Ville di Corsano, Villa Luisa

We stayed there in 2000 for about a week and used it as a central point from which to take day trips. Nearby is Murlo which is the site of an Estrucan foundry and a great restaurant. Don't recall the name of the restaurant but you go up a short flight of steps to enter the building. From Ville di Corsano it's a short drive to Montelcino, home of the wonderful Brunello di Montelcino wines. Drive further to Montepulciano for more beautiful scenery and good wines. On another trip to Tuscany we met up with Luisa (the owner) for the day and she was, as usual, very welcoming. We spent the day with her and had a great time. The Mansarda was unavailable so we stayed someplace else. We wholeheartedly recommend Luisa's!

Location:

Villa Luisa is located on the outskirts of Siena. The first villa to the right when driving on SP 46 into Ville di Corsano.

It was easy to find. One suggestion though: follow Luisa's directions from her website and carefully watch the signs on the road and you'll get there in no time. We used a GPS and it kept directing us onto SS223 towards Grosetto, which goes OVER SP46, so after the software told us a few times to take a left turn off the highway and through the guardrails :), we figured, we needed to follow Luisa's original directions.

We got there at night, so we could not fully appreciate the beautiful Tuscan countryside views that the Villa offers almost from any angle. But, oh boy, when the morning came and we looked through the windows we could not believe our eyes. Imagine, feeling as though you are in a magical storyland, and the feeling doesn't leave, even after you've been there a while. The villa is located in such a way that you can see Siena right in front of you.

Other quick facts about the villa: gated, monitored access, carport for two cars, beautiful stone walkway up to the front lawn, with a carefully thought out path to the right of the steps for rolling your luggage, hammock with stunning views of Siena, outside eating area.

Nearby Amenities:

You could definitely walk to the local grocery store, which is right up the street, but we drove there most of the time. There's also a small local restaurant.

The grocery store carries all sorts of tasty local produce: freshly baked bread, cheeses, cold cuts, vegetables, personal hygiene products and everything else you would expect.

This area is famous for it's Vino n' Olio production, so look for small signs 'Vino/Olio' that direct you to peoples homes to sample and buy the tastiest wine and olive oil in the whole world.

The House/Apartment:

We rented what is called 'Mansarda' - the biggest 60 sq. m. apartment in a villa. It is basically a studio type place directly under the roof. The room has 3 windows: one overlooking the nearby multicolored fields, another 2 are on the front overlooking the fields and the city of Siena in a distance.

The building itself is very old, but it is very nicely restored and it is in excellent shape. There's no 'old' smell anywhere in the house, for you - the picky ones :)

There are also two other rooms to rent somewhere in the house, but I did not see them.

The 'Mansarda' has it's own private access. You get your own set of keys, so you may come and go whenever you please.

Garden:

The outside landscape is extremely beautiful, with trimmed bushes, olive trees and nicely cut grass.

There is a table with chairs outside, so you may enjoy a quiet atmosphere while eating all those tasty local products.

There is a hammock, to enjoy the stunning views of Siena during the day, and the incredibly black and beautiful skies dotted with a million stars at night.

There is also a place to hang your clothes to dry should you decide to wash something.

Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living Areas:

The 'Mansarda' has a lot of nice, comfortable furniture in excellent shape, a kitchen island that has everything from teaspoons to a bottle opener - everything you would have at your own home. There is a small refrigerator underneath.

Kitchen has a gas stove, and cabinets full of stuff: like plates, wine glasses, etc.

If there was an award for the cleanest rental place - it would go to Luisa. Everything was squeaky clean! Something you would rarely find in this price range. We are both 'clean freaks' and we loved the way the place looked, smelt and felt :)

Bedrooms/Bathrooms:

The place has one comfortable king size bed with 2 nightstands with lights for reading and one other bed, you could potentially have 3 - 4 people stay there.

The bathroom was very clean, with a sink in front of you as you walk in, and a bathtub, shower, toilet, laundry and bidet room, also extremely clean and new.

Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?

ABSOLUTELY!!! It happened that we traveled without our 16-month-old son this time around. But we would, without any hesitation come back within a year or two to Villa Luisa Toscana with our child.

With the owners help I rented a racing bicycle in Siena. She actually personally went to the store to find out out all the information for me. For those who are interested, go to www.dfbike.it for more information. Contact them by email and they will have the bike in your size by the time you arrive.

Things to do in this area:

Almost too many...

-take short drives/walks through the surrounding areas that offers great views and a chance to sample REAL Tuscan life.

-go to Siena at night to hang on Il Campo - an unforgettable experience.

-visit local restaurants where you instantly feel at home.

-just look at the map and pick any place - you are guaranteed to find something to do almost anywhere.

-take a break and stay at Villa Luisa for a day or two, reading or listening to chirping birds.

HAVE FUN!!