably the right thing, but their description should indicate that it closes for the fall.

The people working there were fine, but the atmosphere really wasn't the friendly welcome that we expected. We suggest that they offer the breakfast and maybe even the dinners that they host to all visitors. I would have paid extra once I got there to participate. It felt like we were intruding on someone's party or that we "couldn't see behind the curtain".

The room was fine except the shower had a really bad leak (not just a little).

The location was great for day trips and we had 2 small towns close enough to go for dinner.

Thanks again for your help.

Kathy M.

Ciao Jessica and Kristin!

Thanks for the welcome home message! We had an absolutely wonderful trip, filled with excitement and adventures! Luckily, none of those adventures involved our hotel accommodations! All the arrangements worked perfectly without any problems, including the car rental, guide and advance reservations. We were somewhat apprehensive about what to expect and told ourselves we could handle any problem that may occur, so we were mentally prepared for "unexpected" adventures. Working online for the first time to plan this trip is a bit like jumping off a cliff, blindfolded, but your company came through with flying colors! All of the arrangements were exactly as described and waiting for us to enjoy. We especially enjoyed The Grand Hotel Mennagio and Palazzo Bandino. All the hotel staffs were helpful and accommodating, but especially here. Enrica at P.B. is a jewel! She was very personal and made us feel at home. She joined us for our private cooking lesson to translate for us, so we got to spend a little time with her and pick her brain about Italian life! There is so much to tell, we haven't even sorted it out in our own minds. As thoughts come up, we'll pass them on to you.

Thanks A Million for all the help planning our trip! We have already referred you to people, both in the U.S. and those we met traveling in Italy! As I said, so many memories are swirling in our heads so if we think of further comments we'll let you know!

Until next time! Ciao Ciao!

Kelly and Kathleen O.

Dear Jessica,

We had a fine time at Palazzo Bandino. Especially nice were:

The rooms--exceptionally roomy with king-size beds and pretty wardrobes and dressers.

Enrica and Barbara volunteering their recommendations on restaurants and providing the service of securing reservations. That was really great. (At many places not having a reservation meant not getting a table or accepting a very poor table, and although any non-Italian speaker can memorize the words for asking for a reservation, often a corollary question or unexpected response can upend the whole conversation.) For dining, we particularly enjoyed Osteria di Gagliano in Sarteano. Al Casale served an excellent (but somewhat pricey) Tuscan dinner with live music on a delightful patio, and Il Buco in Chianciano was very good with impeccable service.

Barbara was especially kind. In the middle of one of the Palazzo's Tuscan dinner nights she plodded up with the mobile phone twice with calls from our children at home in the USA.

The dishes and particularly the cutlery were all of good quality--plain but in excellent condition. I'd wanted an oven, but was able to do quite well with just the stovetop to make a couple of meals at home. The fridge was small but adequate to our needs.

Their Tuscan dinner party was an excellent value and a fine meal. Our favorite dish was their farro salad. We both brought home farro to try it ourselves.

Due to the unusual and ungodly heat this year, the pool was a life-saver even though surrounded by the ground bees.

Close access to the A1 autostrada made trips to Perugia and Assisi less arduous to drive.

A detailed info packet at the site told us where to find most things we needed like the Centro Comercial just down the road housing a very extensive, modern supermarket.

They did not ask us for a security deposit. I'm not sure if that was an oversight, but we appreciated not having to worry about finding someone to return money early in the morning on our departure day.

The price of the accommodation was good value.

Some concerns for future guests:

The entire rest of the clientele during our week seemed to be German families, which felt a little isolating--a bit socially daunting. Looking at some other web reviews of Palazzo Bandino, it seems that our experience was not unique.

Because of the children, the place was often boisterous even into the night.

The showers were EXTREMELY small and the bathrooms generally lacked enough ventilation.

The owners might consider providing each bedroom a small electrical fan if another heat wave like this summer's comes along. Even a little breeze at night helps sleeping.

Our phone cards would not work on the property's phone system. We were glad our kids called because it would have been hard to get in touch with them short of incurring a big additional bill from the Palazzo for phone service. I looked at cell phone rentals before we left and decided that the best deal I could find would cost over $150 even before I started calling anywhere, so we decided to go with pre-paid phone cards to be used on the properties' own phones. That plan didn't work out very well at any of the three places where we stayed for different reasons at each place. I saw, too late, that you offer a free cell phone rental with the car rental, and I understand that for a good bit less than $150, a special SIM card can be purchased to be inserted in a GSM phone that gives one an Italian phone number and a set number of rechargeable minutes. If I had been aware of how to go about putting the package together myself, I'd have done it.

All in all, a nice place to stay with truly helpful hosts. Any specific questions, do please let me know. Thanks for the recommendation.

Mary Anne C.

Hi Julie,

Sorry for not responding sooner. Life has been hectic since I came home from holidays. Just want to tell how wonderful Palazzo Bandino was, we had a great time and really enjoyed the Palazzo. The people, the food, the area were just wonderful especially all the cats around the farm, (I love cats!) It is a place I would definitely return to. We did go to a couple of great restaurants and bought beautiful Tuscan paintings. I don't have the names of the restaurants or the place where we bought the art, but I do have it home and will try to remember to bring it to work and email you with the information for your readers. One thing everyone should try to do there is have the Tuscan Dinner on Wednesday nights. Lots of food and you meet mostly everyone staying at the inn and even people not staying there come for this special night of wonderful food and wine.

Again thank you for all your help and it was a holiday I will always remember.

Have a wonderful day,
Carol A.

Dear Jessica,

Thank you for this note and I can confirm that we were absolutely delighted with Palazzo Bandino. Everything worked out well and I would not really wish to criticise. We would recommend following the restaurant suggestions from the owners. Also trips to the smaller hilltop towns are well worth it for local atmosphere.

My only suggestions would be that some town maps could be provided for local places. With the "excitement" of local driving conditions, it can be difficult to find your way around, especially to park. I would also suggest that the description used that apartment all have verandas is a little generous. We were in Girasole and the veranda is essentially the space at the top of the stairs. This does allow a small table and 2 chairs (just) so is OK for 2 adults but no more.

Thank you for your service and we will look to you in the future.

Regards
Julian S.

