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Customer Reviews

Overall:
Our experience was excellent.
Enjoyed Most:
Spacious villa and spectacular views
Enjoyed Least:
Proximity to any kind of shopping or restaurants.
Surrounding Area:
We thoroughly enjoyed going to Anghiari. We also traveled to Florence, Cortona and Siena.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The closest bank and grocery store was in Monterchi. We loved the grocery store as they were so welcoming and we found good cheese and deli products as well as everything we needed. It was about a 20 minute drive from the villa.
Tips or Restaurants:
Zip lock bags, laundry soap, garbage bags. There probably were some good restaurants in Anghiari, but we didn't go there until the end of our stay. We did enjoy home cooked meals prepared by the villa owners.
Directions:
We used a GPS and set it for Sansepulcro as that took us in the right direction from Arezzo. We then followed the directions sent to us and found it.
Check In Out:
No, everything was very smooth.

Marcia, October

Overall:
Villa Piero was a slice of heaven. Sara amd Nicola treat you just like family and Mama Rosa's dinners are a must for anyone who is lucky enough to stay here.
Enjoyed Most:
The view, the privacy, the kitchen and the home itself. If you like to cook (and we do) the kitchen has everything you need. Bring some spices in zip lock baggies - or buy fresh herbs there. Kitchen was big enough for three cooks to be together and share the fun.
Enjoyed Least:
The drive up the gravel road was messy (it rained several days so it had some ruts and holes). We were glad we never met someone coming the other way. But if you want privacy and a view (and amazing hospitality) the drive is worth it.
Surrounding Area:
We loved Cortona. Make sure you have good walking shoes. It is called the Tuscan 'Hills' for a good reason. Found a great 'grocery' store - on our way out of Arezzo.
Nearby Events or Locales:
No, nothing is in walking distance - but don't let that stop you from taking a walk around the hills.
Tips or Restaurants:
We took day trips and followed maps more than GPS. No one got lost. Siena was a madhouse for parking on Wednesday (giant flea market on that day).
Directions:
There are two exits off for 'Palazzo del Pero' - take the second one to avoid the town. (the town does have a gas station if you need it.) We followed Sara's directions. Watch the mile markers and take 'the long and winding' road up to the Villa and an unparalleled view. It's a trek - but that is what we wanted - the Tuscan Hills.
Check In Out:
No. Everything went smoothly and we missed it before we got to the bottom of the road.

April, October

Overall:
Our experience at Villa Piero exceeded our expectations in every way. The setting was breathtaking, the property was beautifully finished and maintained, and the whole experience was enhanced by the attentive thoughtfulness of the owners. Their unselfish hospitality and attention to the smallest details set the tone for a wonderful week for our group.
Enjoyed Most:
We loved the spectacularly renovated villa in such a beautiful, peaceful setting. In addition, the villa was so "comfortable" and we all felt instantly at home. The kitchen with its professional appliances made life very easy every day.
Enjoyed Least:
We grew to love it, but the road to the villa was initially a challenge with its climbing, winding curves. However, we decided it was the price to pay for the spectacular setting, and by the end of the week, we were navigating it expertly.
Surrounding Area:
We took 5 day trips to various parts of Tuscany (thank you to ItaliaRoadrunners for the directions and details). It was very easy to jump on the "spiffy highway" and get to a completely different area of Tuscany. In the immediate area, the beautiful mountains were very scenic.
Nearby Events or Locales:
There was not a small town within walking distance. However, once you drove down the mountain road, there were several spots near. There was a good hike on the road up from the villa that some of our group did and enjoyed.
Tips or Restaurants:
The very best restaraunt was at the villa. Rosa prepared extraordinary dinners for us on 2 nights, Nicola fired up the pizza oven one night, and made us cappuccinos every morning to start our day. The villa is very well furnished. The only thing you need to bring is whatever you would like to cook/eat.
Directions:
We followed the directions provided, and drove right to the villa. We did rent a GPS, but did not have good satellite availability, so we were thankful for the detailed driving directions.
Check In Out:
Sara gave us a thorough tour of the villa, and explained the features/appliances completely. The checking in was very smooth, and we at once felt at home.

