COMMENTS FROM OUR GUESTS
Please share your comments and experiences at Podere Palazzo with us and our future guests. Send us information on sites you've enjoyed, great spots you discovered, restaurants you liked... or simply let us know how much you enjoyed your stay!
August 2019
Lauren
Amazing stay
We had such an amazing stay at Podere Palazzo. It’s a very beautiful and peaceful place. My favorite part was waking up early to the soft pastel hues of the morning sunrise and the mist that would fill up the valley below. I am not sure there are really words to describe how amazing and breathtaking the views are from every window. There is not single place you can look out that is not stunning. We obviously, enjoyed several rounds of sundowners. While children frolicked in the pool or played hide and seek around the property, adults made use of every outdoor seating area to maximum our enjoyment of every sunset. The quality of bedding and towels were appreciated. Valeria made all our requests possible and Chiara and Luca were a delight to get know and their meals were delicious. Thank you again, for sharing and we look forward to investigating your other properties
October 2018
Maura and friends
EXCEPTIONAL....
Firstly, I want to tell you that your sister Valeria is absolutely awesome! She made our trip to your magnificent villa perfect in every way! She planned all of our daily requested trips, cooked for us and
gave us an unbelievable cooking class with her beautiful daughter! Let me say this: the renovated villa is positively spectacular in every way! From the entry through the iron gates and up the magnificent gravel driveway to the stepping stones to the front door to the hardware on ALL the doors, to the natural stones in the upstairs shower to the outdoor fireplace, gardens and infinity pool, to the well equipped kitchen and pantry, to the groundskeeper who faithfully showed up every morning AND with zero English helped get the espresso machine and kitchen faucet fixed and the three dogs who befriended us on a walk to town back to their rightful owner:() NEEDLESS to say the villa, the staff, the experience was all unforgettable, memorable and EXCEPTIONAL. Honestly you have created an oasis which is unparalleled and beyond measure. Thank you for your incredible diligence and architectural influence in recreating a sublime Tuscan/Umbrian holiday.
July 2017
Betsy
Remarkable
I just wanted to echo Anna’s comments about how much our family enjoyed our week at Podere Palazzo.
You have done a remarkable job restoring this wonderful farm house complete with lovely gardens and
a remarkable setting. It was a special occasion for three generations of our family. Honestly, I think we all could
have easily stayed a 2nd week.
June 2016
Yvonne and friends
Fabulous time
I had an absolutely fabulous time at Podere Palazzo and am already thinking of when I can plan to return. It really is an incredible oasis - a perfect getaway! I know all of my friends and family felt the same way - in fact, more than one of them told me that while the house and grounds look beautiful on the website, they felt the photos just can't do it justice. Quite a compliment and I agree 100% - you really need to experience Podere Palazzo personally.
Everyone on your team of service providers were incredibly nice, helpful and quite fun! As I am sure you know, your sister, Valeria, is a very special person besides a great chef. I told her she should come to DC to visit - would love to show her my town! That being said, the next time I am traveling to Chicago I would love to get together for coffee, lunch, drinks, or whatever works for your schedule. It would be wonderful to meet the man with the vision that became Podere Palazzo! Thank you.
September 2015
Lisa and Friends
Wonderful retreat
Italy was wonderful… the people, the culture, the slowing down and not to mention Podere Palazzo and your friendly staff. You are lucky to have them all.
Thank you so much for creating such a wonderful retreat. We loved it.
We look forward to staying at PP again and also checking out you other properties!!!
June 2015
Angelica and Family
Phenomenal
Patrizio
We really enjoyed the cooking class and eating our creations. The girls loved making pasta😀 And, Gustavo was wonderful!! His meals were amazing and he was so friendly and kind.
I know it goes without saying, but our stay at Podere was phenomenal!! Everything was perfect. We loved dining outside, walking in the mornings, swimming in the pool, and touring the surrounding cities/towns. We visited Trevinano, Radicofani, Pienza, Montepulciano, Aquapendente, Sorano, Pitigliano, Siena, Barbarino Val d'Elsa, San Casciano del Bagni, Cetona, and Montalcino. They were all beautifully unique. I am certain our favorite was Montalcino. We put over 900 km on the rental car😳 Before we left Italy we spent a few days in Rome, and then spent a couple of days in Paris, since we had to layover there. We are all in agreement that it was our favorite holiday to date. We just got in today. Exhausted but happy for the experience!
