Testimonials

ur family of four stayed at Villa Carolina for 5 weeks. It was outstanding! Our two young children, ages three and one, had a blast. We had different sets of family visitors stay with us at different points in the trip as well. They were all very impressed.

Villa Carolina overlooks Poggibonsi, with beautiful, sweeping views of the Tuscan hills. The pool is fantastic, and we were in it almost every day. The garden (yard) is also fairly large, useful for lounging or playing. Our favorite part of the amenities was the incredible terrace, completely covered for shade, but very large and offering those amazing Tuscan views. We ate most meals out on the terrace and spent just about every night out there with a bottle of local wine after putting the kids to bed.

The interior of Villa Carolina is very well laid out. Ask Gabrielle for a floor plan. The kitchen was awesome. I cooked in it just about every day for five weeks (I enjoy cooking), and it was just like home after no time at all. Well equipped also.

The rooms and beds are large, as are the bathrooms. The sofas in the living room are very comfortable and the large TV was great for catching a few of our son's favorite cartoons.

We used the Villa as base camp for numerous day trips around Tuscany. San Gimignano, Sienna, and Pisa were favorites. Having been to Italy a few times before, Florence was always our favorite city, but now has stiff competition from Sienna. We also recommend Monteriggionni and Volterra as worth at least a half day each.

Gabrielle and Luccia were gracious hosts. They always went out of their way to do every little extra thing they could think of, including a few examples like getting us into a fantastic winery for lunch twice that no normal tourist could book themselves and showering our kids with presents throughout their stay. They were also very fast to act whenever a need arose, which was hardly ever. Luccia is also a very good cook, and we would recommend having her cook for you as we did (three times).

Tuscany is incredible and Villa Carolina was an excellent home for 5 weeks. We miss our "Italy home" as our son called it and both he and our daughter miss their friends Gabrielle and Luccia.

Some advice: Rent a car, but not a big one. Shop at PAM. Buy some foam if you are used to soft mattresses. Take bug spray. Drink enough local wine to not care about mosquitoes or Italian mattresses. Stay at Villa Carolina and the rest will take care of itself!

Ciao!

Villa Carolina was a wonderful place to make our base of operations while in Tuscany. Besides being beautifully decorated and clean with all the amenities of home, the back yard had inviting areas to just sit and relax to have a glass of wine and enjoy the beautiful views. The town of Barberino Val d'Elsa, where the villa is located, is centrally located to visit many other wonderful Tuscan towns. We visited Florence twice during our seven day stay and also Siena, San Gimignano, Chianti area, and Volterra. We especially enjoyed the old walled city of Barberino Val d'Elsa, which was quaint and full of lovely views of the countryside. I stress however that you do need a car to be able to get around to visit these sights and to do any grocery shopping or other necessities. The owners of the villa, Lucia and Gabrielle, are lovely people and greeted us the first night with two bottles of the delicious local wine ! Although they share the other side of the house, you would hardly know they were there except when you needed them for something. The back yard and pool are for the exclusive use of the renters of the villa. I don't think you can go wrong staying at the lovely Villa Carolina.

What can I say. We had the most amazing time at Villa Carol. There were 6 of us ( all family) & enjoyed every minute of our stay. . The property is stunning. Everything exactly as per the description. Spacious , comfortable & homely. We used to keep Villa Carol as our base and do Road trip's , Explore Tuscany & surrounds. Being ideally located everything within an hour and a half drive. Back in time for sundowners & dinner to enjoy the lovely landscaped garden.

A lovely supermarket close by which has everything we needed.

The hosts Gabriele & Lucia were wonderful. Took really good care of us and we're always there to give us tips & advise , what to do / eat / sightseeing etc. Extremely helpful!!

We hope to return soon!! Thank You once again for an amazing experience:)

Nous sommes allés à la Toscane au mois d'octobre, groupe de huit personnes (trois couples et deux enfants). Nous étions dans la Villa Carolina. Ce magnifique endroit où nous avons été accueillis par Gabriele et Lucia, toujours sympathiques et bienveillants. Notre séjour a été très agréable, car l'endroit est fantastique. Très propre, bien décoré, confortable, sans oublier le jardin, la piscine et une vue magnifique. Le vin et la nourriture sont spectaculaires. Rien à rapprocher. Nous recommandons fortement, car après tout, est très bien situé, près de toutes commodités, comme commerces, restaurants et supermarché. Pour ceux qui aiment explorer les sites historiques et profiter d'une nature exubérante, il est l'endroit idéal. Il faut absolument connaître.

