Town House Suite Torre di Ponzano - Barberino Val d'Elsa

9.9

The best place to feel like home. My wife and I just had a second honeymoon and stayed in for 6 nights. Beautiful and quiet. Torre di Ponzano is located close to every place you have to go in Toscana (driving obviously, if not, better to stay in Siena or Florence). The surroundings are fabulous and you can relax in the pool if not in the mood to hit the road. We had the double standard room which was fairly big. Everything looks nice and cozy; and the biscuits, milk, water, coffee, tea, muesli, left every morning provides a good breakfast (and is included in the price!). Supermarkets are very close too and good pizzerias and restaurants are a couple of minutes away also. From Ponzano we explored Siena (went to Il Palio!), Florence, Pisa, San Gimignano, Barberino, Greve in Chianti, Vinci but just driving through curvy roads crossing olive fields and vineyards worth it all. You can count on Alba and Andrew for accurate tips and driving directions and they are always willing to assist you. Would I come back? Definitively yes.

10

A beautiful setting for a charming, quiet, country inn. You really get the feel for the Tuscan countryside. Above all, the hospitality of the owners, Sonny and Alba, is beyond compare and makes the inn so incredibly special.

10

This bed and breakfast is such an amazing find, you will be patting yourself on the back for weeks. Everything about the setting is beautiful. The views of the Tuscan countryside are breathtaking (and absolutely lovely to wake up to when you open your curtains). The building has so much charm, history and character. It's like staying in a fairy tale cottage surrounded by grape vines and lavender in the beautiful sunshine. Our room was gorgeous with authentic beams on the ceilings and beautiful stone floors, full air con, a fridge, a microwave, kettle and television (not that you will want to watch it with so much to explore). I can't believe that all this came at such an excellent price. The best thing of all about the b and b is the owners Sonny and Alba. They really are lovely, warm and giving people. They made us feel so welcome and really went out of their way to make our stay as pleasant as possible. They are both very interesting people to talk to and were so helpful, letting us know the best places to eat, the best transportation links, supplying us with directions and even picking us up one time when we got lost (nothing to do with their directions, just us being dippy). The location was perfect for us, although its up in the Tuscan hills it is only 40 minutes drive from Florence in one direction and Sienna in the other. This gave us a real variety. It was lovely to escape the hustle bustle of the city to our countryside retreat at night. We didn't hire a car and found the transportation system in Italy great and managed to get around fine. However this probably isn't for everyone so we would recommend hiring a car if your not into short hikes or are a little older. I can not sing this b and b's praises high enough. Highly recommended.

9.8

BELLISSIMO CASALE CON TANTISSIME SOLUZIONI PER IL SOGGIORNO ( CAMERE E APPARTAMENTI). PROPRIETARI MOLTO SIMPATICI ED OSPITALI. LO CONSIGLIO VIVAMENTE!!!

9.4

Alba (the owner) was amazing. She was not only helpful in drawing maps of the area to find the grocery store and restaurants, she also drove us to a location that we had to go to later that day so that we would know where it was. She is also quite amusing. The property is beautiful and very well maintained. Thanks Alba!!!!!

10

amazing place to stay - very relaxing! Wish we could have stayed much longer - will definitely return one day!

10

The service and advice from the owners was fantastic, above and beyond any others in our entire 4 week stay in Italy. I thoroughly recommend this accommodation to anyone and it exceeded our expectations. The owners are friendly, helpful and genuinely concerned that you have a fantastic holiday. 15 out of 10 really!

