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La Volpaia.

My girlfriend Kathy and I recently stayed at La Volpaia for several days. It was a wonderful experience! Andreas and Sylvia were perfect hosts. They made us feel right at home except there is no way that our ’home cooking’ could ever start to match Sylvia’s. Her multi-course meals would start on the patio in the evening with antipasto that included regional sausages, cheese, wine, olives from their own trees, and foccacia bread straight from the oven. We would then move into the dining area and continue our meal with a pasta course, a ’segundo’ serving, salad, dessert and coffee. This was Tuscan cooking at its very best!

The original house was built in 1521. Andreas has modernized the interior but has maintained the appearance of age on the exterior. Our room was clean and equipped with a bathroom with all of the modern conveniences. The house’s decor highlighted several of Andreas’ art pieces that he had created.

The setting of La Volpaia is idyllic. It is within easy driving distance of many of the walled hill-top towns and cities that Tuscany is famous for. It is only about thirty minutes from Florence and we regretted getting a hotel in Florence when we could have just as easily stayed at La Volpaia and driven up there to see the sights. I would highly recommend staying here for your visit to Tuscany.

We traveled to La Volpaia with a small group of 3 couples. I was not initially taken with the idea of eating at our villa while we were staying there, as I wanted to go to different restaurants. Boy, was I wrong! La Volpaia is a great gateway to Sienna, Firenze, Voltara, San Gimignano and the rest of Tuscany. Walks from there on a day off or in the morning are delightful. The view from the pool is, for me, Tuscany. But most of all, having a home base for a delightful, wonderful meal at the end of a long day of touring was an incredible treat. No worries about driving, or being out on the streets late. Just a beautiful, tasty multi-course meal made from the finest fresh, local ingredients, usually purchased by Sylvia that morning at the co-op. I could not have asked for more, and all of my traveling companions agreed. We absolutely loved both Andrea and Sylvia, we delighted in their company, from day one, but more and more as the days went by. If you are open to meeting new friends, and willing to face the regret of leaving them too soon, then I think you will be happy at La Volpaia. You will need a car, of course, as it is located in the countryside, and the directions can be tricky, so study your map ahead of time. In a short time you will know the area like the back of your hand, and you will feel superior to everyone else who has not yet been there.

The personal service was superb, the location magical and Sylvia’s cooking consistently good. My husband and I especially appreciated the time we had to have good conversation with Andrea. We will recommend La Volpaia to others.

Another great stay. The no-nonsense magic of La Volpaia is an opportunity to truly experience the Tuscan countryside and way of life. Thank you Silvia and Andrea once again for enriching my life.

And Silvia - sorry for your one bad review. Please remember that even you can’t please everyone and it was just not the right fit for that person. You take such pride in what you do so I am sure it was a disapponitment. Take it from me and the many others - La Volpaia is magic and your warmth and hospitality is treasured.

Andrea is a warm host, but I’m afraid the heavy lifting of hosting guests falls on Silvia and she is one weird lady. She was not a warm person. She fed us fattening food while eating next to nothing herself and talking about health and diet! She never sat with us for long, jumping up to clean up and feed our leftovers immediately to a very fat dog. It was not pleasant dining with them. I would have preferred to have been served and left to dine alone with my family than to have tried to have a meal with someone who didn’t want to eat with us. I had to ask for fresh fruit for my daughter repeatedly. It was not offered spontaneously. It was doled out one piece at a time! She did not exude enjoyment in her role as hostess, just anxiety and duty. The downstairs rooms are appallingly furnished. I enjoyed the upstairs bedrooms. They were spacious and comfortable. The patio was lovely. I liked Andrea’s recycled sculptured light fixtures. And they did not direct us to the very close train station to catch a train to Florence. Instead we endured a hellish experience of driving into Florence only to find out after the fact how easy a train trip would have been. I’m surprised Karen Brown vouched for this venue.

absolutely stunning property and then the charm begins. Andrea and Sylvia greet you, show you to your room and offer cool refreshment. The pool is close by and overlooks a valley of vineyards and olive trees. The room I had was large, beautifully furnished and very comfortable. The hospitality in the evenings consists of a pre-dinner array of freshly baked bread, and local salamis, together with wine. Dinner served outside is cooked in a brick oven in an outbuilding and was perfectly prepared, and accompanied by wines and grappa later. A perfect place to unwind, relax, and chat with other guests from around the world. I cannot more highly recommend this country inn.