Dear Jessica,

Palazzo Bandino and Casa Fiorentina were both excellent! For the area that we wanted to see in Tuscany, Palazzo Bandino was a perfect location. For the first two nights, we were put in a cottage overlooking the valley that led up to Chianciano - we had a wonderful view of the town. The staff was very pleasant and gave us some good suggestions on places to eat dinner. Should I return to Tuscany, I would definitely consider staying there again. My only complaint is that it would have been nice had the rooms been equipped with some kind of a fan as the weather was hot and it was difficult to get comfortable at night.

Should I return to Italy, I will contact you again!!

Barbara B.

Dear Jessica,

We just returned from 3 weeks in Italy last night and our fondest memory is of Palazzo Bandino. It was the perfect location to sightsee or just relax. The hosts, Barbara and Erika were very helpful and and our Mandorlo apt was the best. The restaurant recommendations were great and we wouldn't change a thing.

Thanks so much.
Tess and Dan M.

Hello Jessica,

Thank you ---we all had a great stay --warm sunny weather -except for a freak hailstorm which hit the farm and wiped out about 60% of the grapes--they were devastated and we all felt for them.

The service, hospitality and friendliness of the staff could not be faulted---they confirmed our flights and assisted greatly with train travel.

A WONDEFUL LOCATION--great meal at La Solita Zuppa, Chuisi----great supermarket and your directions and comments were terrific--we will use you again.

Thanks,
Lorraine H.

Dear In Italy,

The holiday was wonderful and Enrica, Barbara and Anna were so very friendly and charming and always aiming to please their guests. The swimming pool was lovely, they apparently put very little amounts of chloric additives in it, so it does not smell at all. It was always very quiet at the swimming pool. The apartment Noce was lovely, but I had expected a small kitchen in this apartment. Not that you promised that there would be a small kitchen available, but the word 'apartment' includes a kitchen, at least in the Dutch tourist guides. Fortunately there was a fridge, but this fridge was very small and did not have a possibility for freezing ice-cubes.

We went to visit lots of little towns in the neighbourhood and we really enjoyed Montepulciano and Chiusi (very nice, small, Etruscan museum). All the information on your web site was very useful.

with kind regards,
Liesbeth S.

Dear Jessica,

Sorry for the delay in responding to your inquiry. We had a wonderful time in Tuscany and Palazzo Bandino was not only a wonderful place to stay but the location was great for touring. We met other guests who wished they had rented a car in Chuisi, as we had. Driving in Rome was avoided and we had the added benefit of leaving the car at the Avis lot while we took the train to Florence. All in all a great decision.

Palazzo Bandino was a beautiful place. We stayed in Il Cipresso and I never tired of the view out our windows (I wish we had a patio or balcony so we could enjoy the scenery al fresco).

A few things to note: the phones in the immediate area are not touchtone so I was unable to use my phone card. I tried in Chianciano and Chuisi. However, the surrounding hill towns were not a problem. The weekly dinner at the farm is not advertised to the guests. We found out "through the grapevine". The hosts seemed to be catering to their hotel guests (they own a nearby hotel) in terms of offerings. Not that we minded. Most guests were pretty independent and found their own way around.

Our favorite restaurant was La Grotta just outside of Montepulciano. The service and food were excellent. Actually we had great meals in all the hill towns. It was difficult to get "weaned" off our 1.5-2 hour lunches. They're quite addicting!

In conclusion our entire trip was fantastic and InItaly was a great help. We will definitely use your services for future trips to Italy.

Thanks much.
Debbie B.

Jessica,

We both loved Palazzo Bandino. Our hosts were very gracious and accommodating, and we found our room to be very clean and comfortable, with a beautiful view of Montepulciano in the distance. It's a very peaceful place, and a welcome change after hot and busy Rome. Breakfast every day was fresh and good, and we were very pleased to find a bottle of complementary Bandino wine in our room on our arrival. Of course we bought more to take home, after we had the chance to taste it at their wine-tasting party.

A restaurant to recommend: Osteria da Gagliano, in Sarteano, just 7 km from the farmhouse. It's tiny, and everything is made inhouse- it was one of the best meals we had in our two weeks in Umbria and Tuscany (and inexpensive, as well!). The website information was very accurate, and the countryside around this place is truly beautiful. We loved it and would return in a minute.

Thank you,
Donna and John M.

Hi,

We had a wonderful time in Italy...it was perfect. Palazzo Bandino is awesome and we've been raving about to everyone back home! Recommended it to local travel agents too...

The hosts were very gracious and we were allowed to participate in the harvesting of the grapes! The food was excellent, they sponsored a dinner one night during the week that was very inexpensive. We also took a cooking class from one of the local chefs in town, Luciano (he was also one of the men who harvested grapes for Palazzo Bandino)...the class was fun and interesting.

Just one comment...we tried to eat at one of the restaurants that was recommended by InItaly.com in Chiusi (La Solita Zuppa). Unfortunately, we didn't make reservations and had to eat elsewhere. We were disappointed but i thought it might be helpful if you mentioned that it's a good idea to make reservations whenvever possible. So others might not be disappointed as we were.

Thank you,
Bridget C. J.

Jessica,

We had a great time in Italy. We spent 5 weeks traveling through Puglia, Calabria, Sicilia, Roma and Tuscana. Palazzo Bandino was great. The accommodations, wine country setting, and proximity to southern Tuscan hilltowns exceeded our expectations. An unexpected plus was being able to join the cooking class for one day and enjoy the meal we prepared. I would return to Bandino and recommend it to others. A pleasant surprise was seeing the filming of Under the Tuscan Sun in the Piazza Grande, Montepulciano. Another pleasant discovery was the former Benedictine abbey Sant' Anna in Camprena, near Pienza. Scenes from the movie English Patient were filmed here and funds are now available for restoration. It serves meals and offers Italian language and cultural studies. Also, wine lovers must take the tour of the Biondi-Santi estate near Montalcino. This is where Brunello was first produced. The '97 Riserva will be released next year and the owners believe it may be the best they have ever produced.

Joe P.

Hi Cynthia,

We had a wonderful time in Italy! The Palazzos Alexander and Bandino were better than expected. In hindsight, I would have done them in reverse--start with the farm, Bandino (more casual), and finish with Alexander in Lucca (more elegant). Also, Lucca could have been done in 2 or 3 days rather than the 5 we spent.

