If you are looking for a true Italian Tuscany experience, you will discover this at Villa II Paradisino. From the moment you arrive you will be welcomed as part of the family. The villa's accommodation is spacious, uniquely furnished and offers everything you will need for a comfortable stay. For those who like to cook there is a wonderful kitchen with all cooking amenities and you are welcome to use all the fruit and produce available on their farm. Constanza and her sister Serena, upon request, will provide you with suggestions for tours, wineries to visit, restaurants methods of transportation etc....they are always available for your daily needs. Their suggestions were all excellent. A 10 minute walk to the station and a short train ride gets you to the heart of Florence, Pisa and other destinations. After a busy day in the City you return to the peace and serenity of the villa and it's surroundings. PIzza night in the courtyard should not be missed, a real highlight. The Tuscan dinner is a great opportunity to meet other guests and dine in the main house which is decorated with all the original furniture. What more can we say....this was an unforgettable vacation, thank you Constanza, Serena and family. Nova Scotian Canadians.

It is impossible to describe the magic of the Villa il Paradisino; you have to go there and feel it. A working villa, a farm, it is a thoroughly modern haven in a 16th century setting. Sheltered behind its walls, it manages to take you back in time without leaving the present. It is both restful and energetic. Comfortable and ancient. The variety of fruit, vegetables, spices and herbs grown on the 10 acres seems limitless -- and maybe is, since the family keeps experimenting with varietals. The magician behind the villa is the proprietress, Costanza, a mid-thirties member of the ownership family. She will welcome you personally and see that you have whatever you need or want. There is nothing Costanza can't or doesn't do for her guests. A few special words about Costanza's cooking classes. Take one. The first of five hours are spent in the gardens and orchards as she explains the various vegetables and herbs, what they are good for and how best to use them. You pick them as you go along to use in the class. In the kitchen, Costanza teaches with energy, humor and a deep knowledge of traditional Italian and Tuscan dishes. You cook a five-course meal of your choosing from a menu. That meal is then served to the other guests and to Costanza's family. (No pressure there!) The wines, grown on the premises as is the Extra Virgin olive oil -- don't use anything else, even in cooking -- is first rate. And get Costanza to hold a pizza party for you, which she and her sister Serena will also cook. Endless kinds of pizza flow from an outdoor, ancient wood-heated bread oven. I have visited there three times, now, and enjoyed it more each time. The Villa il Paradisino is an unforgetable memory and should be an indespensable stop on any trip to Itraly.

A lovely villa, great location and amazing people there to help make your stay memorable. My 2 sisters and myself went here to celebrate my 50th birthday. We stayed 5 nights and had a wonderful time. We were so impressed by the villa that we can't wait to return. We did the cooking course which I feel was the highlight of the stay. The accommodations were kept to a very high standard and exceptionaly clean. The owners were so gracious and hospitable that we felt more like family than guests. There is nothing you'd want for here. Everything and more is at your finger tips. The wine they make is beautiful and is too the olive oil. The fruit and vegetables on the property is there to pick at your will. I greeted each morning with a fresh pomegranate and persimmon/sharon fruit (depending where you're from) picked just outside my villa door. The lady running the Villa will warm your heart and you will hate to say good-bye. Her voice will remain in your head like a song you just can't seem to kick. My sisters and I tried our best impressions of her during the rest of our trip. But only Costanza can be Costanza! Her sister Sereena was also a very impressive woman with such grace and elegance. Her kindness from the moment she picked us up from the train station put us a easy from our long journey. She organized a pizza for us as we arrived late and had not gotten groceries to make our dinner. If you want a magical stay in Florence this could just be the place for you. It is located in a small town close enough to walk to the train station to make you way into Florence. The town has some wonderful coffee shops and bakeries. There is many other shops intown also. Once you find your bearing it's easy to get around. There is a lovely restaurant the ladies may recommend to you. It has lovely food and a nice atmosphere. It's a walk away but we found it a bit long but it might have been because we were wearing highheels?
We miss the villa and the wonderful people that work there. (Not sure if I can say that about the rooster. haha!) I can't wait to return and bring some more people with me to show them a little piece of heaven on earth.

Costanza's cooking class was the highlight of our two weeks in Tuscany. When we entered the gates and started our tour of the estate we were instantly taken with her charm, knowledge, warmth and sense of family tradition. As we picked herbs and vegetables for our dinner, her degree in Agriculture was evident as this tour of the estate gardens and orchards became a fascinating lesson on Italian organic gardening, preparing seasonal foods, and the bounty of their 6 hectare property. Our class took place in the kitchen of her family's 15th century home. We arrived at 3:30 pm and by 8:00 had prepared a dinner for 14, as we had the option of dining with other guests of the villa. The elegant dining room and table setting had been prepared by her mother and as we sat down we were grateful that we had experienced this Italian treasure.