Thank you again for everything and we will be in touch in the future to plan another stay. We would love to visit more of your properties. Podere Palazzo is extremely impressive and the attention to detail is unequivocal to the rentals we've seen in the past.
May 2015, USA
Sheila
Amazing Place
I like to dream that I am still back at Podere Palazzo as it is truly an amazing place. What you have created there is nothing sort of magical...restorative for the body and soul! I know that I do not possess the words to appropriately tell you what a wonderful time we had at the villa and in Italy in general. It's difficult to know where to place the eye because everywhere you turn at the villa is another incredible visual and all of the senses are enlivened...from the smell of the lavendar, to the taste of the vegetables from the garden, to the feel of the crisp sheets at night, to the sound of the birds (is that a nightingale we heard after dark?), to the fantastic views all around....it was enchanting. It was clear to note that the restoration was a labor of love for you and you can clearly see the mark of a true professional in the attention to every detail. We so enjoyed meeting your sister-and eating her delicious food!-as well as Iside and Palmiro and the wonderful ladies who cleaned the villa. They were all so friendly and gracious and tolerated our bad attempts at Italian with our terrible accents!
I have already talked to many folks about your villa so don't be surprised to hear my name in the future!
September 2014
Wozniak Family
Marvelous time
We had a marvelous time. Food was excellent. Vino better than excellent. Weather great. House beautiful. Garden terrific ....thank you very much!!!!
August 2014
Karen and Friends
Dream Vacation
Dear Patrizio
We all had a dream vacation in Tuscany. Our families fell in love with your magnificent Podere Palazzo, the views, the serenity, the gardens and setting, etc. It was special for us as a family. We celebrated my children's fourth wedding anniversary the last evening in the villa with a scrumptious meal made by Gustavo. Thanks 1 million for allowing us to share the beauty of your home away from home. Love
June 2014
Meg and Friends
Great time
Thank you Valeria for feeding us so well and to Patrizio for the beautiful house. I wish we could stay longer. Palmiro, thank you for keeping the garden so beautiful and for keeping Rosa in check and rescuing her pool noodle! We had a great time visiting La Foce gardens, Pienza, Siena, Monte Rufeno, San Casciano. Many thanks from all corners of the world (New Zealand, New York, Austin, Port au Prince).
June 2014
Group of friends, Vancouver Canada
The best celebration...
Dear Patrizio
The best 50th birthday celebration for our group 50 something's! Beautiful villa, view, food, wine and friends! We loved every minute and the welcome dinner and cooking class were yummy and fun. Many thanks
July 2014
Terri
Loved every minute...
"We loved every minute of our stay and everyone was just in awe of the beauty of Podere Palazzo's interiors and exteriors. Patrizio truly created a little slice of heaven on earth! I love great decor (it makes me happy) and I scoured the internet for villas, but quickly realized there was basically one decor option - very old fashioned! Not that there isn't charm in that, it's just not my cup of tea. Then I saw Podere Palazzo & heard the angels singing! The decor is right up my alley, modern but rustic, semi-minimal but still absolutely warm and comfortable. It also has a wonderful sense of whimsy and fun and you can feel the love and care in every inch of the design. Driving around Tuscany/Umbria is hardly a chore as the scenery is just awe inspiring. We were 8 people and we rented 2 cars which was perfect. We all felt so at home in the villa and we all got along so well I found myself thinking "wouldn't it be fun if we all lived in he same house?!" In hindsight, I realize that it's just impossible to argue or have a bad day in "that" particular house! ; )
I highly recommend at least one night with a chef and/or cooking class at the villa. W
Don't hesitate to visit this magical place!"
July 2013, Florida
Diane and Tim
Magical 3 weeks
Hello Patrizio
I write this with blurry eyes, as I can't help but cry as we have to leave today. Our vacation in your beautiful home had been a magical three weeks.
Tim, Lauren, and I have enjoyed every moment of our trip! Having friends and family here to fill the house gave us memories that we will cherish forever. I liked what you said before, that leaving always gives you something to look forward to come back to. That is how I will look at it, we will most definitely be back. Tim and I have been talking about how to invest in a house over here. Thank you for your information. It is definitely something we would consider in the future. I have decided a part of
my heart will always be in tuscany and I simply have to be back.