Ann, September

Overall:
Our experience at Villa Piero was fabulous. The villa is a restored 500-year old building, which retained its old world charm, but was sufficiently modified to provide a very comfortable accommodation to our party of 12 (8 adults and 4 children). Overall, it was a great vacation for everybody and our week at Villa Piero was the highlight of it.
Enjoyed Most:
We chose this particular villa because of the glowing reports we read about the hosts, Nicola, Sarah and "Mama". Nicola and Sarah were most gracious, accommodating, and helpful and Mama's cooking was out of this world! The kids explored the chicken coop and proudly displayed a recently laid egg, but otherwise spent most of their time in the pool.
Tips or Restaurants:
Initially we shopped at a supermarket in Arezzo, but we found that a small food store nearby had better and fresher products at comparable prices and of course the supermarket had no chance of competing against a specialty store - also close by - selling truffle, porcini and related products. We had day trips to Siena, where we saw the preparations for the Palio ( traditional horse race), but not the actual horserace and of course lots of tourists. We had other day trips to Cortona - highly recommended -and Caprese de Michelangelo - Michelangelo's birthplace and a museum with contemporary artwork.

Thomas, June

Overall:
Our group of 8, which included family and friends, had the most wonderful experience at Villa Piero! Nicola, Rosa, Sara and Federico were not just hosts, but they became family! They went above and beyond for our group to make us feel at home.
Enjoyed Most:
We loved the peacefulness and the view, the spaciousness of the villa and the property, the fact that everyone had their own bedroom and bath, the professional kitchen, but most importantly, the hospitality from Nicola and his family. Rosa's cooking was some of the best cuisine we had in Italy. Nicola would make us cappuccino every morning according to our schedule. With the beauty of the villa and the warmth of the owners, it was a memorable experience we will always treasure!
Enjoyed Least:
The beds are very hard! For Americans, we are not used to this. Mattresses that are a little softer would be in order. Also, with a large group, make sure you stagger your showers. The hot water would run out with a large group. Editor's Note: New mattresses have been purchased that are softer. January 2012.
Surrounding Area:
The property is about 20 minutes from Arezzo which is a very quaint and friendly town. We were also able to take the train to all the surrounding areas from the Arezzo train station. We fell in love with the city of Arezzo. It became our base camp for supermarkets, late night dinners (if we didn’t cook), the international food fair on Fridays, and a surprise treat of the Tuscany Wine Festival. The train station in Arezzo was very convenient and was our network for traveling on our day trips. And, the Avis rent-a-car was right across from the train station. Anghiari is a must-see little town driving distance from the villa. Also, take the back way to Cortona from the villa. The view is spectacular from the villa.
Tips or Restaurants:
There is only a washing machine available, no dryer. Clothes are dried outside on a clothes line. Bring detergent! Bring a flashlight too! Just in case!
Directions:
GPS a must! Directions were good. Don't be intimated by the winding gravel road after you turn off the main highway, you get used to it!

Diane, October

Overall:
Everything I hoped it would be!
Enjoyed Most:
Privacy and the warmth of the owners of the property.
Enjoyed Least:
The fact that I had to come home.
Surrounding Area:
The panoramic view from every window in the building.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Monterchi it was not within walking distance, nor was anything within walking distance. One of the things I liked most about the property.
Tips or Restaurants:
Guests should make sure they buy anything they plan on eating, drinking, and simple things like paper towels, dishwashing soap and things of that nature, including garbage bags.

Michael, September

Overall:
Our group of 8 couldn't have been happier celebrating our anniversaries together at Villa Piero. We've traveled together and rented villas in the past but none have satisfied like this one. Prior to our arrival, we were concerned about the owners being on site. Our concerns were quickly assuaged. Nicola, Sara and Rosa were present but never intrusive. In fact, they contributed significantly to the success and enjoyment of our holiday.
Enjoyed Most:
We were enthusiastically met and welcomed by Nicola, the owner and retired banker. In very short order he was serving cocktails while describing his recent restoration of the property. Each morning he was available to serve complimentary cappuccinos from his very own coffee bar. As the renovation had been done within the past 5 years or so, all the amenities were clean and modern. The commercial kitchen and en suite bathrooms were wonderful. Each room has screens on the windows (which was unusual and a plus) and each bedroom had a portable fan. There was no air conditioning. Our week there in Sept was hot but we were all comfortable with windows open, the natural breezes and the fans. Sara, Nicola's daughter and the primary English speaker, gave us a thorough orientation to the house and the workings of the kitchen. The 4 minute commercial dishwasher was amazing! The villa itself was beautifully laid out with many different rooms for reading, conversation, listening to music, playing games etc without ever feeling cramped. The outside seating areas were very comfortable. The villa came with an assortment of games and books, a computer (no printer), a ping-pong table, an unheated pool (with amazing views) and a bocce ball court on the lower level--a short walk from the house. Pool towels were also included. They've just tried to think of everything. The highlight was getting to know the owners. They were a delightful family of very hard working and pleasant people. We had prearranged for dinner to be served to us on the night of our arrival. Well, Mama Rosa outdid herself. We were stunned by the feast that was served. The quality and quantity surpassed any meal we had in Italy. Three hours later, Nicola and Sara were still serving us. Before the end of that lovely meal, we unanimously decided that Rosa could prepare dinner for us again on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening. That was the smartest decision we made. I can't say enough about the quality and creativity of her culinary skills. Much of the food, herbs and berries came from their huge garden. We missed pizza night which, I understand, was a big mistake!
Enjoyed Least:
If we could conjure up a complaint, it would be that the beds were very hard (3 were harder than the other 3). One couple, in particular, with arthritis, had a difficult week. Memory foam/down mattress toppers would be a wonderful asset.
Surrounding Area:
The hilltop location of the villa has amazing views of the surrounding hills and valleys. The air was fresh, the night sky was beautiful and it was peacefully quiet. One could easily never leave the property--though we did several times. While the location was remote, it's also centrally located for easy day tripping to several hill towns (Sienna, Cortona, Assisi, Montepulciano) and to Florence on the train from Arezzo.
Tips or Restaurants:
There were no markets close by so bring in provisions for a couple days until you have a better orientation to the area.
Check In Out:
Check out was simple and seamless. Nicola was up early on Saturday a.m. and had washed all of our dusty cars before we took off. There was much sadness when leaving for we all felt we were leaving good friends.

