Tuscan sunsets are beautiful. Rolling hills covered in vines and olive groves as far as the eye can see, individual buildings, villages and towns perched on mountain tops. Cypress trees point like fingers toward blue skies. At this time storms prevail, spectacular displays of lightening and claps of thunder rumble around the valleys and the rain falls straight and true. The hotel is palatial with Romanesque decor, however it's asset is the staff. Ousmane, Linda and Hafida treated us like royalty, obliging every request. Hafida's cooking and cooking lesson were exceptional, an experience not to be missed. A birthday celebration set in the middle of a one week stay was absolutely fabulous, seven courses which included a birthday cake, great Italian wine and live music throughout. There is plenty to see locally, with towns and cities such as Siena and Florence not to far away, but I do recommend some form of transportation as Petroio is very much in the country. However, if you are unsure of what to do, just ask Ousmane! I would definitely visit Palazzo Brandano again, maybe in the spring or summer for a change. Thank you All.

Our friends could not have picked a better hotel. Tucked away on a quiet hilltop with amazing views, excellent food and generously sized rooms. Ousmane and Linda looked after us (a group of 6) for a week and we had a wonderful time. Ousmane made suggestions for pllaces to vist, arranged tastings for olive oil and wine at local suppliers, organiseda cookery lesson with Hafida, booked our tiickets for a trip to Floence and loved to surprise us with additional courses at dinner.

We would love to return - next time when the weather is warmer - so that we could enjoy breakfast and dinner on the terrace under the Tuscan sun. This hotel truly is a great find and it is made all the more special by Ousmane and his staff.

A place that we loved to be in, with unique atmosphere, typical Tuscany. For whom that wants to be in Tuscany and feel Tuscany can arrive to this place. And the most important and meaningful thing is Ousmane that mysteriously feels his guests and grant them what they need at that moment. His is a special man.

Palazzo Brandano is a true gem of a hotel, tucked into a charming small village in Tuscany. We had a wonderful three-night stay here recently. Based on the previous reviews we'd read, we were anticipating that it might be the highlight of our 2.5 week anniversary-and-birthday trip, and it was! Ousmane and Linda were gracious, warm and thoughtful and really strove to make everyone's stay as lovely as possible. They really outdid themselves with a special cake and bottle of wine for my birthday. Since it wasn't completely full while we were there, we received an upgrade to beautiful suite, as well. But I can tell you from seeing Ousmane entertain a toddler with tricks and hugs and "beijos", and hearing him greet a newlywed couple, that it is the philosophy of Palazzo Brandano to make each and every guest feel special.

If you want to stay close to "home", Palazzo Brandano is a comfortable place to relax and read, enjoy later afternoon tea or a drink, or just stroll around the village. If you need suggestions for an itinerary, they will gladly assist, making calls, reservations, etc. We had a car and took day trips to Pienza, Montepulciano, Montalcino and Sant'Antimo -- all about 30-40 minutes away. But at the end of the day, it was sheer delight to return to Brandano.

There are so many places on our travel wish list that we rarely visit the same place twice, but I am sure we will return to PB.