Lovely Tuscan villa, pool, superb views, cleaning, cooking available

We first stayed here a few years ago and before we returned we decided to try a few other houses in different parts of Tuscany but nothing could compare to this place. When we returned we were relieved to find that it was just as good as we remembered.

Firstly, the views. Pictures cannot do it justice.

Secondly, Rachele the housekeeper. You can be certain that the house will be spotless and well maintained - even the cutlery is arranged tidily in the drawer! She is also a very good cook and when you are feeling too lazy to cook or go out it is wonderful to have a lasagne or pasta sauce to heat up.

Thirdly, location. Although you are tucked away in a peaceful and idyllic location there are still some lovely towns to visit - we particularly enjoyed Pienza and Montepulciano. Also, the local villages where we went for supplies are very pretty and the locals are really helpful. I started to learn Italian after our first visit here and 4 years later the locals are very kind helping me out and patient when I can't think of a word! They also spoke back to slowly me in Italian which encouraged me to keep trying.

When we weren't out and about we enjoyed relaxing by the pool, eating lunch under the shade of the trees with that wonderful view as a backdrop, playing cards and probably drinking a little too much wine and sambucca! All in all a great mix of interesting trips out and relaxation.

The house itself is charming and rustic rather than modern and luxurious but this was exactly what we were looking for. The owners are very helpful and obviously care about maintaining the property.

I would thoroughly recommend this house and would love to go back again one day.

Our family of 5 (children ages 16, 13, 10) just returned from a week at this beautiful hill-top house with take-your-breath-away views over miles of Tuscan countryside. The grounds are picturesque with olive groves, cypress trees, a pretty formal garden and a pristine pool area surrounded by hedges and white roses. It's private as can be, but close enough (10 min drive) to the nearest village for re-stocking the pantry. We felt so lucky to have come upon such an incredible property via the internet.

The owners have taken great care to make sure that guests are comfortable with nicely furnished bedrooms and bedding, bathrooms, kitchen and sitting area with an extensive collection of movies and music. Our children, in particular, enjoyed watching movies after dinner...everything from action blockbusters to black & white classics. Thoughtful touches like a welcoming bottle of their own olive oil and a welcome phonecall on the 1st night to make sure that all was okay was really appreciated. The house is clean, fresh and organized. They provide a detailed book of information regarding the house as well as great tips/recommendations for restaurants and day trips. The friendly housekeeper arrives daily and was very helpful. She made dinner reservations for us and prepared some meals that we selected from her menu of offerings to heat up when we returned from day excursions. We also enjoyed sipping her homemade Limoncello...delicious!

We are missing the routine of opening the shutters in the morning to those incredible vistas, the scent of rosemary in the air, breakfast on the terrace watching the hills/valleys wake up, planning our day's excursion to nearby hill towns and looking forward to splashing in the beautiful pool at the end of the day...and then enjoying local wine on the terrace under star-filled skies.

All in all - a wonderful stay at a beautiful home. We loved it!

What a very special find! If you are looking for a completely charming Tuscan house with a private pool and amazing views from every room then you have found it!

We just returned from a perfect 2 week stay here and did not want to leave. This was our first time renting a house overseas so we were a bit unsure about the whole process but the owners were wonderful to work with and everything went very smoothly. We had spent countless hours searching the internet for just the right house (I admit - we are very picky) and choosing this house turned out to be a great decision. We thought it looked wonderful but it proved to be even better than our expectations.

From the minute we drove up the cypress lined driveway and saw the stone house with the rose covered pergola we were speechless. Then we rounded the corner onto the terrace and saw the spectacular views over the hills and up to the charming town of Celle Sul Rigo. We knew right then that this was a very special place.

The house is spotlessly clean and very comfortable. It is the perfect blend of old world charm and modern conveniences. The beds are very comfortable and done up in beautiful white linens and matelasse covers. The bathrooms are finished in very pretty white painted tiles and are bright and clean. The view out the window while taking a shower in the second floor bathroom is amazing!

We has so much fun exploring all the local hill towns. In the evenings we would cook and enjoy the local wines while we lingered out on the terrace for hours, just taking in the view. Make sure to get sausages from the butcher in Radicofani and lots of pecorino from Pienza! Cetona also has some great little food shops. Many days we just hung out by the beautiful pool that is surrounded by a rose garden. So peaceful. There is also a very pretty English garden behind the terrace that was bursting with lavender and roses.

All in all it really was perfect. It is a magical spot. And to top it all off the housekeeper Rachele was a delight to meet and was very helpful. And she makes the best limoncello! We are already talking about when we can return. Hopefully very soon!