Words can not describe our wonderful stay at La Volpaia. The magic of being in Tuscana was only magnified by where we stayed. Andrea and Silvia are the most gracious hosts. The time spent at La Volpaia was the most memorable part of our days. After exploring the beautiful countryside and many of the ’famous’ sites we could not wait to get back to La Volpaia for a quiet swim or a well deserved nap. Our favorite time of the evening was out on the patio enjoying the fabulous wine, the great company and Silvia’s meals ( we devoted one photo album just in remembrance of Silva’s exquisite dinners). It was great fun to eat and converse with the other guests that were there and we feel grateful to have met such a wonderful group. What fun we had!!!! Andrea was always there to answer any of your travel questions and gave us great advise. I know we will be going back one day soon. La Volpaia was truly an amazing place.

If you are interested in having an authentic Tuscan experience, stay with Andrea and Silvia at La Volpaia. The comfortable room, beautiful countryside, delicious Tuscan food using natural ingredients from the area including wine, olives and olive oil and stimulating and interesting conversation are all part of this experience. Andrea and Silvia are gracious and caring individuals who do their very best to make you feel welcome and a part of the family. They assist you with directions, maps and information about the area and do everything they can to make your visit enjoyable and relaxing. Thank you both for a memorable time at your beautiful home.

The landscape was beautiful. The food was absolutely delicious. Andrea and Silvia were most friendly and accommodating. They gave us terrific advice as to what to visit and the best way to get there. They also were able to answer our questions about the way of life for modern day Italians. Andrea was well versed in history, sculpture and art and so we learned so much. They were within a half hour to Florence, Sienna, San Gimignano, and other walled cities, as well as being in one of the loveliest areas in Tuscany. Our children (teenagers) enjoyed it very much and talk often about when we can go back.

Our group of eight close friends spent an unforgettable week at beautiful La Volpaia in the countryside outside the small village of Vico D’Elsa. After an overnight flight to Rome and several hours drive we turned down the long driveway to the farmhouse. Greeted by Sylvia and the voluptuous yellow lab, Penny, we were immediately made to feel welcome. We followed Sylvia into the beautiful old house, up to our of our rooms were lovely, cool and spacious, with a hodgepodge of old and newer furnishings and art and private bathrooms. Every evening we gathered in the courtyard for wine (endless large, lovely decanters their co-op red or white which could be sipped all night without getting drunk or suffering hangover), hors d’oeurves (homemade herbed bread, salumi, olives) and great conversation. While Sylvia cooked Andrea would answer our questions and help us plan the coming day’s excursions, and was just a wealth of knowledge about all things Italian and beyond. When Sylvia was ready she’d call us to the table inside the cooking/eating building just off the courtyard where we’d spend hours and hours savoring each meal -- each course of each meal(oh my God, Sylvia, this is the best...I’ve ever had). On our second to last night Andrea barbequed a variety of meats and sausages on his ingenious indoor barbeque (Andrea, will you come to Seattle and build this in my house...) Beyond the exquisite setting, the food, and excellent conversation is the perfect central location to Sienna, Florence, hill towns, wineries. After a light breakfast and the best coffee you’ve ever had you can easily drive everywhere, have a full day and then drive back to La Volpaia. A dip in the pool, a cold beer, a nice shower or brief nap and then back to the courtyard to start the evening. The per person price seems a little expensive but when you include all the drinks, the fabulous multi-course cuisine and the exceptional setting, I think you’ll agree it’s well worth it. There was also great comfort in having a home base for our first week in Italy. It was so nice to have everything taken care of while we got comfortable getting around. We were all sad to leave and can’t wait to go back. Sylvia and Andrea are great hosts and now new friends.

La Volpaia was an extremely good choice. The place is simply beautiful, with a view that is absolutely breathtaking. Silvia and Andrea were wonderful. Silvia was helpful with directions and ideas about where we should visit, Andrea was so interesting and witty, and the food was outstanding. They made us feel right at home. Unfortunately, our stay was far to short. We would love to return someday. A heavenly place.

