First, thanks to IgoUgo for highlighting this place. Finding somewhere to stay in another state, let alone another country, can be painful. Using recommendations helped us (most of the time) find places to remember and, like this place, really enjoy. The thing that hit us the most was that they realised that our holiday was well-deserved and special. It seemed that the owner’s sole objective was to make your stay with them as comfortable and enjoyable as possible--as they said, "after all, we would like you to come back again!"
The cypress tree-lined drive, surrounded by lush green Tuscan vegetation, welcomed us to Casa Portagioia. The 2-year restoration of this beautiful villa has been undertaken with great care and close attention to detail, maintaining the natural beauty of the building, whilst allowing for the comforts and high standards. Our spacious rooms were both elegant and well-appointed and tastefully furnished--and very, very clean.
The fact that the owners made us feel at home was more than just pandering to guests; it was real. Every morning, during what were the best breakfasts in Italy, we were offered advice about where to go and what to see. They arranged trips to Florence, so we avoided the queues (2 hours long!), they arranged a wine tour, an art class for Mary-Beth, and much more.
The pool was a great place to realise that holidays were more than just sightseeing! There were breathtaking views of the local valley, and even during October, the heated pool allowed us to cool off from what was still a pleasant temperature.
Dinner, too, was an experience. Again, due to the hosts' personality and drive, it seemed that we and the other guests had been friends for years. All of us were happily chatting--even sharing our wine. Oh, and the food (a five-course extravaganza) was magnificent--a truly relaxing end to the day.
We stayed here for 5 nights out of the 3 weeks we were in Italy; it’s not at all hard to recommend this place to other travelers to this beautiful region.