The staffs at both places couldn't have been kinder, friendlier, or more helpful. Alexander even made our dinner reservations for us. At Locando de Angelica (lovely restaurant in Lucca) they brought dessert with a candle because Mario had told them it was my husband's birthday!

Palazzo Bandino surprised us with a perfect view of the beautiful hill town! Bandino is the perfect spot for visits to all the Tuscan hill towns you want to see, but never enough time. We were even able to join their cooking class for one day. Great fun!

Our favorite trattoria in the area was Chiocciola in Pienza. We would go back just for their wonderful soups! Our favorite restaurant was Antico Poggio near Montelcino. Exquisite food and award winning wines. La Chiusa in Montefollonico is also a not-to-miss for a big splurge. The owner was so gracious, he practically dined with us!

Thank you for all the help and information you provide. I am recommending initaly to everyone who asks about our trip!

Carol B.

Dear In Italy,

Really liked Palazzo Bandino. Staff is very friendly and helpful. One of the unexpected bonuses was the availability of an evening meal at $20 a head - prepared by the cooking class chef.

Thanks for your assistance.
Don

Dear Cynthia:

We had a wonderful time in Italy. Palazzo Bandino was very nice, and we had a very pleasant room in the main building. The grounds were beautiful and the staff extremely courteous and helpful. The only thing I would mention to potential guests is that staying in the Palazzo is like staying with family. There was a family staying in the rooms adjacent to ours, and we could hear their voices in the mornings (before we wanted to get up...) and at night if we returned early. If we do get back to Tuscany, I would request the small guesthouse to have a little more quiet. But that is more for our personal preference. It certainly would not effect our good impression of the Palazzo.

In-Italy on line was a wonderful resource, and I would like to thank you for all the info and help you extend to travelers. We prefer independent travel to tours and the recommendations you supply are great! Thanks again.

Craig & Barbara V.

Dear Cynthia,

We had a wonderful time! Despite rainy weather, we loved every minute of it. Palazzo Bandino is so well situated: we enjoyed walking to Chianciano Terme and drove to Chiusi, for one reason or another, every day. It must be quite beautiful in the fall. I look forward to another trip, soon, and at this moment, can think of no where else I'd rather go. Our day trips to Siena, Montepulciano and Assisi were simply wonderful. (We attended Christmas Mass in Assisi, which was quite special.) We cooked at home several nights and it was a pleasure to buy the makings of dinner in the supermarket at the (very odd) Etruscan Mall. We had wonderfully fresh vegetables and pasta and of course the cheese is exceptional, not to mention the ice cream!

Our only disappointment was that we were unable to eat at Palazzo Bandino or take some cooking lessons. The restaurant and main building had been booked for the entire week by a group concentrating on diet. I'll be sure to contact you when I plan another trip.

Joan A.

Dear Kristin and Jessica,

Thank you for your e-mail asking about our trip to Tuscany and Palazzo Bandino. We had a fabulous time and the Palazzo Bandino was the perfect place to be. The staff was excellent and the place ran very smoothly. An added attraction was Luciano the chef who when not in the kitchen worked in the fields. I took a cooking lesson from him and had great fun. He also served us a 6 course tuscan one evening that was to die for. You asked if we found any special places we would recommend. Basically there isn't a bad place to eat. We found a couple very near to the Palazzo that they told us about-----Rabarbaro, a little place about 2 miles away where all of the locals seemed to go, Il Buco in Chianchamo --a little fancier and very good. The other place by the Duomo in Montepleciano called La Grotta a 5star place but worth every penny. As you can see we loved every minute of our stay in Tuscany and would highly recommend the Palazzo to anyone. It was a wonderful experience and we thank you for (finally) getting us there.

Dorothy and Pete H.

Dear In Italy,

It was just perfect for a very unusual getaway. The staff was wonderful and extremely accommodating. We had dinner at the Palazzo one night and it was excellent. Every restaurant in the area was excellent, but la Solita Zuppa in Chiusi was a little bit too yuppyish and trendy. I was chastised when I asked for bread with my pasta.... The nerve!! The Italians sure know how to dine though. The highlight of our sightseeing was just leisurely driving around the countryside particularly to Montechiello. We had a great lunch in the upper cafe. It was hard to imagine such wonderful pastries in a 900 year old town in the middle of the countryside. And every house wine, vino della casa, is better than anything you could buy for top dollar in the states. No one speaks more than just a very little English so I recommend an English-Italian electronic translator procured online. It was cumbersome at times but helped enormously for those of us too lazy to learn to speak Italian prior to our arrival. Often one word conveyed what we were trying to communicate. The Italians are thankfully very, very, patient. If anyone is driving back to Rome to catch a plane on a weekday morning, I strongly suggest they leave very early and hopefully miss the rush hour in Rome. Also, if one is trying to redeem the sales tax at the airport when leaving, you must bring not only the form (none of the stores we visited even knew what we were talking about) but also the actual item to customs and it must be unwrapped. Frankly, that whole program was a joke, so just pay the freight and avoid the hassle.

Overall, it was an unforgettable experience and we did not regret for a moment that we chose to end our European vacation with our brief visit to PB and miss Rome almost entirely this trip. Thank you for all your help (and patience) getting us there. All the advise was right on the money. You are more than welcome to give out our email address to any skeptics you encounter.

Gene and Rita S.

Hi there.

We had a great time at Palazzo Bandino. The Olivo and Noce apartments were very nice and worked out well for us.

The winetasting was fun. The big traditional Tuscan dinner on Thursday night was great. We would highly recommend this to future travelers.

Also, not a big surprise, but it was hot. The apartments would have greatly benefited from electric fans in the bedrooms. The Olivo apartment is on the side of a hill, and there are times the wind was not blowing at all.

All in all, a great time. We would recommend it highly.

Thanks.
Chris C.

Dear In Italy,

Our next stop was Palazzo Bandino, two miles from the town of Chianciano. What a great place to stay. And here again, it was close to several places to visit that were only 30 minutes away. It was here that we were so glad that they had a swimming pool. I had forgotten to mention that it was so hot. Some people there told us that this was the hottest June in 140 years. At one point in Florence, it reached 104. On average, the temp. was around 92 during the day. It was here at Palazzo Bandino that Marge and I took a cooking class. So much fun! The chef spoke little English. However, our host at Bandino spoke perfect English and interpreted everything that the chef said very well. The class was well worth the money. The memories of our class will never be forgotten!

