We learned about Fagiolari from friends who had stayed there several times in the past. Giulietta has spent many years creating a quiet oasis in the Tuscany countryside. It lies at the end of a rough dirt road and was originally the workers' house for the villa that you drive past on the way to Fagiolari.

The grounds are beautiful and restful. You'll want to schedule at least one afternoon (or even a whole day) to have a picnic, relax by the pool, and enjoy the solitude.

Our room was rustic, but reasonably comfortable. It was in a small building behind the main house, just across a small walkway, 10 steps from the dining room and kitchen.

Giulietta conducts cooking classes on the property. You can participate if you want, or just enjoy the results as we did. If you let Giulietta know ahead of time, you can eat dinner at Fagiolari. She and her students create a wonderful feast for a communal table.

Much of Chianti can be easily visited by day-trips from Fagiolari. Giulietta furnishes each guest room with a wonderful little guide that gives detailed directions to towns, restaurants, and other attractions in the area.

Keep in mind when you book at Fagiolari that your quiet rustic experience can also come with bugs. During our own stay, we did battle with a swarm of stinging ants, despite the window screens. This type of thing probably doesn't happen often, and it doesn't keep us from recommending Fagiolari, but take note that it's a possibility, in case you really don't like bugs.

If you are going to Tuscany and are nervous about chooisng accomodations, (as we were), you can relax now...stay here and you will be delighted. Guilietta is a most delightful hostess and she welcomes you into her home as if you were family. The farmhouse is at the end of an unpaved road and to get to it, you drive past all of the beautfiul sangivese grape vineyards. Nestled at the end is her bucolic farmhouse, amidst cypress trees and other foliage. You are realxed immediately..We arrived around 6PM and had pre- arranged to have diiner served. It was one of the best meals of our 2 week trip. Turns out that Guilietta is a wonderful chef and hosts cooking classes that people come to from miles around. We took a class during our 5 day stay and you not only get a memorable lesson and learn some cooking tricks, but you also get a cookbook and an apron.

Other things to know: there is a pool so bring a bathing suit, drive slowly on the un-paved road..a couple we met got a flat tire on the way in from driving so fast.

Panzano is in the heart of Tuscany and an easy day trip from almost every Tuscan town you would want to visit. Make sure to allow time to spend a day in Panzano and Greve in Chianti market square, (neighboring ville). Both are adorable! Our only regret is that we could not stay longer....It was fabulous.

If you are looking for a rustic Tuscan experience you must stay at Fagiolari. I had stayed 2 nites in late July with my partner and Guiletta is a great host.

We were put into Room "R" which is a split level apartment. The living room and toilet/shower is upstairs and the bedroom downstairs. The room is connected to the main house of the property, so not much to walk to get to breakfast! There is a nice patio outside the room for you to sit and have meals, chill out. I even saw some fireflies one night.

The breakfast was adequate...cornflakes, dried fruit, apples, pears, yoghurt, bread, cheese. The Italians generally do a light breakfast.

Guiletta had cooked us a fabulous 4 course dinner complete with her own Chianti wine (mild but very tasty). So do try to make it back to the property to try her dinner!

Watch out for the mosquitoes though...got bitten even with a mosquito netted window. There was a nice pool at the property but did not get the chance to use it.

Finding the place is challenge though. And the last kilometer of the journey to the property is a VERY rough gravel road. But the trip is certainly worthwhile.

I had stayed at another farmhouse in Montespertoli before and found Fagiolari much more homey than the previous. As you should as Guiletta resides at Fagiolari.

The owner is lovely and very helpful but we found the room average and the road to the house one-lane and over a kilometer of bumps and ruts (we were told that it is not possible to pave ).