Excellent 5 /5Villa Carol is ideally situated on a hill full of vineyards and cedars and olive trees. From the garden, one has a breathtaking view of the lush Tuscan hills and of the town of Poggibonsi, which is a mere 2 km away from the property. We had a rented car (highly recommended) and we explored Sienna, Florence and the bucolic town of San Gimignano. Villa Carol is situated at a short distance, in the middle of a triangle between these cities and town.
On arrival we were greeted by our hosts, Lucia, Gabriele and their 5 year old daughter Caroline. They are delightful people, very respectful of our privacy and our needs and they were very ready to be of assistance. Our hosts’ English is somewhat limited, but they are eager to please and we managed everything without a problem. Lucia is an excellent cook and one day we asked her to cook a special “Tuscan” dinner for us. Despite our various allergies and dietary restrictions, she managed to create a fabulous feast. I strongly recommend that you try her cooking. It is better than that of many highly rated restaurants. I am a curious type and I initiated chats with Gabriele. He painted many of the paintings found in the villa and he has many interesting stories. He will not disturb you, if you wish to be left alone.
The propriety was quiet and the silence was intermittently interrupted by sound of birds singing and doves doing the ritual, spring mating dance. The infinity pool was inviting, although the weather was a bit cool. The rooms were extremely comfortable and each room has its own bathroom. We were four, but the villa can easily accommodate 6-8 people. Our hosts live on the upper floor and they were very discrete - their presence was hardly noticeable. We had a separate entrance gate for the villa and the layout make it such that we had total privacy.
Shopping for food was easy. A mere 1.5 km away, there is a superstore called PAM and in it one can find everything than one needs. Even the most choosy palates would find fresh produce, pasta, bread, cold cuts, great cheeses, meat products, and DOA (nationally rated) wines, etc
The only downside to this little paradise is the fact that the entrance alley from the front electric gate is at a sharp angle and I managed to scratch my rented car’s door the first time. You need to take a wide angle entry.
One piece of advice: take a GPS because navigating the road signs and the round points can be challenging.
Final comment: All four of us loved our stay at Villa Carol, have fond memories of our hosts and we would be ready to back there in a heartbeat!Would you recommend this property to a friend? Yes
