We loved the area and the village itself.

by Greg, U.S.A.

Originally published on Slow Travel

###Location

Casina di Rosa is located in the small village of Civitella Marittima. The apartment is centrally located in the village and the village was located centrally for day trips to Siena, the Maremma, Massa Marittima, the wine towns of Montalcino and Montepulciano, the Etruscan sites of Savana and Pitigliano and hiking in Murlo. We loved the area and the village itself.

###Nearby Amenities

We walked to the delightful bakery in the village. There were small shops, a post office and at least one restaurant that served delicious dinners. A very short drive down the highway brought us to a town with two well stocked grocery stores.

###The House/Apartment

Casina di Rosa is the only apartment in an old building and was located on the second (in Italy the first) floor. It was well maintained and beautifully furnished. It was very quiet and we felt very safe there.

###Garden

There was a tiny outside sitting area in the entrance way to the apartment. There were chairs and table provided and lovely plants in pots to make it feel just the place for morning coffee.

###Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living Areas

The apartment was furnished with lovely old pieces and very useful new ones. It was all the room the two of us could need. It might feel small for more than two adults. It was very clean with plenty of space in both the kitchen and the living room for relaxing.

###Bedrooms/Bathrooms

The bedroom had a very comfortable double bed. Extra blankets and pillows were provided. The bathroom was new and had all the amenities. The owner even furnished a hair dryer. The shower had plenty of hot water and pressure. Towels and paper were provided.

###Kitchen

The kitchen was a real delight. It was fully equipped and furnished with all those little things that make cooking a meal. There were spices, coffee, condiments, and some of the most delicious olive oil we’ve ever had. All the cleaning supplies, kitchen towels and sponges were provided.

###Problems or Bonuses

There were many pleasant surprises in this apartment. Gloria and Marcel welcomed us with a basket of pasta, yummy sauce and a great bottle of wine. There was some delicious Perugian chocolate in the living room and a gorgeous bouquet of fresh flowers in the bedroom. One of our favorite surprises was the washing machine with all the soap and fabric softener there for our use.

On the first night of our stay, while eating dinner by candlelight in the lovely kitchen, we heard beautiful singing coming from up the street. When we walked around the village after dinner we met a large group of the towns’ men eating and drinking and singing at a huge table outside near the church. They were gracious enough to invite us to join them and sang us a song about “Americans.” Gloria told us later that we had shared an annual May tradition of her village.

###Agency and Representatives (and price)

Dealing with Gloria and Marcel could not have been easier or more pleasant. Language was certainly no problem. We paid on line using Paypal. They were very quick to provide receipts and directions and even suggestions to make our stay more enjoyable. They were right there to welcome us and provided us with each of their phone numbers in case we would need them for any reason.

Their website did truly reflect their apartment. It is even better than expected. The price was very reasonable. We were spoiled here. After we left, we did not find such attention to detail again.

###Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?

We would certainly recommend Casina di Rosa to anyone out to see Tuscany by car.

###Things to do in this area

There are so many things to do in this area that one could spend weeks here. There are the wine areas: Chianti and Montepulciano and Montalcino. The beach at Maremma Parco, and the thermal baths are close. Etruscan history and sites are an option. We did some beautiful hikes in the area. Churches, abbeys, hilltowns, the cities of Siena and Florence are all easily reached from here.