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Back to Villa Fiesole
Dear Julie,
The Villa Fiesole was wonderful -- the attached junior suite/double room is perfect for families, and was a nice place to hang out and read (there was a ferocious thunder storm the only full day we were there). The bus is really convenient, and it was a relief to skip the rental car hassle. We had a fabulous dinner in Fiesole -- what a charming village!
Thanks so much for your help in finding the perfect hotel. I have already recommended your website to a friend, and will continue to do so.
With gratitude,
Marian R.
Hello Julie!
We had a wonderful trip, with the highlight being Florence. We enjoyed our stay at the Villa Fiesole. The hotel was very beautiful, with lovely views of the city and a very polite staff. We enjoyed a (very expensive) dinner on the terrace overlooking the city on our first night. The biggest problem was the air conditioning. It just blows like a fan! The room never cooled down. We complained to the staff, and they said they would check on it, but they didn't seem to improve on it any. It was extremely hot and humid, and we had two very unrestful nights' sleep. The best part of the stay there was the second morning, when we got up at 4:30 a.m. We requested a taxi the night before, and the staff was very helpful in arranging that for us. The taxi arrived right on time at 5:30 a.m. and we were standing in the main square (by the Bronze Doors) at 5:45. We were the only ones there, along with the street sweepers! My companion is a photographer, and he wanted to be there before the sun was up in order to get the best light. It was a wonderful experience to be there without the crowds, while it was still cool and empty. We felt like we owned Florence! It is an experience I will never forget.
Thanks,
Susan S.
Dear Jessica,
We had a great time - in spite of what the Italian news called the worst June heat wave since 1272 (735 years!?) Did they have thermometers back then? We were only in Italy 2 days before a large "anti-cyclone" from Africa brought unseasonably warm air into the country, raising temperatures from the usual mid-70's into the 90's and maybe even to 100. Of course, as soon as we left, the temperatures dropped back to the mid-70's. The two apartments we stayed in (Lorenzo the Magnificent at Florence Ciompi in Firenze, and Villa Borghese in Rome), were great! Thank goodness for the air conditioning! The surprises? The Italian beds are rather hard. The power drain in the Rome apartment would trip the circuit breaker on occasion (i.e., don't turn on the microwave if you have the TV, lights, stove, washing machine and air conditioning going.) So, make sure you follow the person down to the first floor to find the circuit breaker switch when you check in! The washing machines are not as good as the US machines, even though they are pretty new. In Firenze, they both broke down on a Saturday and weren't fixed until after we left. In Rome, it worked fine, but we should have used the extra rinse option. It seems that not all of the soap gets rinsed out. We really didn't need a dryer as we just hung the wet laundry outside as did everyone else. Only the jeans took more than overnight to dry. Now if only there was a way to combine air-drying with fabric softener....
We had a train strike on the day we were to leave Venice, but fortunately, I knew it was coming and arranged reservations on an Inter-City "guaranteed" train, leaving from Mestre station instead of Venice. The 15 Euro refund were received paid for the taxi ride from Venice to Mestre station, and the ride was only 2 hours longer than the Eurostar. The compartment was nicely air conditioned and the trip was very comfortable. I suspect a lot of tourists were not as lucky. The lesson is to always pay attention beforehand and do a Google search for "sciopero" before traveling.
The Firenze apartment was absolutely "THE BEST!" When the windows were closed and curtains drawn, it was nearly as dark as night. I accidentally slept until nearly 1 pm the first day due to jet lag and because I thought it was still night time. Opening windows on all four sides gives you the most wonderful views of the city's rooftops - I took many pictures. Three or four times each day, the city's church bells would ring, including the big one at the Duomo - very cool!
The Rome apartment was very convenient with the Metro right at your front door. It was very quiet, as the windows opened onto an interior courtyard. The steps up (4 flights) were a bit tiring, especially on hot days, but the air conditioning made it all better. Even with the Metro, which we took often, we walked all over Rome, using the three streets leading out of the Piazza Del Popolo as initial starting points.
Since both apartments had kitchens, we did all of our own cooking. In Florence, the local supermarket was only a block away. In Rome, a slightly smaller one was also just a block away. Both markets were very well stocked. My tip: buy the local sausage and mix it up with the fresh pastas (ravioli, tortellini, etc. - the artichoke fillings are especially delicious). Don't forget the fresh parmigiano reggiano cheese! You will not taste anything like it in this country! And there is something that the Italians have in their sausage that makes theirs so much better than what passes for Italian sausages in the US.