Thank you again for sharing your home. I call it a home, because it is so much more than just a house. It is loved and filled with love, you can feel it from the moment you pull into the driveway and love is what makes a house a home!
June 2013, California
Dianne and Friends
Most enjoyable stay
I wanted to thank you on behalf of my group of 9 for a most enjoyable stay at Podere Palazzo.
The villa is wonderful and very accommodating for a large group. Plenty of room in the common areas, a great kitchen, etc. and everyone loved their beds (very comfortable) and the unique and large bathrooms.
The Welcome Dinner made by Valeria was out of this world, as you probably have heard from other guests. She is delightful.
The Cooking Class held in our great kitchen with Romano was so much fun. We all took copious notes and vowed to duplicate that meal back home in California once we get together to share all of our wonderful pictures and memories.
You have a beautiful home at Podere Palazzo and I am envious. I shall spread the word amongst my travelling friends!
July 2012, Texas USA
Deborah and family
Dreamlike memories
We are back with just the dreamlike memories of Podere Palazzo. It is no exaggeration to say that our entire family had one of the best experiences ever.
We enjoyed every aspect of staying at Podere Palazzo. From waking up on the cool (yes, cool!) mornings and visiting on the patio with a cup of coffee in hand to lying in the hammock with a good book in the afternoons or taking a quick dip in the gorgeous pool to venturing forth from the house to discover a charming village and excellent Italian cooking, we tried to relish all of it.
We loved the welcome dinner that Valeria prepared for us. Her cuisine rivals every meal we sampled. She set a very high standard from the first night. My absolute favorite event was the cooking class with Iside and the delicious courses that she prepared for our family. We are longing to get her recipes, especially for the tortellini and the lamb! We enjoyed sitting outside in the evenings and just being together as a family. One evening we cranked up the music from the iPod and danced!!
It was truly a most memorable 60th birthday celebration for me. You are to be complimented for your excellent layout of Podere Palazzo and all the comforts that you included with it. And, naturally, you chose the most beautiful view in all of Lazio/Umbria/Tuscany!
We hope to be back next year!
July 2012, Canada
Sandra + Friends
Best vacation!
One of the best vacations of our lives... Where to start: the house, the land, the garden where we took salads and herbs from every day. The cooking lesson with La Parolina was delightful, so much, that we decided to have dinner there - twice ! For seven of us, we loved that we could share good times together when we wanted to, but also read, swim, and be on our own little pace. The house is magnifique: nice common rooms, nice bedrooms, views everywhere. We have recommended your place to all our friends - you will have more visitors from Quebec, Canada I believe ;)
June 2012
Jonas & family, USA and Germany
Best week
We had the best week at your house.
The welcome dinner and the cooking class were perfect and very special. We also had dinner at La Parolina which was one of the best meals we ever had!
Our kids genuinely responded to the magical quality of your property.
This is what our 8 year old son wrote for you in your book after he celebrated his birthday here:
"Dear Patrizio, we celebrated my 8th birthday party here. I had such a good time in the swimming pool. I had a great time also playing soccer and the best part was eating cake. I also had a trasure hunt in this huge house. this trip was probably the best i ever had. i wish i could stay here forever on a trip! Jasper"
May 2012, Nevada USA
Rob
Wonderful environment
Thank you Patrizio�. It was a great stay. You created a wonderful environment, both inside and out. I'll be back again when my imagination stirs and I feel the need for those endless views!
May 2012, Texas USA
Pamela
Unforgettable time
Dear Patrizio, We had an amazing and truly unforgettable time at your beautiful home, and it was an honor to meet the man behind the vision who made Podere Palazzo come to life. We made the most of each day and enjoyed every minute of each day. It was very hard to leave and yes, there were a few tears! Your place is breathtaking in its location, decor and all the little touches you have put your heart into. Thank you. We look forward to visiting your other homes!!!
March 2012, New Jersey
Judy
Night after Night....
Where should I begin? The seemingly endless country roads? The crisp Tuscan air? The first sight of that idyllic hilltop house? The picturesque medieval towns? The earthy Tuscan food and wine? Or the indigo starlit sky?
