Self Catering Apartment La Ghiandaia - Lucolena Greve in Chianti

9.6

A wonderful typical building on the hills, in the heart of Tuscany, far from the beaten paths. An oasis of peace, great place to have a relaxing holiday. And last but not least, Silvia, the host, is very nice and helpful.

9.8

We are 2 couples who celebrated our 40th anniversary at La Ghiandaia, and we couldn't have picked a more gorgeous, peaceful place! The autumn colors and unseasonably warm, sunny days helped to make this a vacation we'll never forget. Sylvia and Luca, the incredibly gracious and welcoming hosts were what made it extra special for us. It was so fun to get to know them and to share those days in their beautiful corner of Tuscany. They are both from the area and cheerfully answered all of our questions, giving us helpful, accurate information as we planned for our time there. (By the way, they both speak great English, as well as a variety of other languages.) We stayed in the La Torre apartment which had 2 double bedrooms, a bathroom, and a fully equipped kitchen/dining room, all tastefully decorated by Sylvia herself. Since there are no restaurants in close walking distance, we took Sylvia's advice and purchased groceries in the town of Figline (Coop Market)on our way in. We found some delicious fresh pastas, sauces, cheeses, and breads and enjoyed some simple, yet delightful meals without having to leave. We did buy some great wine and honey from Sylvia and Luca. The village of Lucolena is just a few kilometers away in case you should forget anything. After reading other reviews we wondered what the road would be like, but we had absolutely no problem driving in. We highly recommend this location to anyone wanting a relaxing and refreshing getaway. If we ever have a chance to return, we will by all means stay at La Ghiandaia again. Its various apartments would make this an ideal spot for a family reunion.

8.9

Silvia and Luca were extremely welcoming and helpful. We were charmed and delighted with both them and the lovely, tranquil property. I would not hesitate to recommend La Ghiandia to my friends I have marked them highly because I don't know how it could be improved.

10

An excellent stay at La Ghiandaia - it suited my purposes perfectly. The approach 'road' was challenging at first but presented no problems once done. What else could you expect in order to get to a wonderful retreat in the Tuscan Hills! I would very much like to return with friends, and would recommend it to anyone who prefers peace and quiet, and beautiful surroundings, in preference to the City.

9.5

Silvia and her husband are very warm and welcoming hosts. Their home and estate are lovely. The views are wonderful and the it was a terrific visit for us. This part of Tuscany is a little off the beaten path and requires driving on curvy mountain roads to get to other towns... if you are comfortable with that, it is a wonderful place to stay at very reasonable prices.

9.8

Highly recommended. The road leading up to La Ghiandaia is a bit bumpy it is worth it! Silvia, our host, was friendly, efficient and helpful. The expansive views from our 1000 year old ex-watchtower nestled in the Tuscan countryside were amazing. The rooms were clean and characterful, as were the living, dining and kitchen areas. All in all a memorable stay.

10

We were so pleased with our stay at this property. The owners are wonderful - very friendly and willing to give advice on what to see and do in the area. We highly recommend a stay here. It was by far the best place we stayed during our trip to Italy.

7.7

We had a very pleasant stay. The surroundings were very peaceful and beautiful and the accomodation was good quality. We were disappointed in the kitchen facilities available in our apartment. Not that we were looking to cook elaborate meals however we wanted to purchase local produce and eat our meals al fresco, a better equipped kitchen would have made this easier. We were worried about reports we had heard about the drive into the property, it needed to be taken slowly but was not a problem.

9.6

This place is simply wonderful, quiet, peaceful. Everything you want from a Tuscany retreat. Silvia is so very charming. She is extremely helpful and her english is better than mine!. My wife and I felt like we were visiting friends more than staying in a home of strangers. The view from the house can not be beat. It overlooks a lovely meadow that is frequented by deer and wild pigs and a forest of chestnut trees is yours for the walking. We would not hesitate to recommend La Ghiandaia to our closest friends. In fact, we already have!

8.5

The perfect place to really get away from it all. Only 40 minutes by car from Florence, the views from the site are beautiful and the surrounding location packed with vineyards. Plenty of places to visit for cellar tours and wine tasting. Ideal for a completely relaxing stay. The pool area is lovely, there is also table tennis, boules alley and outdoor barbeque are. Silvia is a very friendly and helpful hostess. Would thoroughly recommend La Ghiandaia to all.

9.3

Photos of my trip here: http://www.danieleferretti.it/galleria/category.php?cat=56

10

Tucked away on a beautiful hillside surrounded by fields of grape vines, La Ghiandaia is a perfect hideaway - close enough to Florence, Sienna and the Tuscany hill towns for a day trip but a world away from the tourist traffic. The location and facilities are much better than the online pictures portray (and the pictures are great). Our room was enormous by European standards - especially for the price. The whole property is expertly landscaped and looks like the prototypical Italian "post card" farmhouse. Beyond the location and faclities, Sylvia is what makes La Ghiandaia a wonderful place. She is a wonderful hostess and, along with her parents and Luca, she runs La Ghiandaia as well as any B&B or Inn in the US. If you go, don't miss Sylvia's cooking lesson or Luca's expertly prepared dinner in the wine cellar. We will send our friends and hope to return very soon ourselves.