Linda , September

Overall:
Our group of eight cousins and four friends truly enjoyed our week at Villa Piero. This was a beautifully restored Villa, high on a mountain, in eastern Tuscany. The property is enclosed within a large gated yard, and had extensive mountain views and gardens. The yard was great for exercise walking and morning work-outs. At night, the property is very quiet; the stars and moon spectacular and the outdoor couches and chairs comfortable and perfect for long talks into the evening. The Villa was lovely, inside and out. The owners were very welcoming and gave us gifts of lemon cake, wine, fresh garden produce, herbs and eggs. Nicola made us cappuccinos (for free) every morning in the espresso bar room. The Villa bedrooms were all very spacious and decorated with antiques, and the bathrooms were excellent. The common spaces were many; great for relaxing and socializing. Some of us swam in the pool, but the water was cold in late September. Due to the location being a bit remote, we planned day trips to nearby towns and spent evenings at the Villa. The commercial kitchen was wonderful for the many cooks in our group. The owners, at our request, also cooked for us for 2 nights. A Pizza night, cooked in the outdoor wood burning oven, and a special birthday dinner. The food Rosa (mother) cooked was outstanding - some of the best we had in Tuscany! - and the price very modest. At the birthday dinner, she made 15 appetizers! The warm and engaging personalities of Nicola (father), and Sara (daughter) made us most welcome. We will never forget them.
Enjoyed Most:
The quality and spaciousness of the Villa. I have stayed at 3 Tuscan Villas, and this was the most beautiful by far. Nicola restored it himself over 5 years, while working at his regular job. He shared before and after photos with us. It was great to have Internet access as well for researching directions and highlights for different day trips and for checking email. A printer would be a wonderful addition. Guests could cover printing costs with a bit higher Internet use charge, perhaps.
Enjoyed Least:
The beds were all very hard, which is typical in Italy, but some of our group had a very hard time:) accommodating to the beds. Perhaps some pillow top mattress pads would help. Editor's Note: New mattresses have been purchased that are softer. January 2012.
Surrounding Area:
We did day trips to the nearby towns of Arezzo, Monterchi, Sansapolcro, Anghiari (an old medieval walled city), and Cortona. Others in our group travelled further to Siena, and the Chianti region (Greve in Chianti, where there is a fantastic butcher shop) and Gaiole in Chianti for wine tasting.
Nearby Events or Locales:
Some of our group attended a medieval festival in Sansapolcro, and our last night we all went to a local Polenta festival in Monterchi. Monterchi was the closest town - about a 15 minute drive - and it had a great local market where we shopped for our kitchen foods.
Tips or Restaurants:
We had a fantastic lunch one day at Costello de Sorci, just outside of Anghiari. It was recommended by a local friend who lives in Arezzo. Family style dining - their Zuppe con Pasta e Ceci was incredible! I would also recommend the very small, but excellent, restaurant in the main square in Monterchi for lunch.
Directions:
Our GPS did not work well (must have been outdated), but the Villa directions are good if followed carefully.
Check In Out:
Excellent - the owners did a thorough job of orienting us to the Villa and to the appliances in the kitchen.

Thomas, September