R.L.R.

Hi Jessica -

Wonderful trip! Wonderful Palazzo Bandino! Ten days much too short. I'm looking forward to staying at P.B. again next spring. We met a couple who said this was their 7th year!

May was the perfect time to go - the fields blazed with red poppies (yes, just like "Room with a View"), golden ginestra and bright yellow mustard. Every doorway, garden, terrace and planter bloomed with roses, azaleas, iris and cyclamen. Arrived in drenching rain, two days of mixed sun, clouds and sprinkles (temp in the low 70's) and then 7 days of perfect weather: sunny, mid to upper 70's, dry and breezy.

Picked up a FIAT Punto at Fiumicino. Great little car - could not keep up with Mercedes and Beamers on autostrada, but was perfect for winding roads and tight parking spots which are the norm. I rented from Avis - next time I will try Auto Europe. The Avis counter was a zoo when I arrived. They had run out of cars apparently. The Auto Europe counter seemed calmer. I had not driven in Italy before so was a bit nervous. But after about 10 minutes on the road, quickly got into the flow of things. The basic rule seems to be: stay out of the passing lane unless you are really passing. The directions to the autostrada and to Palazzo Bandino were perfect.

I did 3 days of B&B on my own at the Palazzo while waiting for a friend to arrive. Hosts Enrica, Franz and Anna were wonderful. The bedroom, "Quercia" was very pleasant.

There had been a week of rain before I arrived. Enrica explained that there had been water damage at Il Vigneto. She offered to switch us to another apartment if I thought Il Vigneto was no longer acceptable. The damage was very minor - some staining to two walls, so I saw no reason to change accommodations. When we moved in two days later the walls were pristine - they had been whitewashed!

Il Vigneto was the right size for two. The kitchen was certainly adequate - lots of glasses, dishes, and cutlery for two. Two burner stove top and small under the counter fridge. We did not cook, but certainly could have managed easily if we were in the mood. Each apartment and cottage has a private terrace. Ours looked over the vineyards. There is also a lovely pool area overlooking the vineyards, with glorious views of the hills. The furnishings were pleasant and in good shape. Good sized kitchen table, plenty of chairs, a sofa and a small table lamp. Nice table cloth and napkins. Looked a bit sterile at first but a big vase of glorious spring flowers warmed things up. The beds were comfortable. The armoire was large and had plenty of hangers. The bathrooms had good showers, plenty of hot water and did not flood the bathroom. Il Vigneto has two bathrooms; one with a hair dryer. Our apartment was "eat off the floor" clean.

Il Vigneto, faced the fields which made it the most private and had fabulous views across the vineyards. Next time we'll probably try a a different apartment just for variety.

Palazzo Bandino hosts "typical Tuscan" dinners for large parties - from 30 to 100. Palazzo Bandino guests are invited to dine once a week. The dinner is delicious and features Palazzo Bandino's wine and olive oil! Yum! So, take advantage.

We were the only Americans - most guests were German. Everyone was most cordial, especially after we got to know each other better at wine tasting and Tuscan dinner evening.

Palazzo Bandino is easy driving distance to southern hilltowns Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino. Buonconvento, etc., Orvieto and also to Lago di Trasimeno. Assisi is about a two hour drive (probably can be done more quickly using major roads).

For basic groceries and cleaning staples visit the "Centro Commerciale Etrusco" about 10 minutes away.It is an American style mall (no GAP, sorry!) with a large supermarket. (Pick up shopping carts in the parking lot - need a 1 Euro coin to unlock cart; your Euro is returned when cart is brought back). I also bought a cell phone at the mall. If people need to call you, this is the least expensive way to do it.

About 5 minutes past the mall is Chiusi proper with very good butchers, pastry shops and sellers of "produtti tipici di Toscana". The nearest town, about 5 minutes away, is Chianciano Terme, a modern spa town of 200 hotels, cafes, gelaterias and shops. The old Chianciano city center is up the hill (of course) Our favorite morning cappucino and pastry spot was "Mezzo Miglio" and our favorite gelateria was Fiordilatte.

Palazzo Bandino is about 20 minutes from the Chiusi-Chianciano Terme train station, which is actually in Chiusi Scalo. The parking lot next to the station is for four hours maximum; we found 24 hour parking in two spots: there is a free public parking lot across the tracks. When driving into Chiusi Scalo, one needs to look for the sign directing one towards "Perugia" - it also has a big "T" on it. One turns onto a highway like overpass and then follows the "T" sign to the lot. The second alternative, is to drive to the end of the street on which the station is located (to the left if facing the terminal) and park there. This about 4-5 short blocks off and is a factory-ish area.

From Chiusi, Siena is just over an hour, Florence hour and half with fast train, Rome an hour and a half. Chiusi itself is a nice little town with an excellent Etruscan museum. We had outstanding meals at La Solita Zuppa in Chiusi, Mario's in Buonconvento, La Antichia Osteria da Divo in Siena and La Tripolitana trattoria in Sarteano. The last is a "hole in the wall" type of place but the food is delicious as is the house wine. We were a little disappointed in Zaira - it seemed a bit tired. But perhaps it was just an off night. One should ask to see their wine cellars located in Etruscan caves. We ate in a Chiusi pizzeria/birreria called "Il Veliero" (The Sailboat) late one evening when everything else was closed. This is local hang out. Good pizza and beer in a vaguely nautical setting.

The set meal at Palazzo Bandino is delicious and good value for 20 Euro. Antipasto of mixed prosciutto, capacolla & salame, crostini, bruschetta, ribollita, pici, roast chicken, veal and sausage, fagiolini, vin santo and cantucci. Oh yes, and their most excellent chianti. Franz will explain all.

InItaly was a pleasure to deal with. Jessica, thank you answering all my e-mails and phone calls so promptly. I'm look forward to my next trip to Italy.

Roberta D.