Many thanks for sharing your lovely home. Mackenzie is right. It's the moment we most look forward to in our journey -- coming home night after night to that dimly lit hilltop home, awaiting ever so sweetly under the Tuscan stars!
Until next time!
July 18, 2011
Mariana, New York
What an Experience
Dear Patrizio, we stayed at Podere Palazzo last week, and it could not have been more truly inspired and genuinely lovely time. Your creativity, sense of humor and warmth in the design, decor and landscaping were so delightful to be in for a week. We really enjoyed the restaurant recommendations and excursions in the folders too (as well as the photos detailing your restoration process) - they were each and every one terrific.
What an experience you have created for people to visit Tuscany!
May 2011, Oregon, USA
Sally and Tony
Beautiful experience
First, above all, Podere Palazzo exceeded our expectations, no mean achievement, as your web site is terrific. A beautiful experience of a lifetime!
We enjoyed all of your recommendations. We liked "La Foce" gardens, especially the transition between the formal landscape to the natural woodlands. What an amazing job they did to nurture all those plants in the Crete of the val D'Orcia! And, of course, having a view of the zig zag of the cypress across the valley, was fun as we saw that on all the tourist images of Italy!
"La Parolina" restaurant near the house was a superb treat and most memorable! We also loved the three towns Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana. Thank you!!!
November 2010
Lorraine, Austin Texas
Gorgeous villa
Thank you for restoring this gorgeous villa in the most beautiful location in Italy for my 40th birthday getaway! Not that you did it for me but i can pretend!
Meg and i had a fantastic time here using it as a base for exploring all of the beauties of Tuscany and Umbria...and always the lights of Podere Palazzo to welcome us "home". Would love to return here someday. Grazie mille.
December 2010
Elena, Italy
Villa fantastica
Carissimi Patrizio & Mark
la vostra villa e' fanstastica in ogni singolo dettaglio. Apprezzati soprattutto i libri (ho letto con tanto piacere "shopping in the Renaisance"). Ci sono i veri gioielli "Bergman and De Grazia", bellissimi i mosaici e fantsatica la vista! Ci torneremo qui con ntanto piacere!
April, 2011
Sara & Friends
Magical time
Our time in Italy was amazing. We had a truly magical time and Podere Palazzo was everything we had hoped, and much, much more. Starting our time there with the heavenly meal that Valeria made was such a perfect beginning and the rest of the week...she could not have been kinder or more generous. The weather could not have been better and the home, the food, the wine... All absolute perfection. Patrizio, I cannot thank you enough for all that you did to help us with our trip. We passed along Podere Palazzo's website to numerous people. and I have several people who have begged to go with us when we go back ...because we will be going back!!!
September 2010, Georgia USA
Lynda Conway
Fabulous time
We had a fabulous time at Podere Palazzo!! Looking at the before & after pictures was interesting. Patrizio, you are a talented artist to create Podere Palazzo! Thank you for sharing it with us. You thought of every detail when building the villa, from placement on the lot, to having the shower face a window so you can admire the countryside & sheep in the field while showering. I felt like I was looking at a painting.
I loved the metal staircase, I felt I was playing a musical instrument everytime I walked down the stairs. What a treat Valeria cooked for our arrival dinner. I would recommend this to everyone! She did a wonderful job. It was also nice to have the groceries there when we arrived.
Iside & Romano's brunch on Sunday & the cooking class was a great & delicious feast. We ate leftovers the next night. The pizza at Gianfranco was the best we had the whole vacation!!
We followed many of your itineraries, went to Orvieto twice. One of the trips was Siena with lunch & tour at Divole vineyards.
There was so much to see & do that we really needed another week to just relax at the house! Thank you
August 2010, New York USA
Jennifer Abrams
Truly magical...
We had a once in a lifetime experience. It was truly magical. The house was amazing and we really enjoyed visiting the surrounding towns, eating like pigs and taking in all the beauty of the region.
Your sister made us a delicious dinner...one of my favorites. Only to be followed by Gianfranco! My boyfriend did have gelato everyday! Now we are on strict diets!!!
We must stay in touch!
