Enchanting Tuscany Vacation Rental in Medieval Fortress Town Panoramic Views

We loved staying at this well portioned property! It had everything you could ever need and was beautifully decorated. Communication went very well and would love to stay here again sometime.

The location is amazing - situated in the middle of a fortress town with quaint cobblestone streets and wonderful views. We used this as a base to explore Tuscany, and it worked out really well. There are several restaurants nearby, including Café Bijou right downstairs. The apartment is very secure, sitting behind 2 locked doors and up 2 flights of stairs.Communication with the owner was excellent - plenty of detail up front, and on-going checks to make sure our stay was going smoothly. Our group of 4 would definitely stay there again, and we’d highly recommend it to others!

We loved our stay in this quaint and charming hamlet. The apartment is a good base to explore the surrounding area. It is an easy drive to and from the Florence airport. I would highly recommend a visit to Barberino Tavarnelle.

Loved the little hamlet, location was amazing. Apartment was charming.

Absolutely fantastic property in a great location, with the best hostess and host. Can't recommend highly enough!

The apartment was perfect for the two couples to use as a based to explore Tuscony during our 2-week stay. The apartment was small but very comfortable and clean, with common areas to be together as well as separate spaces to have time apart. It had everything we required while we were there including a small but well outfitted kitchen, a washing machine to do laundry, comfortable beds, etc. Dinners were prepared several times in th kitchen and we had all the utensils, pots & pans, and great tools for making fine Italian meals. The surrounding area had many wineries ranging from industrial scale to small farms that grew other fruits and vegetables besides grapes and olives. We enjoyed the farm experiences that paired great food with their fine olive oils and wines. Our favorites were La Spinosa and Casa Emma. The location also allow us to easily visit Florence, Sienna, Greve, and even San Vincenzo for a day.Our host, Cindy, was a delight to work with on the reeervation. She was very responsive to our questions from the time of our booking to during the stay. A highlight of the trip was taking one of the cooking classes Cindy offers. We opted to travel to Florence for the class, which gave us an opportunity to join Cindy on the shopping trip to the local open-air marker for produce and shops for meats and wine. Cindy worked along side the 4 of us to craft a great Tuscon meal that we shared with Cindy and her husband, which was an exceptional treat.

There are not enough words to express how wonderful this home is! Comfortable, clean, and a perfect location. Everything we could ask for and more. Cindy was an amazing host - answering all our questions, providing guidance on places to go and things to see, and helping with those all-important dinner reservations. Everything about our stay was ideal (even the rainy days!). Loved Barberino Val d'Elsa!

The apartment is comfortable and convenient. Surrounded by delicious restaurants and a great place for relaxing after day trips which are endless. Host is very accessible by phone. Two flights of stairs might be difficult for anyone with mobility problems.

If you've been thinking about visiting Tuscany and exploring local wineries and cities within a one- to two-hour drive, including Florence, Siena, and Bologna, this is the ideal central location for you. This home is situated in the heart of an ancient village, offering a unique opportunity to experience local culture and get to know the neighborhood residents. With five restaurants within walking distance, you'll have ample opportunities to dine on local cuisine. Parking is also readily available, just a short walk from the home. This is an ideal spot for those seeking a social atmosphere, where they can meet fellow travelers and locals from other countries. The rooftop terrace is perfect for sipping morning coffee or afternoon wine. Both bedrooms are beautifully decorated and air-conditioned, and the kitchen is fully equipped for preparing gourmet meals. Our landlord was outstanding, providing top-notch service and offering expert recommendations for exploring the local area. We often spent our days driving to nearby wineries for tours, returning home in the afternoon to rest before heading out for dinner at one of the many nearby family restaurants. There is no pool or hot tub. It’s an ancient village, but we drove 25 minutes away and they have public pools for seven euros per adult to hang out all day .This HOME truly exceeded our expectations. in addition, the landlord gives cooking classes that you can pre-arrange with her. you will definitely have fun.

We had a wonderful stay in this little castle hideaway. We had 3 glorious weeks in Italy, and this was our favorite spot of the trip. Cindy was a wonderful host, giving us great tips and very useful connections. The food in the town was also excellent, just steps away from your door. We are only telling our closest friends about this place however, as we want to be able to go back. May we suggest that others that stay here follow the same policy..

Clean, comfortable and well equipped with sweeping views of Tuscan countryside to awaken to. Very responsive host able to assist you. We first stayed ten years ago, only to revisit again we love it so much. The hamlet is a unique, incredible experience.

The village is delightful, with a couple of very good dining options. The views from the bedroom are gorgeous, and the little terrace outside it is lovely for an evening aperitif, but the property has some drawbacks. The stairs are tricky - getting luggage up there is not easy. While accepting that it is very old and charming, there were some things that didn’t function so well for us. We barely used the downstairs bathroom because of the smell.The bedroom got very stuffy at night - the AC was inadequate, and leaving windows open was not an option because of mosquitoes. An insect screen or two would solve that. The dining area is very pleasant but the adjoining kitchen is in need of some attention, with a cupboard door falling off. We were not able to work the dishwasher.It was good to have a well-functioning washing machine and clothes drying was easy on the little terrace. Overall we have to say the stay was a bit disappointing considering the price.