Dear In Italy,

Where do I start!! Kelly and I just returned from a fabulous 3 week honeymoon vacation in Venice, Lake Como, Fiesole (Florence), Cinque Terre and of course, a beautiful stay at Palazzo Bandino. We are still there (mentally), and we REALLY miss the beauty of Italy...the food, the people, the weather and above all Il Vigneto, our heavenly, secluded apartment an arms length away from the grape vines we picked at each day. I say heavenly because we WERE in heaven...heaven on earth. We knew we would enjoy Italy but we never imagined we would fall in love with it this way. This was definitely an exploratory trip, laying the foundation for many, many more trips there to discover the rest of what is left to experience.

The minute we drove down the beautiful little olive tree lined road to the Palazzo we knew this was special. It just got better and better. We were treated to a very good time during our very relaxing stay there. Gabrielle, Dominic, Franz and the entire staff were more than cordial, especially in light of the tragic events that had just occurred the week before. The day after we arrived the grape harvest began. What a production! It was great to get a tour of the process as it was happening. The wine and olive oil produced at PB is tops! Holy Grappa! We were able to observe the 6 students that were enrolled in the cooking course there.It was something to see the pasta being made by hand. Kelly and I would pick eggplant, tomatoe and zuccini from the garden there, pair it up with fresh pecorino cheese and enjoy an awesome meal in Il Vigneto...picking grapes for dessert.

Everyday we would drive to the hilltowns...Montepulciano, Montalcino, Montechiello, Old Chianciano Terme, Montefollonico, Pienza, Chiusi, Siena, Quirico D'Orcia, Sarteano, Lago Trasimeno, Sinalunga, etc, etc. Endless magical visits to the little hilltowns, churches, museums, piazza's, trattorias, ristorantes, on and on and on. Like children in a candy store.

To eat..highly recommend "La Solita Zuppa" in Chiusi. In Montefollonico, "La Chiusa"...simply the best! "Il Gamberino" in Siena. Places to visit...San Biaggio Church below Montepulciano. San D'Antimo, LaFoce, Casteluccio, Cetona, Montechiello. I took 60 rolls of film! Photographers paradise....cypress tree topped ridges in the setting sun. What a feeling!

Richard K.

Dear In Italy,

Thank you, and yes, we had a FANTASTIC time! I would go back in a heartbeat, and your recommendations and accommodations were outstanding. We have friends planning a trip (the ones who originally planned the idea of an Italy trip, but cancelled) for next September, and I will continue to praise InItaly.com for the excellent service and extensive information about travel to Italy. We will definitely use your services again!

Palazzo Bandino exceeded our expectations BY FAR. Cipresso was very comfortable with a beautiful view, and how much more perfect can it be than to have CATS! "Mama gato" adopted us (or we her?) for much of our stay, and of course, after feeding her an entire package of salami and another of prosciutto, I decided to buy cat food. There were at least 10-12 kittens too skittish to get near, but we enjoyed watching them playing in the tree outside our window in the mornings. Unfortunately, we were on the go so much that we barely spent any time there! We did get to enjoy a full-moon stroll through the vineyards with a bottle of wine, but could easily have stayed another week to just enjoy the immediate surroundings!

We loved the cooking lesson - in fact spent the weekend "practicing" our newly learned skills - HELPFUL HINT - pici doesn't work well in really dry climates. We'll keep trying, though. Luciano was great, and after we ranted and raved about him to Kim and Marty Mitchell (in Vigneto), they arranged for a table for 4 to be set up for us, so we could "share" dinner that he prepared for a group of tourists from the hotel also owned by the Valeriano (sp?) family. Franz, Enrique, and Dominique were very friendly and helpful, and we thoroughly enjoyed their hospitality.

More to come,
Debbie S.

Dear Jessica,

We had a treat trip to Italy. We did have a slight deal in getting over there due to the events in NY, but once we finally got to Italy we were glad that we went. Palazzo Bandino was wonderful. Out hosts were so accommodating and made us feel very welcome and whatever we asked them for help they took care of it right away. Palazzo Bandino was very quiet and the setting is like out of a coffee table book about Tuscany.

Great restaurants to recommend would be La solita Zuppa in Chiusi, and Ristorante Ai Quattro Venti in Montepulciano. The location of Palazzo Bandino was perfect for day trips around tuscany. We did rent a car, but the train station in Chuisi made it very convenient to get to Florence or Siena within and hour or two. The Italians at the train station were very nice and spoke some english to help get us to the right destination. The car rental agency (AVIS) was right across the street from the train station, so it made it very convenient when we left to drop off our car and we took the train to Rome. (two hours) Trust me you don't want to drive in Florence, Siena or Rome...The countryside is another story. Very few cars.

Our favorite town was Montelpulcino. Very quaint and unspoiled. Just what you imagine a tuscan hilltown to look like. The view from the top of the hill is breathtaking.

The one thing that I would caution people about is the smoking. It seems like everyone smokes in Italy and if you are bothered by smoke you might try to dine Alfresco.

We will use your website again, you should be commended for an outstanding job.

Karl & Kathy R.

Hi:

Palazzo Bandino was EXCELLENT! Their very helpful hosts and excellent accommodations were stellar and I'd go back in a second. Wonderful fresh baked croissants every morning filled with almond paste, the best caffe latte I've ever had, and a great time with their cooking classes and wine cellar tour and wine tasting. Brought back many, many bottles of wine from the palazzo! We were advised (and booked) to go to Mondo X, a restored Franciscan monastery which was a touch expensive but worth every lire. 9-course gourmet meal served in exquisite surroundings, and a tour of the premises to boot. I couldn't bring myself to eat one of their courses though which was pigeon.

Carol L.

Hi Kristin, Patrick and Ghia,

Sorry I haven't written before now but have been busy since arriving home. We can hardly believe the trip is over and wish we were still there and hope to return with your wonderful help before too long. Our friends feel the same way and I must say the maps and directions to all your places were right on.