Villa Carolina was wonderful. It easily accommodated 3 couples with 3 bedrooms and bathrooms. The grounds and views are lovely. The owner Gabrielle and his wife Luccia have a home on the property but they are not intrusive at all. A highlight was the night Luccia cooked an amazing dinner for us and we ate outside in the gazebo. Close to San Gimignano, Chianti area etc. we highly recommend Villa Carolina.

We rented Villa Carolina for our family vacation, 6 adults & 1 toddler. The villa was everything we had hoped for! Great location, Clean & spacious for all of us. The view from the villa was great and the grounds were well manicured. The pool was beautiful and enjoyed by all (it is not a heated pool but during our visit it was in the upper 80's) Lucia & Gabriel were very friendly. We had Lucia prepare dinner for all of us 2 times! Her Boar ribs are Amazing!! Highly recommend Villa Carolina! Only 1 small complaint, the w/d is small and takes forever to dry.

 Left on May 8, 2016 for a stay in Apr 2016This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor.
Our family had been planning this Tuscan holiday for the past several months and Villa Carolina proved to be the perfect family rental. We loved this place so much we are already planning our next holiday! First, the villa itself. 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with a TV/family room and a massive 65 inch TV (with premium movie channels, for those days you just want to stay in. The kitchen is a focal point of the villa, opening out into the beautiful garden and pool area. There is a covered deck overlooking Poggibonsi – and the view is beautiful especially at night. We spent every morning with our cups of coffee and evenings with our glasses of wine in this area – truly magical and therapeutic! This area was worth the price of the rental alone. Location: while it may be possible to find villas in more secluded locations, we did a lot of research and for us – Villa Carolina sitting atop the town of Linari – was a perfect launching pad to Florence, Siena, Montepulciano, Cortona, Greve, Raddo and other cute little towns in Chianti. Poggibonsi is a few kilometres away, Siena and Florence – 30 minutes away. Over the two weeks we stayed there, we would make day trips exploring northern and southern Tuscany, with our destinations at the most with an hour to 75 minutes away – and spend the evenings cooking and relaxing at the villa. There is a PAM supermarket less than a 5 minute drive away. Very very convenient for a family such as ours – where multiple trip daily to the supermarket is not uncommon. PAM has everything you could ask for at very reasonable prices. The villa is situated in Linari, which is cute hilltop town. Exiting Villa Carolina, there is a nice walk that takes you through winding roads, old villages, and vineyards – you can walk for a mile or 10 – it’s really quite beautiful. Last but not the least, Gabrielle and Lucia! This cute couple were the perfect hosts and exuded warmth and hospitality throughout our stay. They’re one of the main reasons why we had such a terrific time at Villa Carolina. From giving us the insider’s guide, to cooking the most sumptuous dinner (they used to own a terrific restaurant not long ago), and checking on us every couple of days without being too intrusive – they were just great. Gabrielle took us to his friend’s vineyard nearby, which had a terrific view of San Gimignano – and where we were given complimentary bottles of their excellent Chianti. Lucia found our car keys the day before we were supposed to leave outside the gate – I had dropped them during our evening walk. She was an absolute lifesaver – imagine the headache of contacting the car rental company in Rome to arrange for the tow truck and a replacement – not to mention that we could have missed our flights. A beautiful villa, great hosts – in a beautiful part of the country. We’re going to be back!

We were 3 couples staying at Villa Carolina for the first two weeks of October. The Villa itself is spacious, clean, comfortable and wonderfully furnished and decorated. The large, manicured garden, with infinity pool and hot tub, offers a panoramic view of vineyards, olive groves and the small city of Poggibonsi below. The Villa is ideally located for day trips to Firenze, Siena, Pisa and many other historic sites, such as San Gimignano, Greve in Chianti and Volterra. Our hosts, Gabriele and Lucia, were extremely friendly and accommodating. They prepared several meals for us and the food and presentation would rival the best restaurants that we visited in Tuscany. Overall, our experience at Villa Carol was nothing less than perfect.

Vila Carolina está localizada em um dos lugares mais encantadores da toscana italiana,fica em cima de uma colina de onde se tem uma vista maravilhosa de tirar o folego e também dali podemos ver no centro a cidade das artes mais famosas da Toscana . Quando chegamos fomos recepcionados por Gabrielle e Lucia que já posso dizer fazem parte da minha vida com tanta dedicaçâo , gentileza e um atendimento de excelente qualidade ,eles são realmente incríveis.Eu posso dizer que já conheci vários lugares ,mas como este não existe outro no mundo.Sem contar que ali encontramos os melhores vinhos e também a melhor da culinária italiana . Para quem quer ter férias inesquecíveis na Toscana italiana eu aconselho vai na Vila Carolina.