8.7

La Ghiandaia is a wonderful place to stay for your holidays in Tuscany area! Right in the middle of the heart of Chianti region. The apartments are very spacious, well equipped and it's very silent there. The view ist georgeous and the pool invites to jump in as soon as possible. The owner Silvia Bianchi is very pleasant and can give you usefull advices for trips to the Chianti region an Florence. I'm sure, we will return! ;-)

9.9

We chose this spot after finding that it was in the area that we were looking in and it had the features that we wanted. We read the comments, from other travellers, that we found on Venere.com. We would like to support the many comments found describing how hospitable Sylvia, Lucca and Sylvia's family are to their guests. We very much enjoyed our stay. There were many children visiting while we were there and when they were noisy, closing our window(s) allowed us our quiet space. We arrived from a different direction so asked for some direction from Greve. We would highly recommend La Ghiandaia to travellers in Chianti. Thank you Sylvia and Lucca!

9.1

Excellent place to visit Tuscany from and also to relax in an amazing surrounding of winyards and olive trees ... Silvia and her family are also very nice and speak french and english I do recommand !!!

8.9

La Ghiandaia is the perfect spot for a country holiday in Tuscany. Idyllic views over the Tuscan hills, swiming pool, football pitch, bowling area, ideal if you're going with kids. The staff were very welcoming and friendly, all in all a great experience. We would like to go back one day.

9.9

This was truly awesome! Everyone needs to stay at Farm Home La Ghiandaia once in their lives! It's a treasure hidden in the Tuscan mountains.

10

This was absolutely the highlight of our trip to Italy. Sylvia is fantastic. She is so welcoming and actually helped us as a travel "agent" for our days in Greve. Her suggestions were fantastic. I wish we could have stayed longer!!! We will definitely be back. Also, it should be noted that the all of the rooms are HUGE! I thought she might have made a mistake when she showed us our room! It turns out that they are all huge! Viva La Ghiandaia!

8.9

This is a fabulous base from which to explore Tuscany and particularly the Chianti region. You may have to put your driving skills to the test to reach the Ghiandaia as the road is a little tricky, but once you arrive the accommodation is excellent as is the service provided by Silvia. We stayed in the spacious Roccia apartment which overlooks the valley. Fantastic! Remember to ask Silvia what the additional charges are for heating and laundry facilities. Also mobile phone coverage is poor, but if privacy and tranquility is what you're looking for, then this is an excellent choice.

10

What a brilliant property this is! The location is perfect, the facilities are excellent and Sylvia who operates La Ghaindaia is an absolute delight. She couldnt be more helpful; her advice on local restaurants and sightseeing is invaluable and her partner is available as a professional trekking guide. If you really want a true taste of Tuscany this property is it and Greve in Chianti is a great base for exploring the region by car. The bonus is you are still so close to Florence and as luck would have it, even closer to the designer outlets (The Mall and Prada). Dont fret about driving, just do it! You will miss too much if you dont .... however, if you plan on visiting Siena and you are on your own, forget the car on that day. You will never find a parking spot. The locals get their passenger to defiantly claim a space on foot and proclaim they have a crying baby in the car. After 1 3/4 hours of driving around and around and up close and far away from Siena I felt more than a little upset myself!! So I gave up on Siena and discovered other gorgeous SMALL hilltop towns with few tourists and oodles of charm. In response to another guest's comment about the road into this property; this is Tuscany! It is hilly! It is slow! It is VERY OLD!!! The drive from the main road to the house is about 1.5km. It is bumpy but just drive slowly and enjoy the view. La Ghaindaia was a highlight of my trip. Sylvia made me feel like I was staying with friends.

9.3

Sehr schönes Anwesen, hübsche antik eingerichtete Wohung, traumhafte Lage und Blick. Alles sehr gepflegt und vorallem Silvia die Besitzerin war sehr nett und hatte tolle Tipps zu Restaurant, Wein, Ausflüge etc. Nur in der Wohung war es etwas kalt, die Heizung war schon abgestellt und der Betrieb hätte 4 Euro pro Stunde gekostet. Wir waren viel unterwegs, das war dann nicht so schlimm. ansonsten kann ich La Ghiandaia nur empfehlen!

10

WE HAD A GREAT TIME IN LUCOLENA'S HOUSE, EVERITHING WAS PERFECT. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND TO SPEND A WEEKEND OR MORE IN THIS FABULOUS PLACE. Posto fantastico, tranquillo e ben organizzato. Natura e verde in quantità, tanti spazi per giocare e fare trekking. Ottimo punto di appoggio per fare il tour della zona del Chianti, bevendo e mangiando in allegria! Silvia, che si occupa della gestione della casa, è sempre a vostra disposizione e saprà darvi ottime indicazioni per qualsiasi vostra curiosità. Raffaele & Virginie (Pasqua 2006)

8.9

We enjoyed our stay and Silvia was really helpful in suggesting a place to go for dinner and wineries to visit. We were there in early Dec 05 and it was cold. The heating in the room was probably not adequate for winter though she charged us 2 Euro for every hour of heating.

