October 2008, Milan, Italy
Sonia
Perfect complement...

Podere Palazzo is the perfect complement for a get-together with friends and a romantic and intimate stay with your loved ones. I have been so lucky to stay there during different seasons, and I love it: in the summer the bright light in the spacious rooms and the quiet of the outside, invite you to enjoy a relaxing morning in the swimming pool, or a lazy afternoon dozing on and off in the hammocks near the pond. In the winter, the crispy air and the charming surroundings are a great prelude to an evening spent near the fireplace, enjoying the comfort of the living room. Whatever the season, the kitchen is one of my favorite places: it is such a pleasure to have all the comforts and space to plan scrumptious meals or a simple feast, while sipping a glass of wine, catching up with your best friend. The fantastic restaurant La Parolina (only 5 minutes away, in Trevinano) with the perfect chefs and hosts Iside and Romano, will grant you the wish of an unforgettable meal, crowned with desserts that you will remember for months to come. Podere Palazzo is really a splendid place to return to and to step into the rhythm of the Italian countryside. The villages and towns of the area will provide a crash course in the arts and the joys of the local festivities: I could hardly forget dancing in the streets at the "festa contadina" in Acquapendente, or eating in one of the open air tavernas at the Palio of di Citta’ della Pieve.

June 2007, Chicago, US
Jeff and Regina
Week of delights.

Thank you again for sharing your wonderful house with us. The entire week was a delight. Not only is your house and property amazingly beautiful and comfortable, but its location is ideal for exploring nearby towns and villages. I think Southern Tuscany and Umbria is so much prettier and more interesting than Northern Tuscany where all the Americans tend to flock to. Loved both Orvieto and Montepulciano. Civita di Bagnoregio was fascinating. Enjoyed San Casciano di Bagni - and a lovely dinner at Daniela. Great outing to Saturnia with a relaxing soak. Lovely walk along the lake in Bolsena. We were regulars in Acquapendente and really enjoyed the non-touristy feel of it. And lots of time relaxing at Podere Palazzo - swimming, reading, talking and laughing - and way too much eating and drinking. The dinner and cooking class with Iside and Romano was great fun - and the food was superb. Again, I can't say enough how much we enjoyed it! My father in fact, who's not known for effusive statements, labeled it the nicest place he's ever stayed!

July 2008, Chicago IL.
Greg Wootton, Age 7
A fish in the pool...

I want to be a fish in the pool, i want to be a wild boar in the field and a person in the house.

September 2008, Tucson AZ.
Jean and Duane
Coins in the pond

On the first night at Podere Palazzo we were treated to a wonderful fireworks display out of Acquapendente to accompany the brilliant stars (you can see the milkyway!) and a gorgeous view of Mars! We loved Gianfranco Restaurant in Trevinano, great introduction to local food and culture! Try it, you may even see Danilo (custodian of PP) there. We visited many small towns locally along with Siena, Florence and the coastal town of Talamone. We kept many wine shops, cheese shops and gelaterie in business! All excellent! Beautiful views, perfect sunsets, lovely home and a very relaxing pool. We all threw a coin in the pond...we are hoping it works like the Trevi fountain!

September 2008, Havertown PA
Marie and Bill
Trip of a Lifetime

Patrizio, We just wanted to thank you for letting us stay in your beautiful villa - what a trip of a lifetime. Your place is unbelievable - I think we took pictures from every angle. The views, the beautiful decor, comfortable beds, great bathrooms, everything about it was just perfect. Your sister cooked us a fabulous dinner and was so hospitable and friendly. We had such a great time exploring all the old little towns nearby with the great restaurants, shops and markets, drove to Siena and spent the day sightseeing, did a great wine tour in Montepulciano (Cantina del Redi and Contucci) and Montalcino (the Fanti wine tour was superb) and had lunch and shopped the market in Pienza, ventured on the train to Florence, drove to the coastal area of Orbetello (beautiful), and spent many hours just relaxing at your villa. Lots of good food and wine too! There was not a flaw in the trip - just perfect. Again, thank you for your hospitality and for all of your help while we planned our trip.

September 2008, Chicago US
Robert and Randy
Amazing Experience

Amazing experience! Your home is spectacular. I hope you get lots of opportunities to enjoy it yourself! …We loved the house, the setting, and all of the towns we visited nearby as well. Our gratitude to Iside and Romano for a wonderful evening of cooking and dining.

June 2008, Chicago US
Sawin Family & Friends
Bellissima...Perfezione!

