“An out-of-season idyll in the heart of Italy. Just go, it is well worth it”

My wife and I love Italy and have visited the country many times but this trip was truly special. We wanted to visit Tuscany out-of-season and were able to book Casa Susinetto at Borghetto Calcinaia, one of Dennis and Gilly's two superb one bedroom units for the beginning of November just for a few days. They can be booked individually when the pool is closed. This proved to be a great decision. The accommodation is warm, spacious and really comfortable. A warm and friendly welcome awaits you with a few goodies already in the fridge.There is so much to see in the area and Dennis and Gilly are THE perfect hosts. Read More…

“Tuscan Bliss”

We stayed for a week in August as part of a two week stay in Tuscany. Looking back we'd have been happy to have the full two weeks with Dennis and Gilly, who made us feel very at home in their beautiful villa with stunning views over the lake. Dennis is a wealth of knowledge on all things local, and touched us very much by dropping off a loaf of bread in the mornings and being so friendly with us and our kids. Gilly is kind and hospitable, keeps a mean garden and is very helpful. They have invested into their properties and have real pride in what they do. The place is lovely. All in all we couldn't have been happier, and would recommend the place wholeheartedly - in fact already have been! Read More…

“Beautiful house, friendly owners, stunning views...”

Just had the most amazing two weeks Borghetto Calcinaia. The first week we shared the main house with some friends and the second week we hired all of the accommodation for a full extended family holiday - this allowed Granny and Grandpa to have their own space and private terrace and the cousins could all run around very happily. It isn't just the main house that is finished to extremely high standards, all of the accommodation is immaculate. Having friendly owners on site, was brilliant - Gilly and Dennis are full of good tips and advice, mines of local information. Read More…

“Relaxing week!”

We were two families, 5 adults and 4 kids, Dennis and Gilly made our stay so relaxed and comfortable. It was a hot week, and the wonderful pool was all the entertainment the children needed. They did not leave the villa for three days!
Dennis and Gilly helped with some wonderful restaurant recommendations, where we had some very memorable meals. Vasco's place is a must do!!
The bedrooms are spacious and comfortable, and we enjoyed the living areas through our stay. We cooked some great barbecues and enjoyed all the outdoor space as well.
The children enjoyed the pasta making class that Dennis and Gilly hosted and organised. It was one of the highlights of their stay.
Dennis and Gilly are wonderful and generous hosts, and we were very thankful for the one night of babysitting Gilly offered us for a fantastic adult meal out!!
All in all, a fantastic week in Tuscany! Read More…

“Wonderful villa in lovely area!”

We have just returned from a brilliant week in this lovely villa. The main house comfortably accommodates two families (9 adult-sized people) and is finished to an extremely high standard and kept in immaculate condition. The pool is a great size, very clean and in excellent order. The location is stunning, though the downside of this isolation is that it is necessary to drive everywhere. The owners live next door, which we found to be not at all intrusive (we have stayed in houses where it has been) but in fact a great asset as they were more than happy to help us out with recommendations, restaurant bookings etc. We didn't use the extra accommodation, but both of the apartments are beautiful too. Extras that are provided such as pool towels, a welcome food pack, hairdryers, plug-in nightlights, local maps etc make a big difference. Read More…

“The PERFECT villa for your Tuscan adventure!”

A group of seven of us from Dallas, Texas, traveled to this wonderful villa in the summer of 2015. It could not have been better! Dennis and Gilly, the owners, were incredibly accommodating and excited to share their hidden gem with us. Dennis helped us arrange an anniversary dinner at the villa with a violinist and a photographer, he ordered, picked up and delivered a cake for us, and he even got balloons! He made a special trip even more special for all of us.
Dennis and Gilly provided us with excellent dinner recommendations, and Dennis actually drove part of our group to one of the restaurants, as it would've been too difficult to find on our own. For a very reasonable price, Gilly made a delicious hot breakfast for us each morning, and left it ready to go in the kitchen - I highly recommend taking them up on this service.