July 2010, USA
Cindy
Magical Experience
Our entire family had an absolutely magical experience. The beauty of the house and the surrounding landscape cannot be put into words, but you already know that! Our son loved building fires in the outdoor fireplace every evening for our extended family dinners. Our daughter set the table for dinner, using different placemats and plates for a different �look� at each meal. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his naps in the hammock. We loved sleeping with the open windows and trying to identify all the unfamiliar bird calls. There were so many places to go and things to do during the day that we could easily have stayed another week and still not done it all.
Podere Palazzo is truly a special place and we so loved having our chance to go there. Thank you for creating it.
June 2010, Hawaii
Mary Capwell
Special experience
From the moment we drove up the driveway, we knew our experience was going to be very special. The house has such a lovely hilltop setting with endless sky, soft hills in a hundred shades of green all around, fragrant flowers everywhere and such total peace and quiet...
The house itself has perfect elemental qualities- mellow aged stone, large rooms, sunlight, and a feeling of air and space everywhere. You did such a sensitive job restoring and creating! We loved so many things - the windows with their strong shutters, each which framed a distant "picture", the high ceilings and tall doors, the rustic floors, the delightful and different showers in each delightful and different bed/bath. The kitchen and portico were so fabulous - dinner preparation began each night as a group effort at about 6:00 pm and I don't think we got up out of our chairs until till midnight or 1:00 am! Those dinners were truly memorable for all. Of course, the blazing fire, maintained by our 15 year-old grandson, added to the ambience that kept us there. We had planned to go out for dinner a couple of nights, but never did - our "home" was too wonderful to leave!
The well-designed garden was my favorite. How lovely to have as much fragrant lavender as one could want, a variety of beautiful roses, herbs and spring vegetables all at once! Baby artichokes, fresh peas, green beans, 3 different types of lettuce and little zucchinis abounding. Rosemary as a shrub surrounding the pond! And all so well-tended each day by Palmiro. Our 7-year old grandaughter was particularly taken by the garden - that's where she gravitated at the beginning and end of each day.
Iside provided a truly fabulous wine and cheese tasting for us. She was the perfect teacher and we will never forget the bounty of those beautiful platters of cheese so well paired with their distinctive and delicious wines.
One beautful, sunny and memorable morning, three of us set out to buy some things for a birthday dinner. We drove to Aquapendente and visited the bakery, the butcher shop, the cheese and charcuterie shop and the produce market. Our Italian and their English were both pretty rudimentary, but we communicated successfully through very informal sign language and lots of smiles and good will. Wonderful! It was a highlight of our trip.
Patrizio, I know I am not capturing all there is at Podere Palazzo. I just know that everyone in our family thought it was an absolutely magical and unforgettable place!
Thank you for providing this experience for us.
October 2009, Canada, Australia, USA
Peter & Friends
Excellent Adventure...
What an excellent adventure & way to spend a 45th Birthday with friends.
A wonderful experience...Italy opened her arms and embraced us. This week will always be remembered as an amazing holiday due to your beautiful relaxing villa!
October 2009, Oregon
Laurel
Perfect Place...
Dear Patrizio & Mark
we have enjoyed our stay with wonderful weather ...we love your house. We made day trips from here and it was the perfect place to develop a taste for Toscana and beuatiful Italy. The welcome dinner was really wonderful...grazie Valeria!
September 2009, Toronto Canada
Rhonda and Richard
Paradiso sulla terra...
Questo e' il pardiso sulla terra! we have enjoyed our time at Podere Palazzo so incredibly! This is really heaven on earth.
We drank, we ate, we danced, we laughed, we reflected and discussed, we sang, we swam, we walked and hiked, we toured and really celebrated Rhonda's Bday in a very special way. The views are amazing, your taste impeccable and this is really a dream come true for all our friends! Grazie mille.
September 2009, Oregon US
S & C Smith + S & C Seiler
Art...
As an art major i saw so many beautiful paintings of Tuscany that i thought the artists had romanticized the views. Now I see the Romance is in the view itself!
Thank you for allowing us to share your beautiful home, vision and foresight. Your world class renovation has produced a venue of complete tranquillity and beautiful vistas that we enjoyed more than we can express. Grazie
June 2009
Mignon and Family
Grazie mille
Dear Patrizio and Mark
Podere Palazzo is truly amazing...from the landscape to the restored Podere, to all those well thought-out details! I'm leaving this part of Italy taking beautiful memories away with me. Thank you so much.