Villa Carolina was perfect for us. The villa is well appointed and has good views of the local vineyards and the valley below. The owners Lucia and Gabriele are lovey and the dinner Lucia prepared for us was the best of the week. The location is very good for day trips to Florence, Siena, San Gimignano and Volterra.

Wonderful property with a great location.We had a wonderful holiday. Very nice people.

The villa was wonderful, we loved it, the location, the atmosphere, the owners and the villa itself. We were 6 adults and enjoyed every minute of our stay. Would love to return soon.

 The view, the setting and the owners who live on the top floor of the villa were wonderful. The owners' part is completely self-contained (there are even a separate set of gates for entry!) - they were helpful, warm and welocing and completely non-instrusive. A lovely touch was the bottle of red wine on our arrival and the owner also gave us some of her home-grown tomatoes which were absolutely delicious. The villa is very accessible to a number of lovely locations, including San Gimignano (amazing), Volterra, Florence and Siena.
Nothing!
We visited San Gimignano a number of times which we loved and was only a pleasant 10 minute drive away. There are a number of cafes and restaurants which we tried and loved them all - also highly recommend an Aperol Spritzer!

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Karen H

Villa 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!

Ivan S. -  Edmonton (Canada)

Siamo stati d Dio. Qualche giorno di riposo, una pace e un relax unici. Consiglio a tutti di trascorrere un fine settimana da queste parti, non ve ne pentirete, soprattutto se in buona compagnia. Consigliato!!

Fin 2012, début 2013 nous avons passé quatre jours à la Villa Carol. Celle-ci se situe en haut d’une colline entre les villages de Poggibonsi et de Linari permettant ainsi d’avoir une jolie vue sur la campagne environnante. La villa comporte deux niveaux totalement indépendants les uns des autres avec entrées séparées dans le jardin et dans la villa elle-même. Les propriétaires occupent le niveau supérieur. Nous étions huit, 5 adultes et 3 enfants. Au rez-de-chaussée nous avons occupé les trois chambres spacieuses et chacune dotée d’une salle de bain. Outre les chambres il y a en plus un séjour avec une télévision moderne comportant un bouquet Sky Italia avec deux ou trois chaînes françaises (TvEurope et France 24). Il y a également une connexion internet wifi. La cuisine est également spacieuse et bien équipée. Il est possible de faire ses courses au supermarché PAM de Poggibonsi à 5 minutes en voiture. La villa est située à quelques kilomètres de San Gimignano. Sa situation permet d’aller facilement vers les hauts-lieux touristique que sont Florence, Sienne et Pise ainsi que Monteriggioni. Les hôtes Gabriele et Lucia sont extrêmement accueillants et conviviaux. Ils ont fait tout leur possible pour rendre notre séjour le plus agréable possible. On peut, si on le souhaite, commander un repas typiquement toscan, ce que nous avons fait et que nous avons beaucoup apprécié. Bref un séjour très agréable.

The villa was beautiful, and exceeded our expectations from the photos we saw. The owners Lucia and Gabriel were lovely. Lucia cooked us two meals while we were there, and they were absolutely divine. We will certainly be happy to stay there again one day. Thank you

Our family stayed at Villa Carolina for two weeks and it was heavenly! The Villa is even more beautiful than the photos. There are so many outdoor spaces to relax and look at the beautiful Tuscan countryside. The inside of the villa is very clean and beautifully decorated with modern bathrooms, a modern kitchen, and nice furnishings. The location is perfect for exploring the wine regions, Florence, as well as Tuscan walled cities. Lucia and Gabriele are very kind and helpful. Lucia’s dinners are so delicious – the best we had in Italy! - make sure to enjoy them during your stay. Lucia was very helpful in accommodating food allergies for people in our family. This was an unforgettable vacation and we are recommending this villa to everyone and hope to return very soon.