9.4

We are a family with 2 children (14 & 12 years old). We rented 2 rooms. We met Alba at the hotel which was hard to find because the street name at changed to Da Vinci and we didn't know. After meeting Alba, she brought us to the Ponzani showing me on the way the restaurants, grocery stores... The 2 rooms were great (# 2 &3), one had a loft with a bed on the floor which the kids really liked. Alba also gave us all the driving & parking indications we needed to go to Florence and the different places we wanted to see. She also gave us a map of Florence. Florence is only 20-30 minutes away. We stayed 3 days and had time to visit Florence and do a bike tour (Lazy sunday ride with Per bike tours - it goes downhill most of the time) which was simply amazing. The views from Ponzani are breathless with the olive trees, the sunflower field and the vineries.We would come back in the late afternoon and go swimming in the pool surrounded by lavender., very relaxing after a busy day. In the rooms, there is a coffee machine, a mini fridge, sink, and a microwave. We would take our breakfast there and go out for dinner in Barbieri village which were ll great, especially the new pizzeria. We had a great time and wouldn't hesitate to go back to Ponzani but we would stay longer to visit Sienna and neighboring villages.

10

Fantastic property with amazing views of the surrounding countryside. Very quiet and relaxing yet within easy reach of main towns and attractions. Definitely need a car to get around and to the supermarket. Great you have self catering facilities. Had a wonderful 3 nights stay and hope to return one day soon!

9.9

We are a family of 4 and we stayed in this property for three nights during our two-week holiday in Italy. Our best memory in terms of hotel experience came from this property. We booked Ponzano because of its good reviews. We were not disappointed. Staying in this property is a unique and unforgettable experience to us because: 1. Friendly hosts – The owner couple, Andrew and Alba, are so friendly and helpful that you feel that they are your friends. 2. Panorama view – the property overlooks vineyards and trees, and has the most beautiful view at sunset. Our favorite activity is to eat in the garden and cuddle up in pool chairs thereafter together, watching the sunset. The 1000 year old stone house is simple and basic, and we don’t have much view from the room, but we like the way it is preserved, and the harmony it has with the whole setting. Our apartment is very spacious. 3. Great service – my son left his watch in the bathroom on the last day, and we realized this only after we drove for hours. I called Alba immediately, who located the watch. Together with Andrew, they took steps to find out the options and discussed the same with us. They took care of everything and we received the watch shortly after we went home. What they have done far exceeded what we expected. Not all of our experience in Italy is pleasant, but Ponzano and the owners left a very good taste in our mouths. I will recommend the property to all my friends.

10

Our room had a marvellous view of scenic Tuscany, the building and surrounding landscaping is so genuine and well kept - it is absolutely beautiful. Alba and Andy are the perfect host(esse)s and we can't wait to be back! Attila and Madlen, Grythyttan, Sweden

9.9

A great base for exploring some of most beautiful mediaeval towns in Tuscany, Torre di Ponzano is in a wonderful hilltop setting with views across olive groves. At the same time it is 5 minutes from a superb restaurant, and it only takes a little longer to drive to the nearest towns, or to pick up the dual carriageway that links Florence to Siena. It's hard to describe how much at home we felt - thanks to the friendly owners who always seemed to be around when we needed them (but at the same time were never obtrusive). On this trip we were unlucky with the weather - but the Tuscan countryside is beautiful even when the sun isn't shining, and when you're staying somewhere that has the feel of a country house hotel spending a little more time indoors isn't so bad. Last time we were in the area we stayed in the centre of Florence, but as you really need a car to make the most of a visit to Tuscany why pay city prices, or put up with city traffic? This was our first visit to Torre di Ponzano, but we anticipate going back again - and again!

9.1

Despite difficulty locating the meeting place (not at the accommodation site) we enjoyed our stay and the location. The owners were charming and gave us every assistance. The room was spacious and well appointed.

10

This was our favourite place on our European trip - fantastic house, fantastic location, and the help & hospitality shown to us by our hosts was even better. Will be recommending this house in Ponzano to our friends.

10

10+ Rating, 5 Star service! An awesome experience, wish we had more time! "Torre di Ponzano" was the highlight of our stay in Italy. Extremely helpful and accommodating Owners ... I was asked not to use their names ;) Janaab, Aap doo-noo ka Bohaat Bohaat Shukriyaa, Baraa Mazaah ayaaiah! Doobarah mulaqaat hoo gee! - Nayyer & Nishat

10

Staying in this house was the highlight of my 3 week trip to Italy. I regret only staying for two nights. I didn't want to leave. I could live there. Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves off of a dirt road, the setting was like a scene out of "Under the Tuscan Sun". The location is perfect for exploring Florence, the Chianti road, or Siena. I'll be back.