August 2009, USA
Carol Ann
Enjoying Podere Palazzo
I wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I enjoyed staying at Podere Palazzo recently. The location, views, thought and care that were put into the building of this wonderful place are amazing. Day trips in Tuscany, Lazio and Umbria were enhanced by the welcoming place we would return to each evening to gather and enjoy local foods, wine, vegetables and herbs from your garden. It truly was a trip of a lifetime and the perfect place for the extended family to reconnect.
August 2009, Germany & USA
Maria & Family
Wonderful Home...
Hello Patrizio,
First of all let me tell you how wonderful your home is. The pictures do not show the beauty of the house...you have to see it! Sitting on top of the hill with the beautiful Tuscan countryside all around it is truly a jewel. We were fortunate to experience a full moon during our stay, watching the moon come up over the wooded hill and the starry ski was just an added pleasure. I spent a lot of time just sitting by or in the pool enjoying the nature around me. All the little special touches you put into this place surely make it very special.
All of my family also enjoyed it tremendously. We had some great meals and long evenings outside by the fireplace. The garden and pond and of course the pool made it so much fun for everyone.
Here are some of the places we visited and loved:
Sorano & Pitigliano ��� charming little towns
Orvieto & the caves
Siena was getting ready for the horse race 8/16
Perugia & Assisi,
Montalcino & the Fort
Wine Cellar Tour at Fattoria dei Barbi
Lake Bolsena
Winery tour of Le Casalte, a private small winery near Montepulciano
I would have liked to go to more places but I also wanted to spend time at the Podere Palazzo. I guess some day we will go back!
Thank you so much for all the help you gave us. Your staff there was great. Please let them know we appreciated all their work.
August, 2009. USA
Christopher Kreb
Place to relax
I just wanted to let you know that we loved staying at your wonderful house in Tuscany. My girlfriend is pregnant (expecting our first child) and we could not have imagined a better place to relax for two weeks. We took some great day trips to Siena and Montepulciano, as well as overnight trips to Verona and Florence. It was always a pleasure to come back to the house. The pictures do not do the house justice. You did an amazing job restoring the house and the landscaping is absolutely beautiful. Perhaps someday we will be lucky enough to stay there again. Until then, please know you made us very happy by sharing your home with us.
May 2009, Baltimore USA
Susan and friends
Exceeded our high expectations!
Everything from the vistas, the wonderful B-Day dinner Valeria cooked, to the luscious pool exceeded our high expectations. Fantastico vacation!!!
Thank you so much. WOW! We really enjoyed your house and the countryside. Future residents: you must do the cooking lesson, NOT to be missed. Then go to Iside & Romano at La Parolina for dinner! Grazie mille. Susan, Rob and Kristin
May 2009, London UK
Fiona, Ray & family
Wonderful week.
We had a wonderful week staying in your beautiful Villa. The weather has been lovely, the views are amazing and the pool and garden delightful. And the house....you should be rightfully very proud of what you have achieved. It is truly outstanding!
Special thanks to Laura, the fabulous chef who cooked such Italian feast for us.
We also loved cooking outside on the fire! Best wishes.
March 2009, USA
Jeroen, Stephanie and Hamish
Wonderful place...
What a wonderful place. It is really a Palace! The area is quintessential Tuscany with rolling hills and cypress trees. It is the most comfortable house we ever rented especially with a larger group. Spacious bedrooms and living area + we especially enjoyed the library in the house with the architecture books and everything about Italian & Roman history. Even though we were there in February/March we could sit outside in the sun. Thank you also for all the wonderful recommendations for dinner...I think we visited all the restaurants and loved them!
Hamish is almost 3 months old and already loves Italy + we met all his European family at the Palazzo!
October 2008, New York USA
Lisa and friends
What a celebration!
Patrizio & Mark, To say that this 40th birthday celebration has been magical is an understatement! Your Home is homey but also a testament to your keen eye for design. The setting is breathtaking + we've not only been rejuvenated but have had the opportunity to rekindle old friendships and make new ones.
To future guests: take advantage of the Cooking class with chefs Iside and Romano (spectacular!) as well as the traditional Sienese fare made by Laura (delicious!)
We all hope you enjoy Podere Palazzo as much as we have!
October 2008, Milan, Italy
Sonia
Perfect complement...
