Guest and tripadvisor reviews

"A True Tuscan Fantasy!"
A TripAdvisor Member, Arkansas, Oct 1, 2006
"Wow!".. does not do the Residenza D' Arte justice, but its the first word that comes to mind. Charming, authentic, breath-taking, relaxing, and simply beautiful are all true characteristics of this truly Tuscan farmhouse. To me, when you are traveling abroad or visiting new places that are entirely different from your own, you want to stay in a place that truly represents the region you are visiting. How boring would it be if all hotels were the same! What I loved most about our room at the Residenza D' Arte is that I felt like I stepped back centuries in time. You don't stay at this farmhouse to feel modern, so get over your usual expectations and allow yourself to feel and experience something so much better! To experience Tuscany at its best...rely on the helpful locals for ideas, especially the family that owns the Residenza. There is no need to phone them when they live right on the grounds. We never had a moment where we felt as if we couldn't reach them. Between the son, daughter, and parents, someone was always able to be reached, but yet, they also were out of sight. We could walk out on to the grounds and feel as if we had it all to ourselves. There is a beautiful spot on the grounds with an amazing view of the hilltop town of Torrita Di Siena. Just climb the steps that are past the reception entrance and you will find yourself with a view worthy of a scene in a movie!! They greeted us with a bottle of wine and we enjoyed it by sitting at our spot with the view over looking vinyards, olive trees, an old Tuscan Village...What more could a person ask for?! I will briefly highlight our favorite three attributes of the Residenza. 1) The room We stayed in the Michaelangelo room, which is not connected to the rest of the farmhouse. Its more like a small guesthouse that sits directly beside the larger farmhouse containing the rest of the rooms. I'm sure all of the rooms are magical, but I can only discuss the one we stayed in, which was simply amazing! The art , which is all created by Anna, the mother/wife. What a talent! The art is very sensual, sexual, romantic, at least that's how it made us feel. The colors of reds and golds used in the art, and the bedding really added to the ambiance of the room. You really have to be there to understand the feeling it all gives you. What I found really special about the room...besides the art...is that there is a large living room area with a fireplace, a bedroom, and a bathroom. So, there is plenty of room. The living room contained large window doors with a beautiful view of the grounds, trees, etc. For privacy we pulled the golden drapes down. When the sun shined through the golden drapes into our room, the light of the room became so alluring and peaceful. I guess it is because of the rock or stone walls of the building and the concrete floors, but the room always felt so cool and fresh. We were there in September and air conditioning was NEVER needed. At night we opened our window allowing the cool Tuscan breezes in, and turned on the fan. Instantly, we were in a cuddle friendly climate! Oh, we never saw or felt any bugs or mosquitos. The mini bar was stocked with coke, sprite, other drinks, a bottle of red and white wine, and several snacks. The white wine was so good, but we never tried the red. The best part of the min bar, was that it was affordable!! The prices seemed equal to what you would pay if you bought it yourself at the store. We really appreciated this. 2) The Family Biagio and Anna are the married owners and parents of Eric and Francesca. Each of them are so nice, helpful, warm, and kind. We literally felt welcomed as a part of their family when we arrived. Biagio not only helped when we asked, but he also volunteered very helpful tips on restaurants and directions to nearby towns. Francesca was simply a sweetheart. I think she was a teenager, but not possibly over 21. She always had a big smile on her face, and seemed so excited to help. Eric, was also very nice and helful...like his dad, he seemed a gentleman. We only passed Anna and were greeted with a huge smile and a cheerful good morning. This family is the real deal, and you can feel the love they have for each other as it spills out to their guests. 3) Location We stayed in Torrita Di Siena for our three night stay in Tuscany, but each day we drove to different towns. We had a very short and easy drive to Montepulciano, Cortona, Pienza, and Montalcino. I would rather stay in Torrita Di Siena at the Residenza and drive to these towns than to have stayed in any of them. We were in a good starting location to drive to towns in all directions. We went on a wonderful vinyard tour in Montalcino (for information email me) and were treated to an delicious afternoon feast before the tour. Montepulciano was probably our favorite Tuscan town. Cortona was nice, but a little too busy an touristy for what we were looking for. If you have lunch or dinner in Torrita Di Siena, we strongly recommend trying the Jolly Cafe on top of the hill. The grilled vegetables are wonderful! To close, we have traveled quite a bit. On this trip alone we visited London, Rome, Tuscany, and Venice. Of all the hotels and all the locations, Tuscany is the area we wish to see again, and the Residenza D' Arte is the place we wish to stay again. Honestly, it makes me sad to even think I may not get to see it again, but I assure you that we will do our best to stay there again and visit with the family again. I hope this review helps someone find their Tuscan Fantasy, and if you wish to ask me any questions about the Residenze D' Arte or Tuscany in general...please email me at video4u@hotmail.com. The website for the Residenza is: [---] I also strongly recommend the hot air balloon ride over Tuscany, but we fell inlove with our hosts of the balloon ride in Tavernelle. For information and pictures email me.