9.1

Great place. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Torre di Ponzano. Beautiful surroundings. Great location to visit the hill towns. Not many places to eat in the immediate vicinity.

9.9

During our trip in the Tuscany we've had very interesting experiences regarding accomodation in Italy... Of all the hotels there is only one I only have positive things to say about: it is the Torre di Ponzano. Our stay begun with a very friendly and warm welcome at the Hotel Zucchi (we were lucky enough to hear a short piece on the piano played by the owner. :)) We were provided with all the information about the area, restaurants and stores we could have needed. We were then led to the house and the house and the room just took my breath away. It was as I imagined a tuscan home. Very cozy, warm colors, and just kept to the basics with all the comfort. It was all quiet, surrounded by olive trees with a very nice view. The hotel is easily reachable from the highway. I am only sorry we couldn't stay longer.

8.7

Elba and Andrew are very nice people, and very convenient and helpful. They advised on the surroundings, picked us when it was 21:30 in the night. The rooms are convenient, though there was a water problem at the time of our stay. We didn't feel it, but they requested us to use water sparingly. I wish they will solve this issue for the next visit. We will definitely return :)

9.8

SPECTACULAR!!! An unbelievable property!! The best possible location to tour Tuscany! Sonny was most welcoming and even went with me to show me the local market on our first night and to help with wine and cheese selection. Alba too upon meeting her on day 3 as she helped us pay a local parking ticket! The photos on the web DO NOT do it justice(I have included better ones)...the scenery was simply oustanding and it is hard to imagine a better place on Earth. A must 'go to' destination. Ah, Tuscany!! All the surrounding towns are a short drive away and not to be missed! Spend a week here at least exploring towns such as San Gimignano, Siena, Montepulciano (Rosso Vino!), and of course Florence! Even Barberino Val d'Elsa is worth walking to for some morning pastries!! And if possible, try to enjoy the BEAUTIFUL pool!!!

10

Perfect location between Siena and Firenze but also easy access to wine country and beautiful hill towns. Hosts were so helpful and pleasant. We should have stayed our entire holiday here. Perfect.

10

This was our first trip to Europe and we wanted to be on our own and experience to real Italy not in a tour group. Torre di Ponzano was a god send. The facility was extremely comfortable and beautiful. The location was wonderful. It was somewhat isolated but convenient to everything. The views in any direction belong on postcards. We cannot say enough about the hosts Sonny and Alba. Their recommendations and assistance made the whole trip a success. We are still joking about the "Maps by Alba" hand drawn on typing paper to meet our needs. Thank you so much. Highly, Highly recommended.

9.9

We loved staying here. Absolutely wonderful hosts with impeccable knowledge of the regions delights and a desire to ensure we got to see and do (and eat) from areas of Toscana we may not have ventured to - many thanks Alba and Sonny, we hoe to make the trek from Australia again one day.

10

Alba and Andrew are the best. you must stay here. it is so close to so many wonderful hill towns.

10

We spent 3 nights at the "Torre di Ponzano" and we loved it! This place is really, really nice. Beautiful house, the surroundings and view absolutely smashing. The view from our room ( nr. 5) was breathtaking, and the room lovely. The owners are the most wonderful and helpful people we have ever met: Lots of useful and good information how to get around in the Chianti area. They certainly know how to take good care of their guests! We have already recommended "Torre di Ponzano" to our friends, and we will be back, perhaps already next year. Mille grazie

10

Excellent choice at a reasonable price! You can travel very easily to Florence, Siena and get around the Chianti area; alternatively you can relax in the hotel pool and enjoy the peaceful Tuscany surroundings. Extremely friendly and helpful owners.

10

We had a wonderful stay in Torre di Ponzano. This is a superior place for lazy days in postcard panoramic scenery. By the pool you see San Gimignano in the hillside some kilometers away. Service is excellent and the recommendations we got for restaurants and guidance on directions made our stay even better. The location is fantastic with only 7-8 minutes drive from the Siena-Firenze highway (don't do the mistake of staying in the midst of Chianti, e.g. Greve, as you will spend 40-60 minutes in the car before reaching any motorway when going on a daytrip to Pisa, Montalcino or any of the other must see places.