RE: La Volpaia in Vico d’Elsa, Italia I am likely their biggest fan, and have sent dozens of friends there, all of which report back it was the best part of their trip. La Volpaia was one of 4 KB recommended places I visited in 1999. I have been back to Italy almost every year since, and always stay with Silvia & Andrea for at least 4 nights. It is the quintessential Tuscan stay on every front. Silvia’s grace and hospitality is unmatched. The accomodations are perfect, assuming a classy, cozy country stay is what you want. The landscape setting is ideal. Yet the most magic is the evening time dinners, both in Silvia’s organic Tuscan approach as well as how well both her & Andrea make each night special. How I can sit with strangers from all over the world year in & year out and yet feel like we are all at home is magic. Thank you KB for helping me it.

Fourteen years ago, I chose La Volpaia from your guide book. It was a smart move. We found it to be a magical place --- warm and friendly, with superb food served family style. The location is ideal; the scenery in their area is spectacular. La Volpaia is conveniently located for Florence, Siena, San Gimignano and many other day trip locations. At night, after a day of sightseeing, you return to the best place of all --- a refuge in the quiet countryside, dining on the terrace under the stars in the summertime. In colder early spring visits, we have gathered in front of the fireplace to read, visit, and feast on Silvia’s homemade aperitifs, accompanied by wine from their own vineyards. Andrea and Silvia have become valued friends as we have returned many times, year after year. Our son and his family responded to our enthusiasm and quickly followed us there --- also returning as often as possible. Two sons, four of our grandchildren, our doctor, and some very good friends have also been received warmly at La Volpaia. They have all been very happy with the homelike atmosphere, good food, outstanding hospitality and companionship, that Silvia and Andrea provde for all of their guests. We recommend La Volpaia to anyone who appreciates intelligent conversation, a peaceful country setting, and fine dining.

Silvia and Andrea’s la Volpaia is the warmest, most comfortable spot I can imagine. We truly felt like honored and welcome guests, not customers. Silvia’s delicious meals are delightfully creative and succulent, with thoughtful accommodation made to our allergies and diabetes. Andrea’s restoration of their charming home has made it comfortable for us spoiled modern folk without sacrificing the charm of a lovely old house. And the art work and warm ambience that they both contribute makes this a truly unique spot. Jill Gormley and Sam Lipman

On our first visit to Andrea and Silvia’s La Volpaia, we fell in Love with Tuscany. On our second visit, we celebrated both our love for Tuscany and our love for each other by bringing all our friends and family to La Volpaia to celebrate our Tuscan wedding. When we decided to get married in Tuscany, Andrea and Silvia became not only our hosts, but our treasured friends and extended family. Their hospitality ensured our entire party enjoyed all there is to enjoy of Tuscany. They planned a fabulous wedding reception dinner, complete with a beautiful wedding cake, and course after course of sumptuous homemade Tuscan food. They made each one of our guests feel like family, and created a home in Tuscany for all of us. Anyone lucky enough to stay with Andrea and Silvia at La Volpaia will be forever changed, and forever in love with Tuscany.

We first stayed at La Volpaia 16 years ago and have returned on average every 2 years since. Andrea and Silvia are the perfect hosts and it is now almost like returning to visit members of our family. Silvia produces the most amazing food from their own and other fresh local produce and the evenings are spent talking around the table with the other usually interesting guests with no TV or telephones to distract from the conversation. Add to this the beautiful views of this more or less unchanging countryside it is a pleasure to return each time.

In 2007 we brought our family of four to Italy. Our two boys were 14 and 11 years old at the time. We were looking for a special property in Tuscany when a friend of ours told us about Silvia and Andrea at La Volpaia. He had visited the farmhouse a few years prior with his family. We looked at his pictures and listened to his wonderful stories and knew this was the place for us. Upon arrival Silvia, Andrea, and Penny (their very cubby lab) greeted us and made us feel apart of the family within 20 minutes. We were shown our rooms upstairs. Two very large bedrooms with our own bathrooms. Very spacious and clean, private from our boys. Andrea and Silvia had home made salami and homemade bread to enjoy before we took a walk around the property. Help yourselves, help yourselves they wanted us to settle in and be comfortable. We took a walk around the property. Met their three horses (which we rode through the blooming sunflowers)! We put our feet in the infinity edge pool and admired the amazing view from the hillside. Something out of a magazine. We were so happy and comfortable during our stay. Silvia is an amazing chef. The food each night was spectacular. We would sit outside each night and visit with them while they cooked. Each day we would travel to surrounding towns and then come back and enjoy an evening with this wonderful couple. It was the highlight of our vacation and one I hope to revisit someday. Our boys will never forget this experience.