DaNeice , Martinez California, USA

Our 5 day stay at Pianettole castle was the highlight of our 3 week visit to Europe. This was a chance for my parents, my husband and I to live and experience firsthand a truly historic monumental castle with all the modern comforts available today. Everything we needed to make this the perfect spot was available to us. The location was great as it was just a very short drive to several towns that we wish we had had more time to explore. The views were spectacular wherever you looked. Mario and his parents could not have been more accommodating to us. Anticipating everything that we might need or want to make this the most memorable vacation rental that we have done to date, which includes rental homes in 4 states and 2 countries. The pantry and refrigerator were stocked with the tastiest treats to welcome the four of us. Louise was invaluable in helping us to get our bearings in Anghiari and nearby Sansepolcro. Pointing us in the right direction of the sights that would interest us the most. She was so gracious and more than accommodating. We highly recommend this property as a gorgeous, serene, and friendly place to stay to get the true feel of Tuscany. DaNeice & Scott, California / Gary & Rusty , Arizona

Adrian and Laima Whitty , Hopkinton, Massachusetts USA

It’s hard to know where to begin in describing how much we enjoyed our two-week stay in Pianettole in July 2008. The Castle itself, high on a hill with breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, is lovely. The guest rooms are attractive, and the care taken in the building’s restoration is apparent in many charming details. The kitchen is spacious and fully equipped, with ample space for six around the large kitchen table. The four bedrooms are attractive and comfortable, and the bathrooms – one in the main part of the guesthouse and the other associated with the fourth bedroom, which is accessed through a separate external door – are well furnished with modern fixtures. At the rear of the guesthouse is a furnished patio that makes a great spot to sit and relax at any time of day. Pianettole is just outside the strikingly beautiful medieval town of Anghiari (though it’s not practical to make the trip on foot unless you have the stomach for a taxing climb back up the hill to the castle). A few miles further on is the larger town of Sansepolcro, while about 30 minutes drive in the opposite direction is the bustling city of Arezzo. Anghiari has a number of charming shops and restaurants, as well as a weekly market, and is a great place to wander around and explore. Sansepolcro has additional conveniences such as several large supermarkets and a modern shopping center, as well as an interesting and picturesque older section, bounded by medieval walls. Major highways pass near Sansepolcro and Arezzo, which also has a railway station, making Pianettole an excellent base from which to explore the whole of Tuscany plus neighboring regions of Umbria, Marche and Emilia Romagna, or even San Marino. Siena, Florence, Assisi, Poppi and Cortona are all within easy driving distance, and we easily managed the longer drive to Pisa and Lucca as a day trip. This was our first trip to Italy, and we saw many wonderful things and fabulous places. However, what really made our holiday special was the remarkable warmth and hospitality of Mario and his parents, Sergio and Lina, who live in different buildings within the castle grounds. Mario was the perfect host: warm and friendly and always concerned to make sure that everything was O.K.. When we arrived, the well-stocked refrigerator helped us feel immediately welcome. On many other occasions Mario went to extra effort to try and make our stay a success, lending us his GPS system, and sharing his family’s excellent olive oil and wine. Mario is always around to help if needed, and yet he also allows guests their privacy. When we left it was with genuine sadness, partly to be leaving Tuscany, but mostly to be leaving Mario and his family who we had come to consider as true friends. We strongly recommend Pianettole as a perfect place to stay for a family or small group wishing to visit Tuscany without leaving behind the comforts of home.