Palazzo Bandino was high on our list and the Olivo house was perfect for the four of us. Looking out over the vineyard was beautiful and the air was pure and clear and birds singing was a delight. We went out to many of the villages and had wonderful food and were charmed by the whole experience. In Spello we went to a restaurant that looked out over the entire valley and was delicious in all areas! A man befriended us there helping us to find this restaurant and we ended up spending the afternoon with him. Seems he has taught at UCLA and traveled to many places and is a acquacolorist in the village teaching students (12) and just finished his course. He came from Finland and my husband is part Finnish so of course they became fast friends and he told the whole village about his familia from Finland!! He showed us where to get good Umbrian olive oil and invited to his home which has his studio and three floors. Very nice indeed.!! Osmo is his name and studio. Just one of surprise interludes and surprise places to eat enroute. Another day the men took a half day cooking class and really had a good time at Palazzo Bandino. Learned how to make Pici and trout and biscotti. A fun and good learning experience for all. Dominque is a young man helping there and he was delightful and was glad to converse with english speaking people. Brought home honey, wine, olive oil all made at Palazzo!! The restaurant La Buca in Chianciano was very good and the spa treatments were good and fun. Learned about Shiatzu which really helped my friend. Marco was great and spoke English as well. Montefollonica has a superb restaurant called La Chiusa. Made to feel most welcome and showed the kitchen, had marvellous food and he brought more dishes for us to try. Don't miss it! Also visited Barbi factoria and wine cellars. Ate a wonderful lunch there, also a must in Montalcino.

Now, Patrick we couldn't have done this without your help in getting our car. We got a brand new Alfa but my only objection was it wouldn't turn sharply in those hilltop towns we got in to and the challenge to go down those narrow streets had to be tried by my husband! Fortunately we got out of them with help from very nice local people. Those Italians are wonderful, friendly, helpful and more!! Everything was as expected and more on this trip and would certainly use all of you again and have told others of this wonderful website. So fun and informative. Thanks again!

Janelle B.

Greetings from Alaska,

We have returned home from a wonderful trip to Italy, and want you to know that Palazzo Bandino was wonderful. It couldn't have been more perfect. The rooms that Kristin suggested and reserved for us (Mandorlo & Mimosa) were just what we needed. After 3 days in Florence, the country was a welcome retreat. We had breakfast each morning prepared by the staff at Bandino, and it was great. Since we had a car, we explored every hill town between Florence and Assisi . We put on some miles! I don't think we would have done it any differently....other than to stay in Italy !!

Thanks for providing the selection of villas in Italy for us to choose from. We have told many many people of your web site. When we go back, we will be sure to see what you are offering in the areas that we will be visiting, and hope you have a spot as wonderful as Palazzo Bandino.

Thanks again,
Nancy L. and Walter P.

Dear Ghia and Kristin,

Thanks for the email following up on our recent trip to Italy. Thank you also for all your help in finding the perfect farmhouse in Tuscany and other suggestions regarding traveling to Italy. Palazzo Bandino was situated in the beautiful countryside of southern Tuscany but also close to many little towns we wanted to visit during the day. The staff were helpful and spoke very good English (in fact one host was from south Africa) and we felt welcome from the beginning. Our room was one of the B&B rooms in the farmhouse and was sunny and very comfortable. The farmhouse was charming. We did not use the pool very much but it was nice and the little dirt roads going through the vineyards were inviting. There are good restaurants in the two towns only 10 minutes away, and you could spend all day just driving around the countryside. My favorite places were Siena, Cortona and Pienza. There is also an old monastery right outside of Pienza which we visited that was very special (it happens to be the place where part of the movie The English Patient was filmed). Also, two other highlights were Rome and Capri Island. Here we took a boatride into the Blue Grotto-incredible. We rented a car which was great because we had the freedom to go where we wanted when we wanted, and yes we did drive in Rome and Naples and it is possible! Thanks again for all your help. I have recommended your site to others.

Stacy M.

Ghia,

Thanks for the e-mail and the outstanding service you provided as an online travel agency. We did have a marvelous trip (the trip of a lifetime!) and especially loved Italy and Palazzo Bandino. I am more than happy to give you some comments for posting on your site (after all, I relied heavily on them for deciding on Palazzo Bandino). Here they are:

First of all, I am extremely impressed with In Italy's web presence, ease-of-use and delivered results. After checking with the BBB to verify the company's credentials, we decided to "take a leap of faith" and do all of our booking online - without interfacing with a single human being (although I'm sure that they're wonderful folks). The directions, maps, restaurant recommendations and other information they provided were extremely useful and accurate.

Secondly, Palazzo Bandino is an ideal destination. The centralized location (an hour away from Florence and Rome), extremely friendly staff, postcard-perfect views and outstanding wine (grown, harvested, aged and bottled on the farm) made for the perfect respite and second honeymoon for my wife and I. Enrique, Franz and Dominic (a great young guy doing his "work-study" program on the farm) were extremely friendly and helpful. Although you are essentially living in a house, there is still a feeling of privacy. Our hosts were always there at the right time and we enjoyed their company.

Palazzo Bandino's wines must be tried! My wife and I enjoyed it so much, we carried a case by train from Southern Tuscany to Amsterdam, and then by plane to London, LA and San Diego. Especially recommended are the farm's 98 Reserve Chianti and 96 Chianti (my favorite!). The farm also produces several other Chiantis, a refreshing white and rosso, Vin Santo (dessert wine made from raisins - great with crostini!), Grappa and a fine olive oil. A complimentary bottle of the Chianti awaited in our room upon arrival, and the farm also offered a discount for a 6-bottle sampler at 40,000 lire (about $20 US). These wines were not only tasty, but very affordable!

We enjoyed dinner in nearby Chiusi (only 10-15 minutes from the farm) at La Solita Zuppa on two occasions. The husband and wife that own La Solita are very gracious hosts, making you feel like you're dining with family. The food is outstanding and served in multiple, digestible and delicious courses. Take the husband's recommendation on wines to go with each course - you won't be disappointed.

Balazzo Bandino's location made it easy for us to drive or train to three great Italian destinations: Rome, Siena and San Giminano. We spent one day in each city:

Rome was very busy and bustling, but is a must-see for anyone interested in spending some time in the "seat of Western civilization." If visiting the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, make sure you spend some time enjoying the Museo Vatico, which contains perhaps the most comprehensive collection of religious art throughout history - from Etruscan urns to Salvador Dali's "Crucifixion." We noticed that a lot of guests rushed through the Museo in order to get to Michelangelo's masterpiece.

Siena is a treat for the eyes and senses. Enjoy a glass of Brunello on one of the sidewalk cafes ringing the Piazza del Campo. There was a great street comedian playing tricks on tourists for all of the cafe patrons. The Museo Civico is also very interesting and covered with gorgeously-detailed frescoes entailing the city's rich history.