I could go on. It was wonderful, and we will never stay in a hotel in Italy again - unless the apartments we want are all booked.
Ciao!
Gary M.
Thank you jessica,
Your site, information, and notes were a tremendous help in making our vacation very memorable. We stayed for a week at the Villa Fiesole outside of Florence. I highly recommend it and I felt it was the nicest and most colorful hotel staff and front desk people that were consistently over-helpful and accommodating to our stay. Make sure to use their cash exchange at the front desk, it was very convenient. They also have bus tickets available for the very easy and quick #7 bus into Florence. It was all very easy with small services like this readily available in the lobby. The town of Fiesole is not be missed and it really comes in handy for great restaurants and charm after a hard day of touring and driving through Tuscany. The little restaurant Perseus is a great find. They have great food, and it's a great environment to dine in.
Ifound Venice to be beautiful but it also has a twinge of let-down to it in that it is all mostly over run with high end shopping and tourist junk shops within the city center. It was just an antiquated mall with Gucci, and other high end brands infiltrating the shell of aesthetically pleasing buildings. 1 to 2 days at the most is what I would suggest for a visit to Venice. Like walking on a movie set packed full of tourists. The town has no or little full-time residents and is solely a resort island selling T-shirts and artisan glass. The Water Taxi, although 90 dollars from Marco Polo Airport to San Marco square, may seem worth it. The Water Bus (12 dollars one way) we took after driving from Florence took close to 2 hours to reach San Marco Square. It sapped our energy and was an unseen long travel time we didn't anticipate. Not fun after driving most of the day.
In Florence, do not miss the Restaurant "Trattoria Garga." It was the best restaurant we went to in all of Italy. Great, great food, really fun wait staff and a beautiful eclectic setting in the city. You have to get there while in Florence.
Thank you again InItaly, now that I have the travelling bug I wish you covered other countries with your site.
Best,
Andy G.
Dear Kirill,
Thank you all so much for your help in booking our hotels. They were all fantastic
and very relaxing to come back to after long days of sightseeing and being on
the go.
We found a couple of restaurants that were really terrific that I wanted to share.
Florence:
Acqua Al 2
Via della Vigna Vecchia, 40/r
(at the corner of Via dell’Acqua)
This restaurant was one of the best we ate at during our stay in Italy. I highly
recommend the pasta, beef, and dessert sampler platters if you go—you will
not be disappointed. Reservations are a must.
Also, we stayed at Villa Fiesole when visiting Florence, and the dinner at the
hotel was delicious. One evening we dined out on the terrace. The food and the
setting were terrific.
Sorrento:
We completely echo your sentiments about Caruso’s. This place was my
favorite of all the restaurants we ate at in Italy. I recommend going early in
the evening when they first open for dinner or making reservations if you want
to eat later because it was full with an hour wait when we were there.
Thanks again, In Italy. We really appreciate you.
Jerry & Amanda C.
Dear Kristin,
We had a great time! The Villa Fiesole was really nice. I anticipated a much smaller place. I didn’t like the bus service. Way too crowded for me. Also the little town of Fiesole wasn’t that great. Anyhow Tuscany was the best Venice was the worst.
Fred M.
Dear Jessica,
We had a marvelous trip. Thanks for all your help. Villa Fiesole is a jewel!!! We loved staying there. The rooms were quite pleasant, the staff friendly and helpful and the restaurant very good indeed. I would love to come again!!
Thanks again for all your help.
Barbara G.
Hello,
Our trip was great. Villa Fiesole was excellent and directions from the airport were good. The easy access to the bus made visiting Florence easy. We enjoyed an excellent dinner in Fiesole at Il Polpa and lunch at another (can't remember name).
Lisa
Dear Julie,
We had a marvelous time. My first trip to Tuscany and it was everything I had heard. We couldn't have been more pleased with the two hotels - charming, clean, good amenities, friendly and helpful staffs. And wonderful views from rooms in both locations. I actually went on vacation prior to going to work at a meeting in Rome, at the Cavalieri Hilton. In all honesty, I had a better experience at both the smaller hotels. Nothing particularly wrong with the Hilton, but other than looking more elegant, I didn't feel the amenities, cleanliness or comfort level were that much better than our two much less expensive options. And the staff at the smaller hotels were definitely more friendly and helpful.
