Testimonials
| Jun 19 2010 |
| We stayed the last week of June and loved our visit. Podere Il Doccio, Casa Ocra is located in a wonderful area surrounded by woods, grape vines, and a running stream. It's in a secluded area which makes it quiet and peaceful. Town is close-by, approximately five miles away which has restaurants, gas, and transportation connections. Our villa had all the comforts of home including WiFi, and a great outdoor porch. |
| Vacation Date |
|
Jun 19 2010 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Jun 04 2010 |
| We had a fabulous stay location is very handy yet rural. Could be a little cold at night if you visit out of high season our stay early June could have done with extra blankets. |
| Vacation Date |
|
Jun 04 2010 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| May 24 2010 |
| Beautiful, quintessential Tuscan property! Rolling hills, vineyards, olive trees, small villages, good food and wine! If you want a peaceful vacation yet close to the bigger cities, you'll like this villa... |
| Vacation Date |
|
May 24 2010 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Apr 03 2010 |
| We had the most lovley holiday in in casa Ametista. Our hosts were wonderful and helped us get around by giving us great tips. They thought of all the small details to make our vacation perfect. We got a baby bed for our 2YO, a potty and toys which was very thoughtful. We enjoyed a lovely cooking lesson and dinner with the host which is also a memorable experience. If we go back to Toscana we are sure to come back to Podere Il Doccio. The location was great- close to many atractions but also very quiet and peaceful. Thnak you for a lovely holiday!!! Elizabeth and Eran, Israel |
| Vacation Date |
|
Apr 03 2010 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Sep 28 2009 |
| A wonderful place to stay! A car is a must but this is a great place to stay to visit the local villages and towns of Tuscany. Ask for directions to Iper Coop, a great store to buy what you need to cook your own Italian feast. The cats and dogs were a pleasure to have around, they kept us entertained as we sat out each evening on our patio drinking some of the delicious wine from the vineyard. Thank you Marina and Francesco for your warm hospitality. Scott/Veronica - Oman |
| Vacation Date |
|
Sep 28 2009 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Sep 06 2009 |
| We had a wonderful time and can recommend Il Doccio to anyone. Please take the cooking lesson! |
| Vacation Date |
|
Sep 06 2009 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Aug 08 2009 |
This is a simply lovely place to stay, particularly if you've got kids. It is a family-run establishment, run by Marina and Francesco, who could not be more welcoming. Marina teaches Tuscan cooking for a living and part of the experience is the offer of a Tuscan cookery course, followed by a traditional Italian evening meal with the family!
The facilities are lovely and homely apartments, each with a private area. There are all the cooking implements, plates, dishes, tools you could wish for. Bedrooms are good sixe and in our apartment there was choice of 2 showers. There is a simply lovely communal swimming pool sunk into the middle of a large grassy area which is lovely to sit at and perfect for keeping an eye on the kids. We couldn't improve on the experience if we tried! Thanks you, so much, Marina and Francesco (and your kids) for a simply perfect experience and we would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone! |
| Vacation Date |
|
Aug 08 2009 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Apr 11 2009 |
| Podere Il Doccio was such a fantastic property! We stayed in Villa Terra- and really enjoyed the huge terrace, lovely bedrooms and very handy kitchen! The location was fantastic although a little hard to find! It was a great base for driving around Tuscany- although we loved the villa so much that we didn't really want to go out! The property owners, Marina and Francesco were really great. We loved our cooking class with them- and having dinner with, and meeting the family. We will definitely be back! |
| Vacation Date |
|
Apr 11 2009 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Oct 14 2007 |
| Owners were extremely gracious and helpful, and were right next door! |
| Vacation Date |
|
Oct 14 2007 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Sep 22 2007 |
Francesco and Marina could not have been more welcoming and friendly. They really made us feel at home, and their cookery lesson was superb. We even took part in their annual grape harvest!
The Villa is ideally located for country walks, visits to nearby villages and towns. It is a really tranquil setting, away from the city bustle, for those that like that sort of holiday. There are good restuarants and other shopping facilities nearby. |
| Vacation Date |
|
Sep 22 2007 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Jul 28 2007 |
Podere Il Doccio was perfect for our family of four--us & 2 teenagers! The area is just breathtaking, and the villa was so welcoming & comfortable when we returned from a busy day exploring the sites of Italy. The location is wonderful because it is peaceful, quiet, and relaxing, yet convenient to the autostrada and a train station. It truly was our home away from home during our vacation! It was so nice to come back and relax on the terrace, under the stars, with a delicious glass of Franceso & Marina's wine!
Owners Francesco & Marina are most helpful, and provided us with wonderful recommendations for area restaurants, markets, and driving directions! This was a vacation we will not forget, and we hope to return again someday.
And Abby & Lucia.....we can't thank you enough for your prompt and
helpful service. You answered all of our questions, and we found
everything just as you had described/suggested! We would recommend
your service to anyone who is looking to rent a property in Italy.
We hope to do business with you again in the future.