Podere Palazzo is the perfect complement for a get-together with friends and a romantic and intimate stay with your loved ones. I have been so lucky to stay there during different seasons, and I love it: in the summer the bright light in the spacious rooms and the quiet of the outside invite relaxation. Spending a morning in the beautiful pool, or a lazy afternoon dozing on and off in the hammocks near the pond recharges your senses. In the winter, the crispy air and the charming surroundings are a great prelude to an evening spent near the fireplace, enjoying the comfort of the living room. Whatever the season, the kitchen is one of my favorite places: it is such a pleasure to have all the comforts and space to plan scrumptious meals or a simple feast, while sipping a glass of wine and catching up with your best friends. The fantastic restaurant La Parolina (only 5 minutes away, in Trevinano) with the perfect chefs and hosts Iside and Romano, will grant you the wish of an unforgettable meal, crowned with desserts that you will remember for months to come.
Podere Palazzo is really a splendid place to return to and to step into the rhythm of the Italian countryside. The villages and towns of the area will provide a crash course in the arts and the joys of the local festivities: I could hardly forget dancing in the streets at the "festa contadina" in Acquapendente, or eating in one of the open air tavernas at the Palio of Citta' della Pieve.
June 2008, Chicago, US
Jeff and Regina
Week of delights.
Thank you again for sharing your wonderful house with us. The entire week was a delight. Not only is your house and property amazingly beautiful and comfortable, but its location is ideal for exploring nearby towns and villages. I think Southern Tuscany and Umbria is so much prettier and more interesting than Northern Tuscany where all the Americans tend to flock to. Loved both Orvieto and Montepulciano. Civita di Bagnoregio was fascinating. Enjoyed San Casciano di Bagni - and a lovely dinner at Daniela. Great outing to Saturnia with a relaxing soak. Lovely walk along the lake in Bolsena. We were regulars in Acquapendente and really enjoyed the non-touristy feel of it. And lots of time relaxing at Podere Palazzo - swimming, reading, talking and laughing - and way too much eating and drinking. The dinner and cooking class with Iside and Romano was great fun - and the food was superb.
Again, I can't say enough how much we enjoyed it! My father in fact, who's not known for effusive statements, labeled it the nicest place he's ever stayed!
July 2008, Chicago IL.
Greg Wootton, Age 7
A fish in the pool...
I want to be a fish in the pool, i want to be a wild boar in the field and a person in the house.
September 2008, Tucson AZ.
Jean and Duane
Coins in the pond
On the first night at Podere Palazzo we were treated to a wonderful fireworks display out of Acquapendente to accompany the brilliant stars (you can see the milkyway!) and a gorgeous view of Mars!
We loved Gianfranco Restaurant in Trevinano, great introduction to local food and culture! Try it, you may even see Danilo (custodian of PP) there.
We visited many small towns locally along with Siena, Florence and the coastal town of Talamone.
We kept many wine shops, cheese shops and gelaterie in business! All excellent!
Beautiful views, perfect sunsets, lovely home and a very relaxing pool. We all threw a coin in the pond...we are hoping it works like the Trevi fountain!
September 2008, Havertown PA
Marie and Bill
Trip of a Lifetime
Patrizio, We just wanted to thank you for letting us stay in your beautiful villa - what a trip of a lifetime. Your place is unbelievable - I think we took pictures from every angle. The views, the beautiful decor, comfortable beds, great bathrooms, everything about it was just perfect. Your sister cooked us a fabulous dinner and was so hospitable and friendly. We had such a great time exploring all the old little towns nearby with the great restaurants, shops and markets, drove to Siena and spent the day sightseeing, did a great wine tour in Montepulciano (Cantina del Redi and Contucci) and Montalcino (the Fanti wine tour was superb) and had lunch and shopped the market in Pienza, ventured on the train to Florence, drove to the coastal area of Orbetello (beautiful), and spent many hours just relaxing at your villa. Lots of good food and wine too! There was not a flaw in the trip - just perfect. Again, thank you for your hospitality and for all of your help while we planned our trip.
September 2008, Chicago US
Robert and Randy
Amazing Experience
Amazing experience! Your home is spectacular. I hope you get lots of opportunities to enjoy it yourself! �ĶWe loved the house, the setting, and all of the towns we visited nearby as well. Our gratitude to Iside and Romano for a wonderful evening of cooking and dining.