San Giminano was our favorite day trip. Although a bit more touristy than other Tuscan hill towns, we enjoyed a lazy afternoon picnicking (with good Tuscan meats, cheese and wine) in the park outside of the city walls, and then wandering through the winding streets, peeking into great shops and listening to a harpist in one of the town's Piazzas.

In addition to taking day trips, spend some time basking in the Summer sun at Palazzo Bandino's pool. Also, take a late-night hike with your honey with a blanket and bottle of wine to the vineyards for star-gazing and fire-fly watching.

We also enjoyed two days in Florence (our departing point for Tuscany) walking around and taking in all of the Renaissance masterpieces. BTW, you don't have to go to one of the city's famous museums to experience the Renaissance here, the streets are full of masterpieces of sculpture and architecture. A beautiful city.

I would recommend In Italy and Palazzo Bandino to anyone desiring a great time in the Tuscan Countryside.

W. Scott & Ursula K.

Also thought you might enjoy this journal entry I wrote while on the farm (at sunrise from our window):

Saturday, June 9, 2001
6:30AM

Tuscan Dawn

Sun rises gently over buffeting green hills
Pink mist on the horizon
Moist dew drips from the vine
A million birds scream with joy
Cypress stretch toward dust blue sky
Tuscan Sunrise, Tuscan Dawn
Sleeping dreams merge with waking

Dear In Italy,

We recently booked a trip with you to Tuscany, and had a wonderful time on our first visit to Italy. Everything you helped us with turned out to be just perfect. We loved Palazzo Bandino and your suggestion that we base ourselves there for trips tp Rome, Florence and the hilltowns was perfect. It was amazing what we were able to do in just five short days. The accomodations were comfortable, clean, and extremely satisfactory for the very inexpensive rate we paid.

Il Buco was by far our favorite restaurant, we wanted to take the "Mamma" in the cucina home with us. Pienza was our favorite hilltown. It was truely a memorable trip and the service you provided was fantastic. We loved having the car, you were so right in telling us it was the only way to see the region. The roads are wonderful in Italy, very well marked! We never got lost once and we went everywhere. My suggestion would be to rent the smallest car you can, the roads in some of the small hill towns are very narrow and steep! Also very few people in Tuscany speak English, although with a small bit of Italian and lots of smiles, hand gestures, we were able to get by very nicely. The Italian people are wonderful and very helpful with any attempts at the language. I was getting lessons everywhere I tried my hand at the language and many Bravo's from the gracious shopkeepers. A must vacation for anyone interested in visiting Italy.

Rosanne D.

Dear Kristin

We loved the Palazzo Bandino with its large, spacious rooms, high ceilings and balconies overlooking the Tuscany hillsides. It was much more than we expected for the price we paid and the time of year (peak season). Patricia, our hostess was very gracious and helpful. The pool provides wonderful "downtime" between the Florence and Roma all day tourist trips. Spectacular cities spaced either side of a wonderful retreat.

Hidden Gem: A 45 minute drive from the Palazzo is San D'Antimo, located just south of Montalcino, a wonderful old 8th Century monastery and church. At 11 am every Sunday they do the Catholic Mass in Latin and accompany it with Gregorian Chanting. These timeless ceremonies done in this format for centuries are truly beautiful. These experiences are no longer available to North American Catholics so it was very moving.

Mark M.

Dear Kristin:

Our trip to Tuscany was wonderful and Palazzo Bandino made a perfect home base for sightseeing! It was so well located to all of the southern hill towns and the autostrada. We especially loved the fact that it was between two larger towns, Chianciano Terme and Chiusi, where we took advantage of modern conveniences like a supermarket. Also, these were great towns for getting a quick bite to eat, in the mornings or evenings. Chianciano Terme was especially fun, with the spa, thermal waters and wonderful parks. We enjoyed strolling around the town after dinner because it felt so safe.

Palazzo Bandino's farmhouse and grounds are just what you picture Tuscany to be. We stepped out of our apartment onto the vineyard, so the views were spectacular! The apartment was simply furnished, with a great shower and very clean. The fact that we would be sleeping without air conditioning had us both a little nervous because the days were sunny and in the low 90's, but surprisingly the nights were very cool and breezy, so it was really comfortable. We took advantage of the pool, in the afternoons, after our hot days in the towns and found that very refreshing. We enjoyed the tour of their winery, with a tasting following. We were surprised that they hosted a traditional Tuscan dinner and decided to do that one night. It was some of the best food we had the whole trip! I would imagine their cooking lessons are worth a try.

Thanks for guiding us to this wonderful spot! Our favorite hill town was Montepulciano, for the views, shopping and food, and the best part of the trip was the scenery between towns. We were forever pulling over to take photographs of the hills and the occasional live sunflower field! A week felt too short, but we had to return home to our baby. This was my first trip away and it was truly a dream come true!

Warmest regards,
Tracey A.

Sarah,

We had an excellent time in Italy and very much enjoyed our accommodations at Palazzo Bandino. We stayed in the apartment, Il Vigneto, in the separate building. It was lovely - we were pleasantly surprised by having two bathrooms. Before arriving in Tuscany, we had spent a great week doing the Rome, Florence, Venice tour - so, the week-long stay in the Tuscany area was a nice change of pace, and well-timed in our itinerary. By the way, Venice is a high point for any trip to Italy - it is truly like no other place - both impressive and romantic. After Tuscany, we drove to Sorrento - where we stayed for 4 nights and visited the Amalfi coast and Pompeii - this was another great area, and we would recommend it.

As for Palazzo Bandino, it was wonderful to wake up and sit out on our patio, as the sun rose over the hills, looking out at the vineyards and listening to the birds. Il Vigneto provides some privacy, since it is separate from the main building, and faces away from the rest of the accommodations. The location in Chianciano Terme is quite convenient for travel to surrounding towns. We visited Montepulciano, Siena, San Gimignano, Pienza, San Quirico, Assisi, as well as the old and new sections of Chianciano itself, and a bunch of smaller towns. Some of these are a bit of a ride (San Gimignano and Assisi), but worth it. We enjoyed just driving around looking at the countryside, with a watchful eye for drivers coming from the opposite direction, (who have a habit of veering over the center line into your lane).

