Tuscany Agritourismo

Il Canto del Sole bed and breakfast. Technically its not an agriturismo (no farm income), but its out in the country about 15 km. south of Siena. You'll need a car. Good luck.

Thank you Galen. We will have a car. Any other suggetions for Agritourismo's around Siena area?

We loved staying at La Crociana Agritourisimo located very near Montalcino. We were able to drive to lots of hill towns and the Abbey (5 miles away) for the Gregorian Chant. Can't remember how many miles from Siena it is but a fairly short drive.

Here are a few suggestions for Rick's 2014 Italy guidebook
NEAR ORVIETO
[$$] Tenuta le Velette is a sprawling, family-run farmhouse. Cecilia and Corrado Bottai rent six fully furnished apartments and villas scattered over their expansive and scenic grounds. They range wildly in size--accommodating from 2 to 14 people--but they all nestle in perfect Umbrian rural peace and tranquility (Db apartment-€90-110, see website for details on various villas, 2-night minimum, 10 percent discount for weekly stay, free Wi-Fi, pool, bocce court, 5 minutes from Orvieto--drive toward Bagnoregio-Canale and follow Tenuta le Velette signs, tel. 0763-29090, mobile 348-300-2002, www.levelette.it, [email protected]). They also offer wine-tastings (see listing on page *TK).

[$$] Agriturismo Cioccoleta (“Little Stone”) has eight rooms with cozy country decor, each named after one of the grapes grown in the agriturismo’s vineyards. It’s family-run and offers sweeping views of Orvieto and the pastoral countryside (Db-€75, Tb-€96, Qb-€110, 10 percent discount with this book--mention when you reserve, includes breakfast, free Wi-Fi, 3 miles north of Orvieto at Località Bardano 34 in Bardano, tel. 0763-316-011, mobile 349-860-9780, www.cioccoleta.it, [email protected], Angela Zucconi).

[$$] Agriturismo Poggio della Volara, 12 miles southeast of Orvieto, has seven apartments (sleeping from two to five people) and seven rooms in two buildings overlooking a swimming pool (Db-€100, Tb-€120, smaller apartment-€100, larger apartment-€160, room rates include breakfast but costs €8 extra in apartments, air-con in all but four rooms, free Wi-Fi, tel. 0744-951-820, mobile 347-335-2523, www.poggiodellavolara.it, [email protected], Marco).
Farther Out, Northwest of Todi: [$$$] Agriturismo Fattoria di Vibio produces olive oil and honey, sells organic products, and offers classes and spa services. In August, its 14 rooms rent at peak prices (and for one week during the month they require a minimum seven-night stay, with arrivals and departures on Saturdays). The rest of the year, no minimum stay is required, although rates drop dramatically for longer visits (Db-€200-300, includes breakfast and dinner). Its three cottages sleep from four to six people and rent only by the week (€1,260-2,100/week depending on amenities, see complicated rate table on website, farthest cottage is 20 miles northeast of Orvieto, tel. 075-874-9607, www.fattoriadivibio.com, [email protected]).

NEAR SIENA
[$$] Il Canto del Sole is a restored 18th-century farmhouse turned family-friendly B&B located about six miles outside the Porta Romana city gate. Run by Laura, Luciano, and their son Marco, it features 10 bright and airy rooms and two apartments with original antique furnishings, a saltwater swimming pool, a game room, and bike rentals (Db-€120, Tb-€140, extra bed-€30, apartment-€180-220, air-con, free Wi-Fi, free parking, dinner cooked on request, Val di Villa Canina 1292, 53014 Loc. Cuna, tel. 0577-375-127, www.ilcantodelsole.com, [email protected]).

What is Sacramento CA Rick Steves Travel Group?

Il Canto del Sole is heaven. If you are there when they are serving dinner say yes, yes, yes.

@david - I already provided the name of the Agriturismo in a private message. I'm not sure if vickisez saw my message or not.

Swthanna - There are several cities around the country that have travel meetings. Sacramento is one of them. We meet monthly. That's what David was talking about. You haven't indicated where you live, but if you let us know we can tell you if there is a group near you.

what George said and if they offer dinner, just say yes.

George, are you recommending that Agriturismo based on personal knowledge?

All kinds of recommendations are all over the internet which proves almost nothing. Much prefer to see recommendations based on actual experience. Anyone can search the internet.