A few things about the area - Anghiari is lovely. Make sure you spend at least a day there. The little pizza place in the plaza was cute and easy, and we loved the flatbreads. Dennis also arranged a winery tour complete with guide - if you have time, definitely set this up. It was a super cool day. There are a number of small walled towns complete with castles within a 30-40 minute drive of the villa. Block off at least a day to go exploring in your rental car - part of our group decided to do this on the last day, and we had a blast finding some less-advertised castle towns...we loved bouncing from town to town ordering cheese boards, light pasta dishes and bottles of prosecco, and sitting in the central plazas watching local folks stroll by. If you can arrange to be in town on a Sunday, ask Dennis to take you to "Mama's" kitchen - it was one of our favorite meals!
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This is a marvelous place to stay!”

The two of us stayed here along with 5 of our friends. Everything about it was absolutely perfect! The land, surroundings, views, and gardens are all beautiful. The pool area is great. We stayed in the main house, and it was wonderful. All the rooms are comfortable and nicely decorated. We really liked the charming owners, and they did everything possible to make our stay stellar, including making special arrangements for an anniversary dinner we had there that included a fantastic private chef, a professional photographer, and a violin player. None of us wanted to leave this beautiful and special place! And, it is located in a great area. Day trips to several towns and cities are easily doable. The nearby small city of Anghiari is lovely, and we enjoyed spending time there. For a fun day, schedule a tour of area wineries led by Helena, who the owners can connect you with. All 7 of us highly recommend this remarkable place.
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“A Return to Calcinaia”

We stayed at Calcinaia, right there in the heart of Tuscany, for a week last year and loved it so much, it was an easy decision to return for another look around. Obviously, the beauty of Tuscany is a big part of the draw for us and we can choose to stay anywhere, but we found Borghetto Calcinaia to be such a fabulous venue returning here was a foregone conclusion. The amenities are top rate, but the real draws for us are the host and hostess, Dennis and Gilly. Their hospitality, genuine care and assistance throughout our stay made the trip even more enriching.
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“Wonderful Retreat”

What an enchanting place! The villa is located southeast of Florence, near the walled city of Anghiari. The view is wonderful, the garden beds surrounding the property are filled with an interesting variety of plants. Dennis and Gilly are gracious hosts, they made us feel right at home. They were very helpful with suggestions on where to eat and different sites to visit.
We enjoyed a great Sunday dinner Italian style and Dennis made arrangements with a local winery for us to tour. Tuscany is magical.
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Impeccably refurbished villa with spectacular views and top-tier hosts!

Please pardon the fact that this is several months overdue, but the review is no
less sincere! Our stay at Borghetto Calcinaia was nothing short of spectacular. Granted we had unprecedented weather (low 80s during the day, 50s at night the entire week), but nature cannot take credit for the incredible service-intensive experience Dennis and Gilly created. First, the surroundings: Calcinaia is a gem of property with meticulously revitalized buildings perched above the gorgeous man-made Lago Montedoglio. The lush property provides every manner of sensory enjoyment: spectacular views, lovely scents from the gardens and trees, the sounds of animals providing a light ambiance during the evenings. Every corner of each building was given the greatest care in restoration, with tasteful, modern, cozy furnishings. Updated appliances throughout ensure 'old-world charm' does not equal inconvenience. The location was ideally located, with many famous Tuscan and Umbrian towns being only a short drive away. Exploring the walled city of Anghiari close by was a highlight of our trip! Read More…

Don’t hesitate – just book it !!

Having read all these very accurate and detailed reviews, I want to say "Bravo Dennis and Gilly" for you have earned each of them.
Our group of eight older, well seasoned VRBO users agreed Borghetto Calcinaia is the best.
First because of its spacious functionality, its incredibly beautiful setting in the Tuscan hills overlooking the lake, its stunning and careful restoration and its central location within easy day trips to many towns.
However, this Villa comes with a difference .... the owners !
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Our family of twelve including five grandchildren ages 5, 3, 2, and two babies spent a magical week at Borghetto Calcinaia in April. We lived in Italy some years back and have traveled the country extensively and can say with certainty that the vista from the Borghetto Calcinaia is one of the most breathtaking we've encountered. Every detail of the property exceeded our expectations from the surrounding area, the estate, and the gracious hosts, Dennis and Gilly.
When reminiscing about our trip to friends we describe Borghetto Calcinaia as Shangri-La and can't wait to return.
Many thanks to Dennis and Gilly who helped make our trip so memorable.
Grazie mille! Read More…