9.2

fantastic place to stay some days, but unfortunately no breakfast provided

9.9

It is a wonderful place in Toscana ! Well located...30 min. to Florance and 80 min to Pisa or the beach. 25 min to Sienna. Owner are really heplfull !!!! Nice room,little fridge ! Quiet place with pool and what about the view !!!!!!!!! Dont hesitate to go there !!! We will go back again sometime !!! Thanks !

10

My wife and I had the pleasure of staying at Torre di Ponzano. Andrew (aka Sonny) & Alba are genuinely nice ple who made our stay in the Tuscan country side very special. Torre di Ponzano is a gorgeous villa surrounded by olive trees and the tuscan hills. It is centrally located providing easy access to Chianti Road, San Gimignano, Sienna, Florence. We had a minor car accident. Andrew & Alba went above and beyond the call of duty to help us. We thoroughly appreciated what the did and will never forget them. In short, we would come back in a heartbeat!

9.7

Torre di Ponzano is excellent! The apartments where our family of 4 stayed (different apts. on two seperate occasions) were spacious, clean, well-maintained and beautifully appointed. The views of the Tuscan countryside were beautiful. The drive to Florence, San Gimignano, Volterra and many other Tuscan hill towns is easy and convenient Alba and Sonny were gracious, fun, and helpful hosts (booking the Uffizi and Accademia in Florence in a snap). Go here! George Telford

10

Lovely place in the Tuscan countryside - not too far from Florence or Sienna making it a great base. We stayed here 2 nights and did Florence and Pisa, very tranquil - well equipped, ample room for the four of us - we were there in winter but would love to go back in summer and use the pool ! Definately a place we will come back to !

10

A fantastic property in a beautiful location. Very helpful and friendly hosts. We cannot recommend this accomodation highly enough.

9.8

a place i would definitely go again

10

Our stay at the “Torre di Ponzano” was excellent. The accommodations and location were just as advertised on venere.com, the apartments were located at the top of a hill over looking several olive fields just breath taking. The panoramic views were incredible in the mornings and evenings. The apartment was large by European standards and very clean. Alba and Andrew a.k.a. Sonny were extremely helpful in outlining the best routes to some of the neighboring towns, attractions and sites. I ended up staying an additional day and would strongly recommend this location to anyone who wants to experience the real Tuscany country side at a very reasonable price.

10

Torre di Ponzano is beautiful. The owners are friendly and speak English. They recommended excellent local restaurants. Breakfast is not served, but accommodations for making coffee in your room are provided. We found milk and water in the refrigerator. Everyday we found a different box of cookies in our room. They were so good, I packed an empty box to see if I could get them in the states. The location is excellent. It's a short distance to points of interest. If we get back to Tuscany, we'll stay at Torre di Ponzano.

8.2

Dit is een schitterende locatie met een uniek zicht in een uniek gebouw. Het zeer goed onderhouden zwembad en het grindweggetje naar de top van de heuvel waarop het ligt maakt het af. Het is vlakbij San Giminiano (je ziet het liggen in de verte) tussen de olijfgaarden. Wij bezochten van hieruit Firenze en Sienna, een pak goedkoper dan een verblijf in één van die steden.

9.9

An extraordinay stay in an extraordinary site! The perfect decription of a pure Tuscan atmosphere.

9.3

The rooms are spacious and the views are amazing. Alba and Anthony can set you up with wine tasting as well – DO NOT MISS! The pool was very clean and a nice retreat in the hot afternoon. Just beware of the bees that like the folded umbrellas around the pool! Overall, our stay was very enjoyable and we hated to leave. We definitely would stay here again!

