Reviews of Villa Rustica

Wonderful family stay

October 2025 - We have just returned from an idyllic month of October at Villa Rustica. From the moment the property manager Giulia greeted us as we drove through the securely gated driveway entrance, we knew we would be in good hands and have a wonderful holiday in the hills of Tuscany, from grape harvest through olive harvest. Guilia patiently showed us around the villa and its gorgeous grounds lined with high privacy hedges along the meandering country road, part of the famous Via Francigena with its pilgrims and day hikers making their way toward the nearby hill town of San Gimignano. She carefully explained (in fluent English) where everything was and how everything worked, and gave us some fantastic recommendations for very nearby eateries, wineries, grocery stores and dairies before leaving us alone to settle in.

The villa is immaculately maintained, and has a good flow of private and gathering spaces, with a comfortable lofted living room and a large, well-equipped kitchen that has not only a very long harvest table and enough dishes to accommodate well over a dozen guests, but three different kinds of coffee-maker, a six-burner gas range, a dishwasher, and two full-sized refrigerators for all the foods and adult beverages sourced from the region. We supplemented Gulia’s generous gift basket of provisions with groceries from the Coop market in Certaldo that has a deli section, bakery, butcher, fishmonger, alcoholic beverages, and more. The nearby Cesani winery, suggested by Giullia, provided most of our "house" Vernaccia and Sangiovese wines. And you don't have to go far for dining as there are several good quality opportunities very nearby (Giulia will tell you about them).

The villa’s master bedroom and modern en suite are just off the living room, with three additional bedrooms, and two bathrooms toward the back. Each bedroom has a remote-controlled heating and cooling unit and extra warm blankets for comfort. Large wooden doors and shutters, and room-darkening draperies keep out sound and light for those needing their sleep. We even took advantage of the available rollaway bed for guests with a young child. Wifi throughout the villa was strong enough for Zoom calls,. The washing machine and dryer (and outdoor drying racks) kept us in clean clothes all month.

The grounds have many fruit trees (including olive, cherry, fig, and pomegranate), flowers in abundance, and cooking herbs, interspersed with manicured lawn areas and sweeping views across lush vineyards and olive groves. We enjoyed using the robust outside wood grill one evening for a group feast. The driveway can accommodate three cars easily, and more with some maneuvering. There are several large terraces and patios to choose from to congregate for meals, evening cocktail hours, sunset gazing, and even working on a laptop, reclusive reading or other quiet activities. A ping pong table was a big hit with older kids, and a basket of sidewalk chalk kept the littles occupied on the kitchen terrace. A place for everyone. The pool and jacuzzi were amazing - they provided relief to body and soul (especially feet) after full days of sightseeing and gelato sampling in the renowned towns and cities of Tuscany.

We could not have asked for a better place to stay for a Tuscan holiday with family and friends. Thank you, Giulia, and your amazing crew for making it all seem so effortless.