We were graciously hosted by Paola and Fabrizio at Villa Calcinaia during our stay in Italy. This has been a second home for my boyfriend for many years when he visits the Florence/Tuscany area annually. It was my first trip and he insisted on giving me a true, authentic and utterly romantic Tuscan experience at Villa Calcinaia! As our car climbed the hill from Lastra a Signa, my heart swelled, taking in the landscape and the stone wall lined road; rolling hills of olive groves, vineyards, cypress trees, mimosa and magical umbrella pines. It was the scene you picture when you set your heart on seeing and experiencing Tuscany! The terrain naturally draws you in, with filtered light and color, but as the gate opens to Villa Calcinaia, you are officially welcomed to Tuscany! A cypress lined driveway leads you to their beautiful homestead, where you are tucked in to an olive grove. This is where your journey officially begins; with a beautiful place to call home while you explore this magical region called Tuscany. Paola made her home, Villa I Cipressi (a converted barn on her family’s property), our home for a week. Her heart was with us everywhere we went, with recommendations, tips and best wishes that went beyond any type of “hosting” an Airbnb would typically provide. It was a perfect blend of privacy, personalized guidance and genuine interest in giving us a memorable experience! Paola loves her home and her Tuscan roots and goes out of her way to bring that love to every guest she welcomes! It’s perfectly located; “moments away” from the village of Lastra a Signa, 15 minutes from the center of Florence and minutes from the train and Autostrada/Superstrada; making visits to neighboring Tuscan cities and towns easily accessible (Pienza, Montepulciano, Sienna, Lucca). Whether it’s your first time in Tuscany or you’ve been called back (and you will be), Villa Calcinaia is the place to call home while you explore this magical region; rich in history, architecture, people, food, wine that will create memories and friendships to last a lifetime.
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Date of stay: February 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have never stayed in a guest rental as beautiful, accommodating and romantic as this one was for both my wife and myself. A short drive to Florence for the day, rest, wine and good company by the pool in the late afternoon. A terrific pair of hosts with cooking lessons thrown in for good measure. I want to return here every year.
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Date of stay: August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I have travelled throughout Italy for 2 decades and the one place we go back to year after year is Villa i Cipressi. Paola Cinelli has the highest standard for guest comfort and attention to detail; and her rental properties are a Pure Pleasure to stay in again and again. Her decor, her pool, her comfortable kitchen, and the rapport with which she connects her guests -- this is travel at its best. I see that Paola's reviewers agree with me -- with the exception of a single person who was perhaps overwhelmed by traveling with two tiny children. I know the pictures are not Photoshopped because I contributed some of them; and I have never had an issue with Paola's wifi, or her TV service (though I don't really travel to Tuscany to watch TV)! My review: a good time at a great value and a Pure Pleasure!
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Date of stay: November 2014Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Il Fiennelino ('The Little Barn') or any of the rooms in the villa will give you a...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our family of 6 stayed in the 4 bedroom Villa Calcinaia for an enchanting week. The villa offers everything you could hope for, two kitchens, 4 bathrooms (with hair dryers and amenities), washer and dryer, plasma tv, a cell phone for our use while in Italy, and even the use of her Tom Tom. Paola's tour of "her Firenze" was enchanting, providing us access to places others couldn't visit. She knew the best place for lunch and gelato, off the beaten path that tourists wouldn't have been able to find. The week we were visiting, two other families were staying with children my grandkids ages, so it was wonderful they had playmates after a long day of touring the Tuscan countryside. The swimming pool was a welcome treat after long days in the hot sun. Paola always had wonderful suggestions to make our day trips even better. She had tips we never would have known about. She just opened a new villa, making it three that she has available for rent. I would suggest you book early for a delightful week in this centrally located paradise. Close to major attractions, but tucked away amid olive groves for a quiet respite in the evening.
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Date of stay: July 2013
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Trip type: Traveled with family
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I have stayed with Paola three times now, when returning to Italy. Paola’s place is so beautiful, that we actually had our wedding on her property. What a truly wonderful experience. How amazing is Paola? Let me count the ways. First, Paola has an incredible sense of design, which serves to emphasize and highlight the beauty of nature. Every apartment and every corner of the property is gorgeous – you can even be standing in the driveway or the car park, and you will have a beautiful view! You are filled with a sense of peace and nature, both inside and out on the grounds. Second, Paola is one of those rare individuals who has an infinite zest for life, and somehow shares that joy with you. It is great to have optimistic and happy people like that in your life, and you deserve that especially when you are on vacation! Third, Paola genuinely cares about you, when she interacts with you. She is not just running a business – she is authentic in her care for her guests, and it is clear that being a superb host is core to who she is. Paola did a huge amount of extra work to accommodate our wedding which was not even remotely beneficial for her business, but rather because she wanted to share her genuine sense of support and love. Lastly, all of the regular ingredients that make for a great stay are present – the close proximity to Florence, great restaurant and gelato nearby, simple logistics, etc. Paola, we want to thank you for the perfect wedding day. You will be a part of our family history for many decades to come, and we are so deeply, deeply thankful to you for the support that you gave to us as we start our new life together. Sending lots of love, – A and H.