10

Andrew and Alba are wonderful hosts. Our welcome from Andrew at the hotel was a nice start to our time in Tuscany. His humour put us in a great state of mind for our stay. We followed him to the farmhouse and all the books we'd read and the movies we'd seen of Tuscany materialised in this one spot. The pool overlooks an olive grove. The pool is clean and (as informed by Andrew - AKA Sonny)had a perfect PH balance. You can see San Gimingnano in the distance. The rooms are clean, spacious and cool for a summer stay. We loved the flyscreens on every window which allowed us to keep the windows open for the lovely breeze at night. My husbands parents stayed in the apartment which was also fantastic. We had a wonderful stay and hope to return someday soon.

10

We are a family of four with two boys aged 16 and 14 and our first visit to Italy. The Torre di Ponzano is beautiful. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery and very peaceful. The accommodation was very clean and spacious and we loved the pool. The owners, Alba and Sonny are extremely helpful and welcoming, and nothing is too much trouble. We would definitely recommend the Torre and hope to return.

9.4

This place is something special. The presentation on the Internet fails somewhat to capture the beauty and quality of this amazing little hotel. It is situated on top of hill in the typical Tuscan landscape between Florence and Siena. Daytrips to these cities and many more interesting places such as medieval towns and the Chianti wine district are easy. Or you might just as well stay at the hotel and enjoy the silence, the nice little pool and the great panorama. I would strongly recommend a stay here to anyone looking for the traditional dusty road feeling, but with the comfort of modern facilities. Finally, the owners provide excellent welcome service and are happy to assist with anything. To Alba and Andrew: Thanks for a lovely stay!

10

the place was great , a very nice experience. the owner gave us direction to any place we needed . we will definetly stay again and recommend it to our friends. in fact i must say that all the places that we've been to through vener were great.

9.9

The place is simply lovely, setted on a hill overviewing the olive trees und wine yards of the chianti..in some distance the towers of san gimignano...wonderful! Andrew recommended meeting at his other hotel from where he guided us to torre di ponzano..that was indeed a good idea, as we surely wouldn't have found it ourselves! But it has a great setting as it is not far from the superstrada to siena and firenze, trips are easy to organise. Torre di ponzano fulfills all the expectations a tuscany tourist has...we were upgraded when we arrived because the room was available..really nice! Just as an information: there is no breakfast served, but there is a fridge in the room and coffee- and tea making facilities as well as a breakfast table...after all the amazing food (all tips by Alba and Andrew were delicious)nearby you don't really long for more than a cappuccino in the morning anyway! All in all a wonderful place to relax and to stay to enjoy the beauty of the tuscan area! We are definitely coming back!

9.0

Es empfiehlt sich, das E-Mail-Postfach noch einmal zu checken, bevor man anreist. Wir bekamen eine Woche vor Anreise eine E-Mail des Eigentümers mit einer Beschreibung, wo wir uns mit ihm treffen sollten, damit man dann gemeinsam zur Unterkunft fahren könnte (ist nicht ganz einfach zu finden - kurz vor Barberino in Richtung Tavernelle geht es rechts einen Feldweg hinein, dessen Beschilderung "Ponzano" nur von Barberino kommend erkennbar ist). Da wir schon im Urlaub waren, als die E-Mail einging, standen wir etwas ratlos vor dem (verschlossenen) Haus. Es stehen aber mehrere Telefonnummern dran, wo man sich melden kann, und der perfekt englisch (aber kein deutsch!) sprechende Eigentümer kam dann auch gleich angefahren und war sehr nett. Trotzdem heißer Tip: E-Mail-Postfach checken, bevor man anreist. Ansonsten super Lage zwischen Florenz und Siena. Man kann von der Unterkunft San Gimignano mit den Geschlechtertürmen sehen (wenn auch ganz klein). Der Pool ist groß genug, daß man auch schwimmen kann und der Blick vom Pool auf die Olivenhaine ist phantastisch. Fazit: Empfehlenswert.

9.6

Special thanks to owners...They make a big difference! The house is located strategically, close to Florence, Siena, San Gimignano and other amazing Chianti villages like Castellina. It is also easy to access supermarkets. The tips for dining provided by the owners are also excellent! So I'd say do not miss it...