Laura Soper , Amsterdam, Netherlands

We had a wonderful stay at the castle this summer while on a whirlwind tour of Italy! Our three young children loved running around outside, playing "sword fights" on the huge stone "bridge" connecting the castle tower with our accomodations. It was the perfect place for us as it was peaceful, relaxing, and plenty spacious for a family of five. We did day trips to Siena, Pisa, and Florence, and as promised, all were easily reachable from the castle. We highly recommend staying here if you are looking for a beautiful, peaceful, and friendly place to stay. Out of our 16 day trip to Italy staying in about 6 different accomodations, this was one of our favorites and definitely the favorite for our children. Mario and his family were friendly and welcoming, and we really felt like we were treated as friends as well as their guests. They were extremely gracious hosts! I can't say enough great things about this place! My favorite part was at night when the air was cool and the stars filled the sky from horizon to horizon. After the children were all sleeping, my husband and I would walk around the outside of the castle walls and enjoy the view overlooking the lights of Anghiari. It was magical!

Linda Brittingham , Seria, KB, Brunei

Pianettole . . . A Christmas to remember. At Pianettole we experienced the Italian vacation that most people dream of. Mario was there to welcome us and had prepared a fire in the fireplace, a poinsetta on the table, and an amazingly stocked pantry. We were then immersed into the Italian way of life. Mario was attentive and helpful with suggestions and ideas of places to visit. The grocery stores and alimentaries provided the means for lots of fun evenings cooking by the fire. Christmas eve found us at the town square with all the other townspeople to welcome Babo Natale. The shop keepers and everyone we met were always helpful and extremely nice. Mario's family included us to make sure our Christmas was special. Franca provided us with traditional food and in the evening his family invited us to tea for a fun evening of more food and wonderful conversation. Mario and Louise make a great team. From the start of our inquires to when we closed the door of the castle at the end of our holiday, the two made sure all our needs were met and that we had a wonderful experience. Our dinner at Michaelangelo's was again, something people read about. Our kids (13 years and 11 years) can't wait to take more family members back to Pianettole when Mario has the next section completed. We highly recommend Pianettole and thanks again! Pete, Linda, Kate, and Connor

Rob James , Aberdeenshire, Scotland

The guidebooks tell us Italy is a beautiful country with warm, friendly people and excellent cuisine. How true, and all these things are encapsulated at Pianettole. The location is fantastic, the accomodation is awash with character having been lovingly restored by Mario. The atmosphere is warm, friendly and generous - delicious local produce awaits in the cupboards. Mario's family (including the dogs) were fantastically friendly with our two young children, as well as being very helpful with advice on where to go and what to see/do. If that's not enough, Pianettole is a great base for discovering Florence, Siena, Cortona etc etc. We cannot wait to go back. Rob, Laura, Maisie and Florence (Scotland).

Bonnie and Dave Moore, Australia

Dear Louise Can you please also pass on our thanks once again to Mario and his parents. Pianettole was the best stay we had while in Italy. We had a wonderful stay at Pianettole, and as always, it is the little things that make the difference. The Bianchini's were very friendly and helpful, and made us feel like old friends visiting. They had thoughtfully provided some food for our arrival, the kitchen was well stocked with cooking implements, and we were given fresh produce from the family garden almost daily. The castle itself is a lovely old authentic building, and very comfortable. It's private, blissfully peaceful and the views are straight out of a picture book. Nearby, the town of Anghiari is a beautiful medieval town unspoilt by tourist hordes. We found the location to be perfect, and central to other classic Tuscan towns in the area. We heartily recommend Pianettole to anyone who wants a taste of the real Tuscany. Again, thanks for a wonderful stay in Italy. Kind regards

The Holt Family, North of England

We loved our stay in your beautifully restored castle house. The house was well equipped, tastefully furnished and decorated and it was a pleasure to wake up to the lovely views beyond the castle walls. The area was full of interesting places to visit, we particularly like Anghiari and Arezzo. But the best thing of all was the warm welcome and generous hospitality of Mario and his family. Thank you!

Trudie Taylor-Pak and Marge - Ankara / Los Angeles

The Castle at Pianettole was charming; rustic full of history at the top of a hill. Encased within battlements, idyllic setting with lovely homely grounds. Made to feel most welcome by the owners, sampling the local garden produce and fresh hens eggs and of course local wine. A delight! Best wishes,