We adored every single part of this villa. I believe there should be a special feature about it in the broadsheets! Spotless, stylish, tasteful & comfort itself. The owners couldn't have been more welcoming! Even the local stray (but extremely well-fed) cat welcomed us every morning by the door, much to my 6 year old son's delight! I speak enough transactional Italian to survive and the owners speak a tiny bit of English but we communicated well. The rooms are huge with 3 stunning bathrooms and a well-equipped kitchen should you wish to cook a risotto or some linguine! The view over the vineyards is truly breathtaking and the villa grounds are magical, lit up at night so that you can sit out and enjoy a lovely grappa or whisky. Our trip was to celebrate my 50th birthday and I will remember it forever. The organisation by "To Tuscany" prior to our trip had been seamlessly executed between themselves and Lucia and Gabriele, the owners. Nothing was too much trouble for them. The couple live in the villa above with their small daughter, Carolina, and whilst they were accessible and helpful whenever needed, were not intrusive at all. The villa is central to the main places of interest and a huge supermarket (PAM) is a couple of minutes' drive away. We are people who like comfort, space and cleanliness. This place beats every place we have ever stayed in, and we are pretty hard to please! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to Lucia, Gabriele, Carolina "Conkers" the cat and to "TO TUSCANY" for a gem of a holiday! ("Conkers" the cat now has a loving home with Gabriele's mum, you'll all be glad to know - so even he had his dreams come true!!)

My husband, myself and two other couples had one of the best weeks ever at Villa Carolina. The accomodations were impeccable - we all had plenty of room and the common areas fit all of us and were perfect for hanging out. Lucia and Gabriella were wonderful hosts and Lucia is probably the best chef in all of Italy. She cooked us more than one meal while we were there and I still dream about it! The pool and yard are as relaxing and welcoming as they are beautiful. The surrounding vineyards really set the tone for a Tuscan vacation. The location of the villa is ideal for day trips throughout the surrounding countryside. I don't think that any vacation I go on from now on will compare. I look forward to revisiting Villa Carolina sooner than later. The hospitality and friendship of Gabriella and Lucia made our stay complete.

Wij zijn net terug uit Toscane , waar we een fantastische week hebben doorgebracht in Villa Carol. Mede door de gastvrijheid van Lucia en Gabriel, werd het een onvergetelijke week, waarin we samen met onze kinderen ons 35 jarig huwelijk vierden. Het huis was heerlijk ruim en zeer schoon. Alles zag er piekfijn uit. Lucia heeft op ons verzoek een heerlijke maaltijd bereid, waarvan we aan de grote tafel in de tuin hebben genoten. Het huis ligt op een heuvel met uitzicht op een wijngaard. Het heeft een gunstige ligging ten opzichte van alle mooie steden in de omgeving.
Dit huis raden wij zeker aan als vakantieverblijf in Toscane.
Familie Deun

We spent our holiday in Villa Karolina with our family. After coming we were greeted by the owners ( Gabriele, Lucia and their daughter Carolina ). They showed us around the beautifully furnished house. Each of three bedrooms has their own bathroom. Besides, there is well-equipped kitchen with a big table and a separate living room with a flat TV ( satellite channels ). Generally the house is in a classical style but you can find there some details connected with Tuscany which additionally emphasizes its unique character. The kitchen opens onto the big garden with an amazing swimming pool. In the garden there are places for having dinners, drinking caffee and reading books which are arranged in an interesting way. Moreover, by the swimming pool and on the terrace overlooking Poggibonsi and surrounding hills you can use deckchairs. The owners live upstairs but thanks to separate entrances to the property the guests can feel freely. However, we enjoyed Gabriele and Lucia’s politeness and possibility to talk with them and ask a lot of questions. Gabriele advised us on choosing and buying wine, quite often he treated us to delicious ones ( his knowledge of wine is really wide), whereas Lucia was our guide about Italian cuisine and she prepared for us tasty dishes. We strongly recommend to try Lucia’s pizza and zucchini flowers. It is important to admit that the house is perfectly situated especially for those who want to visit places recommended by guide books ( Siena, Firenze, San Gimignano and towns on the Chianti trail ). There is also a big supermarket Pam where you can buy everything you need during your stay.
To sum up , it was an unforgettable week in the heart of Tuscany thanks to the owners’ hospitality. It is worth recommending this house to everybody who wants to rest far away from the bustle of the big city and to feel an Italian atmosphere in the luxurious conditions which are offered by Villa Carolina.