One word of advice regarding the Villa Fiesole. We were on the second floor and, upon returning late one evening, foolishly left our window open and purses and backpack out in the open. It never occurred to us that there is a ledge running along the second floor which proved to be an easy route for a thief to access ours and one other room. Fortunately, they were only interested in cash and our cameras, leaving passports, credit cards, purses and everything else lying on the ground below the window. Although it was an unpleasant experience, I have to again give the hotel staff credit for being absolutely wonderful and helpful. And take responsibility for having made a foolish mistake. Anyone staying there should just recognize that the ledge means the second floor isn't as theft proof as it first appears.
Thanks for your help. I would certainly use In Italy again (and hopefully will - I need to replace some Tuscany photos that were in the camera!) and recommend it to others.
Tressa G.
Cynthia,
The hotels were very nice. At Villa Fiesole, we stayed in a triple room in the old villa. Apparently there are 5 such rooms spread over 3 floors. We were originally assigned the first floor which had a "view" of the wall (!) and was about 20 feet from the road. I said we wanted a better room so they were able to move us to the top floor which had a clear view of Florence. The villa is still right on the road so if you are sensitive to noises (which we fortunately were not), it could be a problem (there was a three-some in the room below us - which has a nice large terrace - who had to request a move to the new wing due to road noise). Only the top floor has a clear view of Florence. The second floor view is obstructed by beautiful cypress trees and, as I said, the bottom floor is totally obstructed.
The hotel itself is very beautiful and my daughter had a fun time exploring the grounds and walking up to Villa San Michele and the staff was friendly and helpful. The room itself was large and charming with two large windows and a fresco ceiling.
We had a rental car and ate both nights in Fiesole at Perseus which was a short 5-minute drive up the hill (but a tough walk on a winding busy road). At first, we thought no one was there (especially compared to the Pizzeria a few patios down), but then we discovered a large crowd in the back under the canopy. The food was wonderful and the owner was great.
One problem I have noticed with most "villa" hotels in Italy is lack of internet access. The phones are obsolete... fortunately, they let me use the phone in the office to check email.
Thank you for all your help. You have a great web site.
Bill B.
Julie,
We had a wonderful time in Italy and especially our time in Fiesole. The Villa was a relaxing, cozy accommodation. The restaurant was so good, we ate there all three of our nights. The ravioli, roast duck and the vin Santo were some of our favorites! The server, Oscar, was an absolute delight and truly added to our experience. The town of Fiesole was also nice, a bit more laid back than the bigger cities. It was a nice town to explore with its own treasures.
We also want to thank you for your web site. The information was helpful and accurate. Thank you again.
Melanie and Kyle B.
Dear Cynthia,
Regarding Hotel Fiesole in Florence, we liked the hotel and they were helpful but if we went back we would stay in the city. If you are going to stay for a week or more then the hotel is very nice and quite and you can rent a car to go to other places. But if you are only there for three nights like we were, then stay in the city because you have to continuously take the bus into town. I think our only complaint about the hotel was that when we came back from the city one night we asked if there was a bar in the hotel to have a nightcap. We were told that the only place was the restaurant but that a tour group had taken it over for a night and we were not allowed to go in. That was very bothersome because we paid to stay there too, yet we could not use the facilities because of a tour group! We made the best of it though. We went and got some drinks from the mini bar and had cocktails outside in the grass and looked at the city lights. It was beautiful and romantic. One last thing, if you are going to take the train to your next destination and you are taking the bus down to the train station, make sure that you allow enough time because the bus takes 1/2 hour to get to the train station. We cut it too close!
A tip about the trains. Make sure you know which side of the train you load on! I know it sounds silly but we found out the hard way that we were on the wrong side of the train to load and we had to run around the train to get on. The other tip I have about trains is if you have reservations and seat assignments do not be surprised when someone is sitting in your seat or cabin. Many people who ride the trains pay for 2nd class seats and then will sit in first class. Do not be afraid to tell them to move!
Bryan & Teresa F.
Dear Julie,
The hotel Villa Fiesole was quite fine and what we looked for; close located to Florence center but still very beautifully located in the hills just above, with a fantastic view over Florence..... It was clean and even so old fashioned, furnished still modern equipped and not worn at all. We felt the staff was quite familiar and friendly.