Barberino Val D’Elsa is a charming town, perfect for a slow paced vacation. The rental apartment had everything we needed, including laundry facilities. The views from the bedroom were amazing. Cindy’s directions to the apartment and to check in were detailed so we had no problem. Parking was a 3 minute walk away and free. This rental was a hidden Tuscan gem, definitely recommend.

Great apartment in a picturesque, ancient walled village in the heart of wine country. Perfect location for exploring Tuscany (rental car a must), with excellent local restaurants to enjoy upon your return in the evening. Cindy is an amazing host, very responsive and helpful. She’s also a fantastic cook, and her private cooking lesson was a highlight of the trip.

Great location. Beautiful property. Wonderful host. We’d absolutely stay here again.Highly recommend.

Loved our 5 night stay. Everything was as advertised.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Barberino Val d’Else! First, our accommodations were just as described and our host was helpful and accommodating to our needs and interests. Second, the quaint village appears just as one might imagine an 800 year old stone village would, with narrow streets and walkways. Barberino was a great choice for home base to explore Tuscany. Third, the restaurants all were wonderful — we sampled them all, including some in the countryside and we enjoyed each one. To top it off, there are local wines available for tasting and purchase. If/when we return to Tuscany, we know where we will stay.

This place captured the romance of Italy perfectly! Such charm and great restaurants right across the way.

This might be the perfect flat and location in central Tuscany. The medieval village is so charming, and the locals are very friendly. Food and drink are within easy walking distance and its central location makes a short trip to everywhere you could want to go in Tuscany and surrounding areas. The flat is located on the top floor and the views from the bedrooms are spectacular. We have never been disappointed staying here and the host is always available to help if needed.

Off the beaten path. Located inside an old fortress. 40 minute drive from Florence. Beautiful countryside with grapes and olives! Ask owner about private cooking class.

Beautiful area and very cool location in a medieval village. Apartment has 2 suites with their own full bathrooms. Perfect for 2 couples or with older kids. Kitchen is small but well set up with full size fridge, small oven, microwave and gas burners. Location is amazing in the heart of Tuscany grape, wine and olive growing. Beautiful scenery and views. Several restaurants in the village and within walking distance plus small grocery store. Highlight was discovering the local soccer club’s fund raising restaurant - outstanding wood fired oven pizzas plus pasta and charcuterie amd €4.50 pitchers of white wine plus helping out the locals. Great fun! Cindy also arranged a cooking class in the apartment which was great fun. Be prepared though - volume is high - plan to eat leftovers for at least one more day - maybe 2! Be prepared - the stairs to the apartment are steep and high. Anyone with mobility issues will have problems. Also in the hot summer the apartment is hard to keep cool. A/C units can just keep up in bedrooms but the living area is a challenge. We had 2 fans going blowing from the 2 bedrooms to cool the main living area. It was 35 to 40 C outside so understandable but need to be prepared. If you are driving the roads are hilly, curved and narrow. We found the drivers pretty good in the rural area compared to the cities in Italy. All in all a beautiful and restful area to stay in

This property is in the middle of a small walled village. The property is set along the ‘Main Street ” within the village walls and is on the top two floors of a traditional “townhouse “. It is well equipped and both bedrooms have air conditioning. There is a small terrace on the top floor and the views from both bedrooms and the terrace are stunning. Just be aware that there are a couple of flights of stone stairs up to the apartment however it is well worth it! There are a number of restaurants in the village some with uninterrupted views across the beautiful countryside. There is a small ‘sports bar” , just outside the walls, which sells great coffee, pastries and fresh bread. It became our morning routine to wander to the bar and sit outside with our coffee watching the world go by. The owners were very welcoming and great fun. You have to park in a car park just outside the village. We never had any problem getting a space. The surrounding area is beautiful and there are many hilltop villages to explore. We visited both Siena and Florence while we were there. Florence has a great “park and ride”facility just off the motorway as you approach the city from the south. There is plentiful parking and a tram service in to the city. This saved the hassle of trying to find parking in the city. We had a great time staying here and experiencing more of the traditional Italian way of life. We would return in a heartbeat.

This was a great opportunity to stay in a medieval town that truly felt surreal. Many great restaurants were within walking distance, and there was beautiful scenery all around. This was also a nice location to be able to explore Siena, San Gimignano, and Florence. It was a very hot few days, and the air conditioning units in the apartment did what they could, but we made the best of it.

Barberino is a very small hilltop town, with several artisan shops and restaurants, with beautiful views of the countryside. The apartment is two floors with a small terrace perfect for reading or a meal, from which you can enjoy the sunset. Cindy and her husband renovated the flat, adding light and double windows from the primary bedroom that look out over the Tuscan countryside. Perfect setting for enjoying the town or exploring the Florentine countryside.