We just returned from a week at Villa Carolina. The Villa was wonderful-3 large bedrooms, 3 modern bathrooms, modern kitchen, & comfortable living room with a big screen hotel. The grounds including a swimming pool and jacuzzi are lonely with sweeping views and several areas to relax and dine alfresco. The owners, Gabriele and Luccia are very helpful & friendly, but not intrusive. Be sure and have Luccia cook one night for you. It was a highlight! The location is very centrally located so day trips to Chianti, San Gimignano, Florence (take the train), Lucca & Pisa. We hight recommend Villa Carolina

Our family stayed one week of our holiday in Villa Carolina. The appartment was very nice with three big bedrooms with their own bathrooms. The appartment has their own private beautiful garden with an amazing swimming pool. The owners ( Gabriele, Lucia and their daughter Carolina )they lived upstairs. We appreciate the owners helpfullness and discretion. Lucia prepared us a fantastic dinner with 4 courses and served a tasty wine.
Thanks for an unforgettable week at Villa Carolina it was an excellent stay and we really want to recommend it to others.

Kindly regards
Familien Løkke
Norway

Our family stayed at Villa Carolina for two weeks and it was heavenly! The Villa is even more beautiful than the photos. There are so many outdoor spaces to relax and look at the beautiful Tuscan countryside. The inside of the villa is very clean and beautifully decorated with modern bathrooms, a modern kitchen, and nice furnishings. The location is perfect for exploring the wine regions, Florence, as well as Tuscan walled cities. Lucia and Gabriele are very kind and helpful. Lucia’s dinners are so delicious – the best we had in Italy! - make sure to enjoy them during your stay. Lucia was very helpful in accommodating food allergies for people in our family. This was an unforgettable vacation and we are recommending this villa to everyone and hope to return very soon.

Six of us stayed for two weeks in July and loved every aspect of our experience. The Villa was spacious, the grounds were perfect, and our hosts were truly outstanding.
They cooked wonderful meals for us and brought us to their newest Villa rental nearby and also to one of their favorite restaurants in San Gimignano - Poggio Alloro. You must go here.

We used the pool and grounds every day at day's end and this was a great placed to come home to after a day of sightseeing. The PAM supermarket is 5 minutes by car and is stocked with everything you need including wine. Also close by and two must stops are the winery Sant Appiano (Tele # 335 335073) where you should experience the wine tour and light lunch for 25 Euros and the close by restaurant Secolo Decimo Quinto (Tele # 055 0540260) where the lunch and diner specials are outstanding. Both are 5 minutes away by car.

Not to be missed is asking your gracious hostess Lucia to cook a fabulous meal for you. We did this several times and arranged one in advance so we had dinner our first night in the Villa.

Highly recommend this rental and we would definitely return. We all miss it already.

We visited Villa Carolina in Linari, Italy in April 2015 for a week with friends. The villa exceeded our expectations from the pictures and previous reviews we had seen. The interior was immaculate, beautifully decorated and comfortable for us and the two couples we were traveling with. Each couple had their own bedroom and modern bathroom. The large kitchen was well equipped and the nucleus of where we happily gathered each morning. The exterior was gorgeous, surrounded by vineyards, overlooking the lights of the city below and convenient to all of the must-see Tuscan villages. We took day trips each day but one, when we decided to simply enjoy the beautiful grounds and pool of Villa Carolina. Our hosts, Lucia and Gabrielle, were most gracious and welcoming and prepared the most authentic Italian, unbelievable meals for us on several evenings. It was very difficult for us to leave but we hope to return some day soon. Until then, we will continue to daydream about our visit, meeting these beautiful people and staying at the fabulous Villa Carolina.

6 of us recently stayed two weeks at Villa Carolina. I don't think it is possible to find two nicer people than Lucia and Gabrielle. The Villa is central to Firenze and Siena making it a great location for day trips to many locations. Lucia prepared meals for us on several occasions. The accommodations are extremely clean and the kitchen doors lead to a covered patio overlooking a local farm and vineyard. Adjacent to the patio is the pool. Do not miss the Appiano winery which is quite close to the villa. Enjoy the tasting and have some wine shipped home.

A fellow traveler Tom B. summed it up perfectly. We miss the hospitality and two weeks spent in this villa. I recommend Villa Carolina to those planning a vacation in Tuscany.

I must also mention their new location adjacent to the Campari vineyard in the San Gimignano area. We were graciously invited to spend some time at Villa Iris with Lucia and Gabrielle and their daughter. Spectacular is an understatement. Six BRs & baths and large pool.

Our thanks to our hosts for a memorable two weeks

We had a grate time in the Vila
The place is butifule and the rooms are very comfort
We really recommend on this place
But most of all the owners of the villa two lovely persons will do everything to make your staying present
We will come back for sure