The only "downside" to the villa, however, is the very long, bumpy, and partially unpaved driveway to the property....takes getting used to after driving up & down several times!
|
| Vacation Date |
|
Jul 28 2007 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Jul 21 2007 |
| recommended from any point of view. Staying in this house and being hosted by the owners of th villa really gaves a touch of the real Italy and Tuscany. |
| Vacation Date |
|
Jul 21 2007 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Jan 29 2007 |
| It is centrally located to see many sites in the Tuscany area. The family at the property couldn't be nicer and they speak excellent english. Having a cooking lesson and spending the evening with the family was on the top of our highlights of the trip. It was hard to find a great meal after the one we had with them. Marina is an excellent cook and the family is fantastic! |
| Vacation Date |
|
Jan 29 2007 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Oct 01 2006 |
Our stay at Podere Il Doccio was very enjoyable -- quiet location away from public roads, but close to many Tuscan attractions (easy to visit Florence by train, and easy drives to Cortona, Sienna, Assisi, etc.) Situated in beautiful Tuscan countryside (vineyards, olive groves, etc.), close to some nice mountain areas.
Marina and Francesco were wonderful hosts -- a highlight of our trip to Italy was Marina's cooking class, and especially the ensuing dinner with their family (complete with wine, olive oil and grappa that they had produced.) Very charming people, very helpful and friendly!
The nearby towns offer a number of nice Tuscan restaurants -- Osteria del Acqualina (very close by) is truely outstanding, and Ostorio Il Canto del Maggio (nearby in Penne) is also excellent. Il Solito Posto in Terranuova was good as well.
In the interests of "truth in advertising", it should be noted that if your ideal is a plush villa with a panoramic view over the Tuscan countryside, Podere Il Doccio may not be for you. It is a rustic (but nicely remodeled and furnished) old house located about a km down a one-lane gravel road, in a deep valley on a small stream. It has a very nice setting in the midst of a wooded area, adjacent to a small vineyard, and very quiet and peaceful - but no "long" view. |
| Vacation Date |
|
Oct 01 2006 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Sep 12 2006 |
| Beautiful area with some great small villages nearby and some scenic drives. The property owners were hard to track down to ask questions and get help from. Kitchen/Dining area very small and the bed is uncomfortable. |
| Vacation Date |
|
Sep 12 2006 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Aug 12 2006 |
| Without a doubt the villa makes for an excellent break, where one can do as much or as little as you'd like. So good are the facilities at the property, you could spend a week by the pool, being completely lazy. Alternatively, with the great location, you can really use the area and explore all around. You really can make of the break what you want. |
| Vacation Date |
|
Aug 12 2006 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Jul 22 2006 |
| Francesco and Marina are the most talented and gracious hosts. They went out of their was to help with travel, directions and suggestions. The cooking class and dinner was an unexpected highlight; the Il Doccio chianti a treat. We will return (but not in July)! |
| Vacation Date |
|
Jul 22 2006 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Jul 01 2006 |
| Had a lovely relaxing week at Podere Il Doccio. Casa Ocra was perfect for our family of four with the extensive balcony facilitating hours of eveving enjoyment. The poool area is great for families with space for other activities such as frizbee or football in addition to the great swimming facilities. |
| Vacation Date |
|
Jul 01 2006 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Jun 17 2006 |
| What a beautiful property set in an amazing environment, the sort of place you never want to leave. We only had a week and this definitely wasn't long enough! We went with friends and didn't go out in the evenings as had two very young children with us, instead we made the most of the shared bbq facilities, eating on the veranda and drinking the farms chianti - heaven! The owners were lovely and if we weren't in their gorgeous pool we were out visiting nearby cities such as Florence and Sienna. A very good time was had! |
| Vacation Date |
|
Jun 17 2006 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Jun 10 2006 |
| The property was delightful, and the owners were wonderful! Next time we'll tour less and spend more time enjoying the villa and it's offerings! |
| Vacation Date |
|
Jun 10 2006 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Sep 17 2005 |
| The villa was quiet, clean and authentic - and exceeded our expectations. The main areas we wished to visit were all within driving distance. The area was very pretty with the hills as a backdrop and very quiet and peaceful |
| Vacation Date |
|
Sep 17 2005 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Aug 31 2005 |
| Les propriétaires sont charmants et nous sommes très satisfaits de notre séjour dans la villa. |
| Vacation Date |
|
Aug 31 2005 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Aug 20 2005 |
Once again we had a wonderful two week holiday at Il Doccio. This is now the third two week holiday we have had at this beautiful place over the past five years. Marina, Francesco and family made us most welcome and despite the fact we have now visited three times, we have found new places to visit. Francesco has been extremely helpful in advising us of where to go and what to see.
Il Doccio is well placed to visit Sienna, Florence, and Arezzo. We also have had great pleasure walking in the hills and and Frecesco has advised us how to drive high into the hills (several thousand feet) along the white roads. We have walked along the ridges many times and particularly at the cross and communication station. We were amazed to find wild horses and pure white cattle at the summit.The views are amazing.
We really did enjoy the Tuscan cooking lessons run by Marina. It was great to prepare a truely Italian meal for several hours and then enjoy eating it under the stars with with Marina and Francesco. All washed down with red wine produced from their vinyard. The swimming pool at Il Doccio is simply glorious and each time we have visited we went for a swim before breakfast and on returning from visits to the hills and towns.
Francesco, Marina and family are really lovely people and their vinyard at Il Doccio is simply glorious. We have enjoyed every minute of the time we have spent at this beautiful place.
|
| Vacation Date |
|
Aug 20 2005 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| May 10 2005 |
| Great location in the country. I little hard to find, but well worth it. |
| Vacation Date |
|
May 10 2005 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|