"A Great Unique Experience"
A TripAdvisor Member, Suwanee, Sep 6, 2006
The Residenza d'Arte is not your typical hotel or B&B. My wife and I stayed 1 night here and thoroughly enjoyed our experience. I use the word experience because the Residenza d'Arte is more than just a place to stay. If you are looking for a lot of typical hotel amenities, then this is not the place for you. If you are looking for a fun, unique Tuscan experience, then this is the place for you. The property itself is on a hill and is surrounded by olive trees and farmland. Their garden/ terrace area provides a clear view of the nearby village of Torrita di Siena as well as the Tuscan countryside. The property is also decorated throughout with artwork from Anna Izzo, the owner's wife. This adds to the charm of the place. The property has unique history and our hosts, Biagio and his daughter Francesca were more than happy to share information about it. While the place is not air conditioned (we stayed here in late August) we were extremely comfortable during our stay. The continual breezes from the countryside seemed to keep things very cool and comfortable. Biagio provided us with a fantastic restaurant recommendation in Torrita di Siena, making a reservation for us. He also took the time to follow up the next day to make sure we enjoyed his suggestion. The breakfast is much like others have described in previous reviews...a combination of croissants and sweet cakes. Honestly, after 5 straight days of cereals, yogurt, hard rolls and cold cuts that we got from other hotels during our visit to Italy, we appreciated the variety. I would suggest this property for anyone who wants to stay somewhere "different" from your typical hotel. And it is a perfect base for exploring the nearby hilltowns (Montepulciano and Pienza are both within 20 minutes drive).

"Remarkable Residenza D'Arte"
A TripAdvisor Member, Staten Island New York, Aug 1, 2006
I would like to strongly recommend the bed and breakfast Residenza D'Arte to all travelers who wish to enjoy a truly remarkable experience. I spent 2 weeks at the residenza in July 2006. Located 45 minutes outside of Siena, Italy, home of the infamous horserace, Il Palio, which is held in July and August. The residenza is a medieval abode filled with striking works of art and some exemplary antiques. The noted artist, both sculptor and designer, Anna Izzo, is one of the owners of the Residenza D'Arte and her personal stamp of excellence can be witnessed everywhere, in every guestroom and around the grounds.One can experience something charming and delightful from every perspective of the residenza. As if all that has been previously described is not enough, then the spectacular view of Torrita, located across the valley, should certainly be the deal maker. Biagio, the artist's husband, and their two children, Francesca and Enrico, are the hosts at the residenza. They reside on the premises are are available to assist you day and night. They will provide intelligent, gentle and thoughtful information to enhance your journey throughout Tuscany. It is advisable that you rent a car. Or, you can arrange for a local driver to get around(which is what I did).Assisting the family with guest services are canines Herman and Dylan(a.k.a.The Inspector General).These adorable puppies are the masters of public relations. Please note: This is not a Sheraton-type vacation.You will be vacationing in a historical rustic setting. Bring a toiletry kit with you and arrange for international cell phone service. My cell phone worked well in Tuscany. Also, there is no air conditioning.But, you really do not need it due to the breezes,the thickness of the walls and the fans that are provided. I slept with doors and windows open and did not have one mosquito bite.I could not do this in New York... Leave the room service/spa driven mentality at home. Instead trade it for a relaxed cultural immersion into Tuscany. Rich in art, history, food, folks and fun you will not be disappointed. I will happily and eagerly return to the Residenza D'Arte next year to continue this immensely pleasureable experience.

"Most wonderful place you can pick...."
A TripAdvisor Member, Boston, MA, Oct 12, 2005
If you are like me and you combed through every review on this site for a place to stay in Italy, stop now. This is the most wonderful, unique place that you will find and you won't regret staying here for a moment. It is located in the South East section of Tuscany, near the border of Umbria. We stayed here for six nights with a rental car and toured many different medieval towns during our stay (more on that below). The owners of this establishment are kind, thoughtful, thorough, and attentive, and my husband and I feel as if we've made lifelong friends after meeting them. They helped plan our itinerary and gave us good advice on various eating establishments. I must say that although we had a wonderful time touring Tuscany and Umbria, meeting them was the highlight of our trip. The Residenza D'Arte itself is beautiful, filled with the artwork of one of the owners, Anna Izzo, a very special person that we felt privileged to meet. We actually purchased one of her paintings and we can't wait for it to arrive! Anna also displays her work at a gallery/restaurant in Rome (Ristorante Il Margutta)-it's a delicious vegetarian restaurant filled with her artwork-so if you are going to Rome as well, this is a stop not to be missed. Our room was very nice, and the bathroom was small but as everyone else commented, very clean. Breakfast consisted of yogurt and a choice of different delicacies such as cream-filled croissants, chocolate cake, and Grandmother's pie. Luckily we did a lot of walking! The grounds are beautiful and the location is perfect for visiting all around Tuscany and Umbria. Our favorite cities were Assisi, Montepulciano and Cortona (my husband liked Siena too), but there are many others to visit.

"You will never find another place like this"
A TripAdvisor Member, San Diego, Ca, Jul 9, 2005
This place is totally run by the family. The father, son and daughter were all there for anything you needed. Very open and warm people. The location was amazing. You sit on top of a hill and the views are incredible, all around. The art work is really fun. You will never find another place like this. The room was very different in a good way. It was clean. The breakfast was mediocre, but don't let that stop you from staying here. They do make a good capucinno. There is a fantastic restaurant called La Crepta. That is a must. Vito the chef is a blast. This place is a must!

"Amazing fusion between art and history...."
A TripAdvisor User, Los Angeles, California, November 8, 2004
The Residenza d'Arte it's the perfect point of balance between modern art/design and the history of a charming old dwelling in the Tuscany countryside, a different place to stay that gives unusual emotions to their guests.... It was been an unforgettable week for me and my girlfriend, we can't even imagine that our holiday could be so perfect. The room was the best of our life, so strange and typical at the same time, colorful, and most of all romantic! We pass long time inside our suite during the days, drinking a great red wine of Montepulciano and having relax.... The owners are really kind and we felt like at home, they gived us many information and good advices about restaurants and towns to visit, and the best thing it's that the property is really near all the most famous towns of SouthTuscany, so we did not have to take the car much more than 10 minutes per day. We remember with pleasure our long walks in Pienza, Cortona, Montepulciano and in the splendid Siena, and at the end of the day, our return inside the lovely room "Leonardo"! We look forward to coming back soon, maybe next april 2005.