La nostra vacanza era non solo bellissima, ma perfezione! Grazie mille a Patrizio e Mark! We had anticipated a gorgeous and relaxing vacation at Podere Palazzo, but we came away with so much more! (Sanity & serenity, for starters!) The house and grounds were simply idyllic for 3 families to enjoy with plenty of room for all to find our favorite spots. While the hours by the pool provided the best bonding moments for kids and parents alike, we also immensely enjoyed the picturesque (and thrilling) drives in our zippy Italian cars to the many enchanting hill towns nearby. The kids passed the time in the backseat by reading the excellent guide, "Kids Europe Italy Discovery Journal" by P.L.Byrne, and we enjoyed the many helpful guidebooks and literature left by other travellers at the house. Valeria's warm and welcoming check-in, Aldo's knowledgeable (and cute) advice at La Parolina, Martina's bubbly (and cute) babysitting and Danilo's attentiveness all contributed to our unique and intimate Italian experience. Still basking in the glow of our trip, we find ourselves already scouring maps of Tuscany, Umbria & Lazio for the next dozen or so towns that will beguile us on a future visit. Between the sights, the food and the absolute tranquility that the villa has to offer, we truly lived "La Dolce Vita" during our stay at Podere Palazzo!

May 2008, Chicago US
Michelle and Chris
Great Holiday

We just wanted to thank you for all of your help in making it a great holiday for all of us! We look forward to going back if you’ll let us! There is such a great warmth about the house which makes it easy to "feel" Italy and the Umbrian and Tuscan rural landscape! The welcome dinner was fantastic and everyone enjoyed the meal. Please pass our appreciation and heartfelt thanks on to Valeria for making such a great dinner our first night….there was no better way to start things out. We did a lot of your recommended day trips and tried some of the restaurants. Everyone loved Trattoria Gianfranco in Treviano. We went back there twice. Chris & I and another couple went to the Mondo X monastery for dinner on the last night. It was beautiful and we really enjoyed the meal although we were extremely full afterwards. We also tried the Trattoria Toscana in Acquapendente and it was very good

March 2008, UK
Claude & Val
Even better in person.

The website is great but the house is much better in person! There's an exquisite attention to details thoughout the property and the site and views are stunning. The pool is a place where silence and beauty regenerate one's soul! We loved also the pond with the nearby hammocks which are delightful in the evening when gentle breezes come from the valley below. We played Bocce on the lawn, we relaxed by the pool, we drank good wine and ate great food both at the house and when visiting the most beautiful nearby towns of Tuscany and Lazio. We highly recommend it to groups of friends who like us would enjoy the Dolcevita during vacation but it would be great fun also for families cause there's so much to explore around.

September 2007, Detroit MI.
Meghan & Family
A dreamscape

When my family stayed at Podere Palazzo, I felt like I was living in a dreamscape. There's something so magical about the home, sitting on top of a hill, presiding over the beautiful landscape like a natural part of the surroundings. The inside is like a showcase for the outside. It feels as if the house was built just to look out the windows. It is impeccably designed and decorated with a modernist aesthetic and interesting art, but the real draw is how it interacts with the beauty of the land. Podero Palazzo is the perfect place for relaxing and connecting with yourself (and family) and if you can peel yourself away from the pool it's also a convenient launch pad for exploring the rest of Italy.

October 2007, Champaign IL.
Andrea & John
Spectacular!

Your villa is spectacular. The fabulous website does not begin to capture the elegance of your home. We did not want to leave! Your recommendations for villages to visit were also outstanding! Trevinano was so quaint. The little inexpensive restaurant (Gianfranco) is still one of our favorites to eat at and the people there were so gracious. We also ate at La Parolina. Unbelievable!! Iside explained the menu to us personally. We had the suprise fixed menu with wine. Never had anything better! Again, our stay in Tuscany was more than we could have imagined! We definitely want to come back soon! Grazie for a great visit!

August 2007, USA
Reinisch Family
Wonderful week.

Our family of 6 had a wonderful one-week stay at Podere Palazzo last August. The house and the views were fabulous. The entire set-up worked well for all ages. The grandparents relaxed all day by reading books outside on the patio, while the children were happy running around the property and swimming. All of the finishes in the home are spectacular, the beds very comfortable, and the showers perfect. The kitchen works very well for preparing large dinners. We ended each of our evening sitting around the wonderful outdoor fireplace. We hope that we can return again! We also loved the restaurants in the area: we recommend Daniela and Blue Eyes in San Casciano. The cooking class from the chefs of La Parolina was wonderful and they taught us how to make a wonderful veal dish. Also, our 2 kids loved the thermal pools in Saturnia.