10

This place is amazing. Beautifully refurbished medieval building, set on a Tuscan hill, away from all the hustle and bustle. Amazing views of San Gimignano and other hill towns in the distance. You are on a hilltop, with no one else near by, just a farm surrounded by olive groves and meadows. The room was very large, beautiful, clean, big bathroom in the room, incredible views. The owners are extremely hospitable and helpful. When you factor in the price, this place is a WOW! Everything is easy driving distance, 30 min to Florence, Siena, San Gimignano.

10

There were four of us who went to this farmhouse so we took the apartment that was offered. This was our first time in Italy and we rented by what we saw on Venere. I cannot say enough good about the whole experience. What you see is exactly what you get. It's a very laid back atmosphere, very relaxing and the view is just awesome! The rooms were clean and well maintained. The owners were the nicest people I have ever met. My grandson had a birthday while we were there, not only did Alba take us to a bakery to order a birthday cake but when we went sight seeing and didn’t arrive back in time to pick up the cake we found that she had done it for us. Ms. Alba is the best and my wife and I consider her a friend. We are already planning our next trip back.

10

Superbe endroit et accueil très chaleureux. Nous y serions bien restés plus longtemps et nous y reviendrons avec plaisir.

10

A wonderful place, quiet beautiful and in a wonderful area. The owners where friendly and even let the pool open for us an extra week. We´ll come back soner or later.

10

We and our two teenaged sons fell in love with Torre de Ponzano. The owners could not have been nicer or more helpful and the property was even more beautiful than anticipated. Barberino val d'Elsa is in a terrific location, allowing easy access to Florence, San Gimignano, Siena, Castellina, etc. The food in the local trattorias was superb. There's a large grocery store nearby, so we could keep food in the kitchen in our farmhouse. A wonderful vacation.

9.9

Beautiful place, nice big room. Lovely and kind people. You definitely need a car to get around. We would go back in a minute!

10

Absolutely peaceful, relaxing and pleasant stay. Very friendly owners. Would love to have stayed longer to be able to have enjoyed the beautiful surroundings more. Definately recommended to anyone!

9.3

great location ; excellent accomodation ; very friendly.

9.9

Everyone should stay here if you want the real feel of the countryside, peace and quiet, but still access Florence or Siena, or Lucca,etc..(Don't stay here if you want to party) Sonny, is just that, Sonny. Charming, she's in this business because she loves people. And there was breakfast of sorts-she furnishes a "hot pot" to make instant hot water, instant coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Milk, bottled water and Granola cookies(which we broke up and placed in the furnished bowls and ate them as morning cereal)! This location is great.

9.8

Location and propoerty excellent, highly recommended and already planning a return trip to the same place.

9.8

Very well located to visit central Toscany with the good informations and simpathy of the owners. Attractive surroundings.

9.8

I could enjoy my vacation freely in tuscany. Thank you so much!

10

Delightful people - the most welcoming place I have ever stayed. Our room was even upgraded simply because the best room was available, so why not! - What a fantastic ethos. Loads of helpful local info on restaurants and places to visit. Truly relaxing and fantastic place. Thanks!

10

Fantastic place to stay - couldn't believe we had found somewhere to beautiful, scenic, quiet and comfortable, at such a reasonable price! Will definitely be going back as soon as possible. Perfect location and very warm welcome!

9.1

"La Torre di Ponzano" liegt wunderschön eingebettet in der toskanischen Landschaft. Das Haus liegt etwas abseits, ist aber von der Superstrada Florenz-Siena einfach zu erreichen. Es ist der ideale Ausgangspunkt, um die "Highlights" der Toskana zu besichtigen. Die Zimmer sind sauber und vermitteln eine sehr angenehme Atmosphäre. Die Eigentümer des Hotels sind sehr nett und zuvorkommend. Vielen Dank nochmal an die Beiden für die schönen Tage...

9.8

Excellent Property! The 3 nights spent here were the highlight of our two week trip. The owners are interested, helpful and friendly. The setting is exactly as shown in the photos. We'd go out of our way to be able to stay here again.