Florence as a city is firstly an Art historical center. The shopping and some market spots are done in a day...... so we would suggest to rent a small car and go to the seaside with miles of sandy beaches followed by small villages, maybe pass the Pisa tower and next day explore the real Toscana countryside. This is a very beautiful trip on small narrow roads among billowy hills with old winecastles/factories on each peak.
Thanks for Your kind help,
Best regards,
Olof F.
Dear Julie,
I strongly relied on the maps I ordered through you guys. Thank GOD! since we had rented a car. Even with maps, there is no way you won't get lost. A small phrase book helped too. Villa Fiesole was very pleasant although the bed was so big in our small room that there was little room to move around (this was in the older section, I think I would request the newer section though I didn't see the rooms). But the accommodations were nice and they had good showers! There is a little town square up the street with a wonderful little neighborhood restaurant where we were wined and dined by the chef and the owner, making our selections for us and joining us for desert and wine. The kind of unexpected evening you read about other people having! The place is called 45 Piazza Mino and one of the owners, Daniele Raddi, who was presiding that night, was a marvelous host. The food was the real deal. Not fancy schmancy, but yummy good. If you want fancy schmancy AND charm, the restaurant right up the hill from Villa Fiesole, Villa San Michele, and the outdoor bar along the veranda, constitute a night to remember as well (although pricey, but worth it).
Thank you InItaly for working with me on the changes I needed to make for my reservations. We encountered not a single problem with getting the rooms we requested, the car we requested or anything else. You rock.
Pat W.
Julie:
Thanks for the welcome. I had a fantastic time, as always, but is good to be home.
Villa Fiesole is a hidden gem, that's for sure. We stayed in the 'greenhouse' wing, which features huge windows opening to the city of Florence. Under our windows grows jasmine plants, which filled the room with fragrance all the time.
Each morning at dawn, the birdsong (the "dawn chorus") was perfect background music. The dining terrace is a beautiful setting and a great way to start and end the day. Everyone who works there is so professional and friendly, it was comfortable instantly. And our fellow travelers were interesting and engaging -- perhaps a setting like this attracts like souls.
We walked up to the Villa Michele for a look at the view and cocktails one evening. The view is indeed breathtaking, as was the tab for our drinks! We returned to our Villa feeling fortunate indeed that we could have such a lovely setting without mortgaging our home.
We got quite adept at bus travel up and down the hill. It's very convenient, but you have to be careful about times of the day. It can get quite crowded during peak travel times. Also the walk up to Fiesole, although a little treacherous due to the road conditions, is quick and easy.
The weather got quite hot and humid several times in the city, but by the time we reached the Villa, the temperature had dropped several degrees and the breezes wandered through the rooms. Quite a delightful homecoming each day.
The pool is a perfect counterpoint to a hot and dusty shopping day -- we had opportunities to sit quietly and read, enjoy a splash with our fellow travelers.
The only downside is the road noise at certain times of the day/week. Although the room is silent when the windows are closed, it can get noisy when they're opened. I am counting the days until Florence has all electric Vespas!
All in all, we had a wonderful time at the Villa, and intend to visit again. Thank you for all your assistance in making this a painless part of our trip.
Mille grazie,
Toni W.
Dear Jessica,
We were very happy with our stay at Villa Fiesole and would highly recommend it to others. The staff is very friendly and the breakfast they offer in the morning offers more of what Americans want than other hotels in Italy. It's location is perfect in my opinion...just hop on the bus and you are in the center of the city in 15 minutes.
Thanks for the follow up.
Regards,
Mark B.
Dear Ghia,
Thank you for your email. Villa Fiesole was wonderful. It was peaceful, comfortable, and quiet. It was very convenient catching the bus at the nearby bus stop. The staff was friendly and always willing to help us with museum reservations and other site seeing details. On our last day there we weren't sure about the housekeepers (there were a few things overlooked in our room) but it won't keep us from returning. They were quite busy everytime I saw them, and I think they may have been rushed.
As far as hidden treasures go...we didn't find anything in the city. We did take a drive south on Route 222, and stopped at Magliari's winery. David gave us a tour of his facility, which included a large supply of Vin Santo barrels, some 100-200 year old barrels, and other great things.
I have to add that my husband and I were very pleased with Initaly's service as well. Planning vacations on the internet has been so easy, and Initaly has made it easier for us. We will certainly visit your website when planning our next Italy vacation...and we will also tell our friends about the website. Thank you so much,
Sincerely,
Joshuaine and Noah T.