8.5

La Ghiandia was quite the adventure! The road up to the property is truly harrowing, although the grounds themselves are absolutely beautiful. I wish we'd had more time to explore the property itself. After reading the reviews I was confused as to why I had to rely on my Italian to communicate with the elderly owners, until I found out that Silvia was away for the weekend and these were her parents. Regardless, they were very sweet and hospitible, happy to give restaurant recommendations, make reservations and even cook us breakfast in the morning. Breakfast was pricey, but unless you are bringing groceries with you it may be advisable to take it at least the first day as there are no stores in the area and you will want to drive up and down the access road as little as possible! Overall we had a great time, and were placed into a 6-person apt that was more than big enough for the 4 of us. Furnishings were antique and comfy, but we did have a few critters to deal with in the apt. Not a perfect stay, but a great experience of rural Tuscan hospitality. Would likely stay here again.

10

A quietful and nice place to stay. Ideal for a family or for just a couple for a romantic journey. The place is really wonderful.

9.6

We had a short stay, but would love to go back. Beautiful area in wine country.

10

In our opinion La Ghiandaia is a perfect location to experience the rural side of Tuscany. Not in direct distance to larger cities, but beautifully situated in the unique Tuscany landscape. You will need a car for this experience - but by car all major cities are within easy reach. Silvia, the house owner is a very dedicated person, helping with several tips for travelling and eating. Our appartment was newly renovated, using original furniture. We certainly would like to come back in the near future.

9.8

This was a wonderful place to stay. The hosts were fantastic people, very welcoming and helpful. I sincerely I hope that I can return for a longer stay and bring friends. I would give the highest recommendation to La Ghiandaia.

10

We stayed here for the last 3 days of our vacation to relax and it is a beautiful setting in which to do so. The room was huge and the furnishings were genuine antiques that came from their grandmother. Silvia speaks English well and makes sure that you have all the comforts that you need. It was really delightful and we'd definitely stay there again.

9.9

Great hospitality of owner. Perfect country side life with abundent tranquility and easy access to many wine producers in Chianti classico region. I'll come back for another energy-restoring vacation.

9.8

Fabulous place to stay..and very affordable!! Stunning views of Tuscany from most rooms. The service from Silvia (and family) was outstanding....they were always willing to accommodate every request. I will definitely be back!

9.9

After a rather exciting drive on an unmade roadway to the property, we were met by an amazing view over and around the farmhouse of unspoilt hills and countryside. The accommodation so far exceeded our expectations, that we thought we were being given the wrong apartment - a two storey apartment within the farmhouse with a massive farmhouse kitchen/lounge and 2 large bedrooms with a bathroom upstairs. Each apartment has an outside seating area to enjoy the views. The pictures do not do the property justice. All areas were immaculate, the pool area looked new. The family were warm and welcoming and very helpful. Evening meals were provided if you gave sufficient notice and were very good, eating in the former barrel vaulted wine cellar.A perfect spot for relaxation and a good base for visiting this gorgeous region. A little piece of heaven. Our thanks to Silvia and her family, can't wait to go back.

10

La Ghiandaia was best place we stayed in nearly four weeks in Italy. We were two couples traveling together and accomodations like Ghiandaia are the perfect solution. It was very comfortable, and economical. The apartment was spacious, nicely decorated, conveniently located in the Chianti region, quiet, and in a gorgeous setting.. We opted to have breakfast provided and it was an exceptional value and well worth the additional cost. A bonus was the sighting of a number of species of wildlife, including deer, fox, and even a pair of adult wild pigs and two off-spring as they scurried across the highway when we were returning one evening from dinner. The best single feature of La Ghiandaia however, is the young woman, Sylvie Bianchi, who runs it. She was extremely gracious and friendly and gave us excellent advice on train travel, restaurants, wineries, etc...our stay must very much more pleasant because of her. We all loved La Ghiandaia and recommend it enthusiastically!

9.9

Fantastique! Sylvia est tellement rayonnante , que c'est un bonheur de la rencontrer . TOP! Bernard Brigitte Martine

10

FANTASTIC Experience! A slice of Tuscan heaven! Wonderful place to stay (top 5% of all our European stays). Amazing scenic views right from our suite. Ideal central location. Excellent accomodations, fairly priced, comfortable, spotlessly clean, spacious, nicely furnished. Great service, extremely friendly owner/staff (perfect English), insightful tourist info provided with good maps. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Will definitely visit again. Run with family pride and care. Compliments to Silvia and her father.

9.4

Already planning to visit again!