The restaurant recommendations were all very good - we especially enjoyed the Osteria Vecchia in Cetona - as well as the others where we dined - L'Oasi, Il Rabarbaro, La Solita Zuppa, Il Buco. We also found a rather elegant, and a bit expensive, restaurant, La Chiusa, in Montefollonico, which had excellent food and a beautiful and charming interior.

Valentina was a most helpful hostess - she arranged a spa visit for us, and helped us with a parking ticket. We learned the hard way that when you park in a lot with signs posting the time limit, (and no other control, such as meters, ticket machines) - that you need to set the time on the little paper clock that hangs from the front windshield of the rental car. Valentina helped us fill out the ticket, and instructed us to pay it at a post office (it was only about $30) - which was no hassle.

Some of the nice things about having this lovely little apartment were being able to make coffee and breakfast when we woke up and not having to wait for restaurants to open; doing our touring for the day and then being able to come back and relax by the pool or on our patio (and not just a hotel room), knowing that we always had our hostess for any advice we needed, and the wonderful setting.

In general, we found people friendly. We had spent some time prior to our trip learning a few words in Italian. We recommend this. We spent time in Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, and then on the Amalfi coast. While many people speak some English, in the smaller towns or establishments, it is not as prevalent as you might think. We found that our effort to try to communicate with a few words in Italian went a long way in making our communications and experiences positive. The fact that we made an effort seemed to establish some rapport - and then, with a combination of Italian, English, hand motions and a bit of my husband's Spanish - we were not only able to communicate, but actually enjoyed our exchanges in restaurants, shops, etc. Thanks for all your help. We had a great trip!

Jill and Jose F.

Dear In Italy,

Palazzo Bandino was perfect! After 2 weeks of kayaking, hiking, site-seeing and climbing steep hills, our stone cabin at Palazzo Bandino was exactly what we needed ... cozy and quiet with friendly service! We did not meet the host, but the 2 ladies, Valentina and Anna, were very helpful and entertaining. The location was great for touring Chianti and all of Tuscany.

We ate at the best restaurant recommended by a client of mine - La Chiusa in Montefollonico (near Montepulciano). The decor was beautiful, the staff professional, and the food was innovative and excellent. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone going to Tuscany. It is a bit pricey, but worth it!

Thanks for facilitating our reservation!

Cheryl M.

Dear Cynthia,

Our trip to Italy was wonderful. I fell in love with the country and the people and found our daily adventures endlessly fascinating. Palazzo Bandino was very comfortable and beautiful. We had a wonderful week exploring Rome, Florence, Sienna, Orvieto, Bagnagerio, Civita, Chianciano Terme, and Chiusi. The apartment we rented was comfortable and suited our needs nicely.

Our trip was memorable beyond words. We are so glad we chose to stay on farms instead of in hotels. We experienced a slice of Italy we would never have known if we had stayed in a large hotel in the city. Thank you for your part in making our trip so fabulous. I am already saving my money for the next one. I will use your site again as well as the agritourism farms--absolutely perfect.

Pat T.

Dear In Italy,

Thanks for your inquiry and follow up. We had a terrific time; the accommodations were absolutely perfect for us - we loved the little stone cottage and it was off by itself so we didn't worry about our dog scaring or disturbing people (he's a very friendly black lab, but not everyone likes dogs.) The hostess was friendly and helpful, the information provided by Palazzo Bandino re: places to eat nearby was terrific-we tried all three restaurants and are still recovering from the amazing food and terrific wine. The weather was lovely and we had a completely relaxing week. (Oh, and the directions were impeccable.)

We were extremely pleased, not just with the accommodations but with your timely responses and help; we will most definitely contact you again when we are ready to go back to Italy. Thanks again for your help, and we will refer our friends to you!

Karen K.

Greetings Kristin and Fabio,

Just wanted to say I'm back from two weeks in Italy, one week at Palazzo Bandino, and it was truly lovely. We had a terrific time, we loved the apartment and Antonia and hope to book lodgings again in the future with In Italy.

Thanks, too, for all your help in arranging the trip. Everyone was always so nice, prompt and competent in responding to my flurry of questions! The car you booked for us also worked out very well.

Ciao!
Melissa R.

Dear In Italy,

We stayed at Palazzo Bandini in Chianciano and it was nice. We did not spend much time at the house so really did bot utilize the "services" there, but the apt was just fine for our needs and I think was well represented on your website. The location was great for what we wanted to see. We ate at some wonderful restaurants, one in Chuisi which is very close - Osteria La Solita Zuppa, run by a wonderful husband-wife team. Wonderful food and charming hosts. We especially loved Montichiello, Cortona and Orvieto (wonderful inn and restaurant about 12 km south called La Badia--great food!) The weather was pretty usual--some rain and some sun but nothing that could spoil our trip! We would definitely use InItaly again for something like this and I have recommended it to several acquantances who are looking for places to stay.

Thanks,
Ann T.

Dear In Italy,

The trip was a success! Palazzo Bandino was everything we expected and more. Somewhat out of the ordinary (for us), quiet, and relaxing. It was a great homebase for our day trips throughout the Tuscany regions. It was also a great place for down time to just relax and sit by the pool. The breakfast there was pleasing and just stolling through their property was a delight. The lighting is forever changing. Great photographs!

I like your recommendations and we're already talking about our next trip to Italy. Thanks.

Philip H.

Dear In Italy,

I just want to tell you what a wonderful trip to Tuscany my husband and I had. Palazzo Bandino suited us perfectly. It was centrally located to all the places we wanted to visit (Montepulciano, Montalcino, Siena, etc.). One place that you don't mention in your write-up on Palazzo Bandino is Chiusi. Chiusi is right next to Chianciano and has really interesting Etruscan ruins. And just a bit beyond Chiusi is Citta della Pieve which I discovered thanks to a recent column in The New York Times travel section on viewing art in Tuscany off the beaten path. Citta della Pieve is the birthplace of Perugino and still has some of his important paintings. I know that we were vacationing off season, but there were so few tourists around. We were so spoiled by the lack of crowds in the places that we visited.

I really can't say enough positive things about our vacation and our stay at Palazzo Bandino. We are already thinking of returning as soon as we can so I'm sure that you will be hearing from me again.

Thanks,
Iris F.

Back to Palazzo Bandino