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Date of stay: May 2016
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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Wonderfull place to stay in Tuscany . The place seems to be paradise. We slept in the small Vila. And felt their at home. The are no words to describe Paola hospitality . She is a spacial person. The place is closed to main roads and 15 minutes from the Florence center. There is a huge supermarket 3 minutes driving from the villa. Paola has a lot of tips and recommendation where to go and what to see.
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Date of stay: April 2013
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I and another couple stayed here for a week in May 2011 as part of an extended Italian holiday that also took us to the Cinque Terre for a few days, to Emilia Romagna for a few more days, and to Rome for several more days. Easily, our week at the villa, luxuriating under Paola's loving care and guidance, was the high point of the entire trip.
Let's start with the essentials: You'll need a car . . . but that's about it. The house is completely equipped, including all kitchen appliances, a clothes washer, satellite TV, and super-strong wi-fi. For ANYTHING else in the world that you might need, there's a spectacular Iper-Coop just a few minutes away in town. (Even if you don't need anything, it's worth a trip!)
The car will get you into town, or to any of the many other towns (like Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano, Sienna, Assisi, etc.) all located within an hour or so of the villa. You can, of course, also take a car into Firenze, but the train is the way to go. The station in Lastra a Signa is only a five-minute drive from the villa, and the ride in to Firenze takes only 17 minutes. (NOTE: The last train back from Firenze is @ 9:00pm. We missed it one night, and had to take an 11:30 train to the Signa station on the other side of the river, and then walk back to our car which was parked at the Lastra a Signa station. It was no big deal.)
As for the villa, I can only confirm what the other reviewers have already said. Sitting atop a hill, overlooking our own olive grove and beyond that, the hills of Tuscany, it's truly magical. Access to the villa property is through a large gate, located a few hundred meters from the villa itself, and walking or driving that rustic road, lined with towering cypress trees and cutting through the olive grove, was a special moment. (We walked that road several times, in fact, heading to or returning from what became our favorite restaurant, Edy Piu, which is a few hundred more meters down the road from the villa property.)
Paola's "Welcome Wagon" of wine, pizza, bruschetta, cakes and other goodies was a really pleasant start to our week, and her personal guided tour of "her" Firenze was another great touch. The pool was brisk but enjoyable (I think we "opened" it for the season!), the landscaping was lush, and the entire setting was our vision of what a Tuscan villa should be.
If we have any regrets, it's that we didn't spend more time just hanging around, strolling the grounds and the immediate vicinity around the villa. We went to church with some of the locals on Sunday, at Santo Stefano a Calcinaia, a 13th century edifice that's another nice walk from the villa, and there were several other close-in sights that we wish we'd had more time to visit.
We'll be going back, though.
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Date of stay: May 2011
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Both bedrooms have breathtaking views.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I cannot find enough adjectives to accurately convey this Italian villa experience. When I envisioned traveling to Florence, this was everything I'd imagined, and far more. The villa is perfectly situated just a few minutes' drive from Florence, yet tucked away on the top of a hill surrounded by olive and fig trees, so you feel as though you're deep in the Italian countryside. The villa managed to combine quaint Italian charm with every modern amenity we could want, including American-style bathrooms.
Our hosts, Paola and Fabrizio, couldn't have been more wonderful. Every morning, Paola arrived at our villa with armfuls of fresh-baked croissants and pastries. She brewed rich Italian coffee while she helped us plan the day's sightseeing. She drove us through the area, showing us many of the sights and restaurants we'd never have discovered on our own. By the end of the trip, Paola felt like family, and we still keep in touch.
If you're going to rent a villa in Tuscany, this is the one to rent. But if you do stay here, you absolutely have to visit Gippino (another Paola recommendation), because it's literally the best gelato in the universe!
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Date of stay: September 2010
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paola and Fabrizio are great hosts in amazing apartementos in the middle of Tuscany. You don't need any quides, just ask Paola. Love the restaurants nearby. You just have to check Da Delfina, it is a must. And You need a car. The everything is perfect.
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Date of stay: June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in Villa in spring 2017 for a extended weekend. Very good, silent location, nice owners and the best olive I have ever get. We came by plane to Bologne and then took the rented car. Villa in Lastra la Singa is great place to start one day trips to Florence, Siena and another sights in Tuscany. We also used train (5 min from villa to train station) to visit Florence, Piza and even Roma (2 hours with fast train). We recommend to visit local restaurant La Musica (dont judge it by the first impression)!
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Date of stay: June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"Il Fiennelino ('The Little Barn') or any of the rooms in the villa will give you a completely relaxing base from which to explore Florence and Tuscany."
There are more places to choose from in the Lastra a Signa area.
LOCATION
ItalyTuscanyProvince of FlorenceLastra a Signa
NUMBER OF ROOMS
2
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Are there any historical sites close to Florence House Rental - Villa I Cipressi & Villa Calcinaia?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Il Mulinaccio (3.9 miles), Tumulo Etrusco di Montefortini a Comeana (3.2 miles), and Abbazia di San Martino in Campo (4.5 miles).