June 2008, Chicago US
Sawin Family & Friends
Bellissima...Perfezione!
La nostra vacanza era non solo bellissima, ma perfezione! Grazie mille a Patrizio e Mark! We had anticipated a gorgeous and relaxing vacation at Podere Palazzo, but we came away with so much more! (Sanity & serenity, for starters!) The house and grounds were simply idyllic for 3 families to enjoy with plenty of room for all to find our favorite spots. While the hours by the pool provided the best bonding moments for kids and parents alike, we also immensely enjoyed the picturesque (and thrilling) drives in our zippy Italian cars to the many enchanting hill towns nearby. The kids passed the time in the backseat by reading the excellent guide, "Kids Europe Italy Discovery Journal" by P.L.Byrne, and we enjoyed the many helpful guidebooks and literature left by other travellers at the house. Valeria's warm and welcoming check-in, Aldo's knowledgeable (and cute) advice at La Parolina, Martina's bubbly (and cute) babysitting and Danilo's attentiveness all contributed to our unique and intimate Italian experience. Still basking in the glow of our trip, we find ourselves already scouring maps of Tuscany, Umbria & Lazio for the next dozen or so towns that will beguile us on a future visit. Between the sights, the food and the absolute tranquility that the villa has to offer, we truly lived "La Dolce Vita" during our stay at Podere Palazzo!
May 2008, Chicago US
Michelle and Chris
Great Holiday
We just wanted to thank you for all of your help in making it a great holiday for all of us! We look forward to going back if you'll let us! There is such a great warmth about the house which makes it easy to "feel" Italy and the Umbrian and Tuscan rural landscape! The welcome dinner was fantastic and everyone enjoyed the meal. Please pass our appreciation and heartfelt thanks on to Valeria for making such a great dinner our first night...there was no better way to start things out.
We did a lot of your recommended day trips and tried some of the restaurants. Everyone loved Trattoria Gianfranco in Treviano. We went back there twice. Chris & I and another couple went to the Mondo X monastery for dinner on the last night. It was beautiful and we really enjoyed the meal although we were extremely full afterwards. We also tried the Trattoria Toscana in Acquapendente and it was very good.
September 2007, Detroit MI.
Meghan & Family
A dreamscape
When my family stayed at Podere Palazzo, I felt like I was living in a dreamscape. There's something so magical about the home, sitting on top of a hill, presiding over the beautiful landscape like a natural part of the surroundings. The inside is like a showcase for the outside. It feels as if the house was built just to look out the windows. It is impeccably designed and decorated with a modernist aesthetic and interesting art, but the real draw is how it interacts with the beauty of the land. Podero Palazzo is the perfect place for relaxing and connecting with yourself (and family) and if you can peel yourself away from the pool it's also a convenient launch pad for exploring the rest of Italy.
October 2007, Champaign IL.
Andrea & John
Spectacular!
Your villa is spectacular. The fabulous website does not begin to capture the elegance of your home. We did not want to leave! Your recommendations for villages to visit were also outstanding!
Trevinano was so quaint. The little inexpensive restaurant (Gianfranco) is still one of our favorites to eat at and the people there were so gracious. We also ate at La Parolina. Unbelievable!! Iside explained the menu to us personally. We had the suprise fixed menu with wine. Never had anything better!
Again, our stay in Tuscany was more than we could have imagined! We definitely want to come back soon! Grazie for a great visit!
August 2007, USA
Reinisch Family
Wonderful stay
Our family of 6 had a wonderful one-week stay at Podere Palazzo last August. The house and the views were fabulous. The entire set-up worked well for all ages. The grandparents relaxed all day by reading books outside on the patio, while the children were happy running around the property and swimming. All of the finishes in the home are spectacular, the beds very comfortable, and the showers perfect. The kitchen works very well for preparing large dinners. We ended each of our evening sitting around the wonderful outdoor fireplace. We hope that we can return again! We also loved the restaurants in the area: we recommend Daniela and Blue Eyes in San Casciano.
The cooking class from the chefs of La Parolina was wonderful and they taught us how to make a wonderful veal dish.
Also, our 2 kids loved the thermal pools in Saturnia.
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