If you are looking for a low budget option and don't require all the bells and whistles and are fine will well provided basics, I can recommend Podere Poggetto. We had their large apartment for 6 but they also have a couple of smaller ones. It's out in the country, there's a pool, you can buy their wine and olive oil, use the stone pizza oven in the yard (!!!) and it's a short drive to a number of great small restaurants the host might recommend.

http://www.poderepoggetto.it/indexhomeeng.html

My wife and daughter stayed at the Agriturismo Marciano in Sept of last year. And yes, they both said it was fantastic. My wife emailed home that it was so great and so close to Siena. Taxi in and taxi out for about 12Euro each way. You often need a rental car to tour Tuscany but you don't while you are staying at the Agriturismo and touring Siena. My wife saved 3 days on the rental car cost by not renting one until she was ready to see other parts of Tuscany and Umbria. And YES, you do say yes for the dinner. My wife said it was the best dinner on their 2-week trip to Italy. Roast wild boar and a great wine on one evening.

Along with Andrea, I am a member of the Sacramento RS travel group and a few of our members have stayed there over the past 2-3 years - hence our unusual habit of trying to keep it to ourselves. All of us want to go back.

Thank you to everyone who assisted with Agriturismo recommendations for our Tuscany trip.
We have decided on two:

1. Podere San Lorenzo http://www.agriturismo-volterra.it 2. www.agriturismomarciano.it

We were sent here by another place lots of RS folks liked: www.agriturismo-marcampo.com
I've been using Rick Steve's information since 1979. This was first experience with the RS Blog. Must say it really works great. Bon Voyage.

I can also personally endorse Agriturismo Marciano in Siena. Staying there was an extremely memorable experience and if you can secure a reservation with Agrit. Marciano, I don't think you'd be disappointed in the least bit. Our room was very comfortable and clean and the agriturismo is about a 10-minute drive from walled Siena yet it feels as though it's more remote like you're out in the country! The optional dinners are not to be missed; they are priced very reasonably and all ingredients are either grown there or purchased fresh at the local market and each course is paired with their own wines. The food and wine just kept coming and we really enjoyed the food and the company of other travelers from all over the world. We had a rental car and took day trips to various other hill towns but we loved returning to the agriturismo at the end of each day and relaxing. The owners of the farmhouse couldn't be nicer or more helpful. I understand they also now offer cooking classes which weren't offered when we visited. Have a great trip.

So, for RB Abe - when the poster is asking for agritourismos near Siena and in Tuscany, why do you list places near Orvieto in Umbria?

Ditto, Doug (and nice to 'see' you!); with the plethora of agriturismos around Siena, there's no need to stay anywhere near (nor 12 miles SE of) Orvieto...

...and I'm afraid that waaaay back I started the 'hey, don't tell everyone about my Agriturismo Marciano!' - but only after someone else had already mentioned it in that particulat thread ;-) No one being stingy here, just continuing the inside (now 'outside'?) joke - mentioned nearly every time agriturismos are mentioned here. I know David - he was saying it with a winky-smiley face ;-) Did you really think he expected someone to actually attend 3 Sacto gatherings in order to 'learn The Secret'?

[Don't read this part, but I highly recommend Agriturismo Marciano, AND their dinners. And as someone who trusts Trip Advisor reviews, especially when there are approximately 24,375 (+/- LOL!) 5-star reviews, I don't need to have stayed there personally to recommend them - but I will mention that I haven't stayed there, but that there are overwhelmingly great reviews on TA. As for Ag M, this isn't one of those places with animals to pet, wine grapes to be picked, etc. - if you want a petting zoo, or to help with the olive harvest, look elsewhere...OH, and don't even try to make a reservation there for 2015; I'm planning a trip... ;-) ]

Try Casa Ercole, a true agriturismo, outside the village of Panzano in the Chianti Classico region, about halfway between Florence and Siena. A car is a must.

We are staying in La Lucciolaia agriturismo outside of San Gimignano in July. It looks fabulous and has great reviews. It is a winery operation and the rooms look splendid and overlook the village of San Gimignano. Let me know what you think. Here is the link:

www.agriturismolalucciolaia.it

Have fun looking!

Thank you. We have decided to stay with http://www.agriturismo-volterra.it Podere San Loren near Volterra, and www.agriturismomarciano.it near by Siena. Thanks to everyone for all the great suggestions.
Happy Travels.
Vicki