Dear Julie,
We were very pleased with Villa Fiesole. It was nice to stay just outside of Florence and it was very easy to take the bus into the city. The accomodations were quite nice, and I would definitely stay there again on a subsequent visit to the Florence area. There was a restaurant that we liked very much in the town of Fiesole. I believe it was called Perseus (or something like that).
We also enjoyed Le Traverse very much when we stayed near Pienza.
I have to say that all the arrangements made through In Italy went very well. We appreciate your service and will book through In Italy in the future.
Thanks,
Erik and Cassandra M.
Dear Cynthia -
We had a wonderful time! The weather was San Francisco chilly, but every day was sunny. Rental car was waiting at Milano airport when we arrived. The Villa Fiesole had a lovely room for us in the old section - very comfortable, with charming views of downtown Florence. They provided covered cups of cappuccino for my husband to bring back to our room each morning and even unlocked the pantry so we could raid it for goodies on our last day since we had to depart before breakfast. We had two very full and enjoyable days in Florence and spent our last full day exploring San Gimigniano and the Roman and Etruscan ruins of Fiesole. Best of all, we somehow had no jet lag either way!
Our best discovery: before we left home, a restaurateur we know well suggested that we search out his favorite Florence restaurant, Trattoria Garga in the Via del Moro. Excellent and imaginative food in a charming setting - this one is a favorite with locals. We so enjoyed the food and atmosphere, we went back for dinner again the next night! Reservations are recommended.
Thanks again for your assistance in making our 11th anniversary so enjoyable and so memorable.
Best regards,
Maryann
Dear Cynthia,
Thank you for your recent communication and follow up. Louis and I stayed at the Villa Fiesole and were very impressed with the accommodations of this historic residence. When we arrived we were pleasantly surprised with the beauty of the area. The place was extremely clean and we were supplied with fresh bed linens daily. Also room service was prompt and the staff courteous. The view of Florence from the Villa was breathtaking both in the day time and at night. Villa Fiesole seemed to capture the charm of Fiesole and we loved hanging out in the small quaint village drinking cappuccino and planning our itinerary. We also liked the convenience of the bus at the end of the drive to transport us into Florence.
The only criticism we had was that we specifically requested to have a room with a double bed and we got two twin beds.
The hidden treasure we discovered was Trattoria le Cave di Maiano. It was a wonderful eating establishment in Fiesole located in a former farmhouse. In the summer months patrons can dine in the garden under large sheltering trees. The food was heavenly and the staff friendly and welcoming. We ate there on several occasions during our short stay.
I hope that our input was helpful. Thank you for your assistance in making our stay a pleasant experience.
Sincerely,
Deborah and Louis A.
Dear Julie,
Villa Fiesole was wonderful. It is the best idea for those who would like to have a Tuscan (type) villa and be near Florence. The beautiful room, in the old villa, hung over the hillside, with a row of cypress trees in front of us, and a view of Florence. The city bus stopped at the driveway every 20 minutes for a 15 minute trip to Piazza San Marco in Florence. No parking worries. At night we opted to eat in their dining room twice. What a treat, huge array of antipasto there for the taking and specials cooked just for you every night. One night I had the tenderloin of beef, couldn't have been better on a bed of watercress, after I had filled up on the delicious prociutto, cheeses, eggplant, etc., etc.
I would recommend this place to anyone, even the most discerning, which includes my husband, who loved the place. The people were the most accommodating. The only thing I think would have been better would be to have had a bell boy to help us up the steps in the front with our bags. Or maybe a lift.Maybe that is why it is only a 3 star, because the rest of it deserves much more.
Rosemary and Edward G.
Hi,
Villa Fiesole was great. The view of Florence is incredible, and the bus stops right in front of the hotel if you don't want to drive into Florence. The pool is a little small and not really good for more than getting your feet wet (the photographer did a great job of showing it in the photo for the web). Our room was nice, and it was charming as it was in the older building, but the new building is very hotel-like without a lot of charm. The breakfast is very good.
There's also a great restaurant just down the road called Carpe Diem. It's not inexpensive, but the food and service are great. You're in good hands if you trust their judgement, and the view is awesome (make reservations early and request a table closest to the edge of the patio).
Steve C.
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