Accommodation

Holidays by Destination Europe Italy Tuscany and Umbria Accommodation 

With large numbers of attractively restored rrural properties, self-catering seems to be the accommodation of choice here, particularly for families. For specialists in this field see the report on Self-Catering Italy.

Tuscan hotels tend to the “grown-up” but while the five-star properties might not be comfortable with any but the best behaved children, from four-star down there are attractive options which welcome them.

For details of operators to book through see the general report on Italy.

Hotels generally charge by the room rather than the number of people and are likely to be willing to provide a cot if requested, or even a spare bed. High chairs however are rare.

The following are options which are not hotels but are good at catering to English speaking visitors/families.

Le Fontanelle
Pieve S Stefano AR 52036
+39 0338 921 9922
An 18th century farmhouse in three acres of grounds, 900 metres above sea level in the Tuscan-Emilian Appennines (at the very eastern tip of Tuscany, near the border with Umbria). Food is cooked using local produce and drinks are included in the price. Run by a British couple (Kevin and Morag Cleland). A swimming pool is set just above the house.
Sample Price For a week per person based on two adults sharing £425 half board high season. Under 2s stay free. Under 12s sharing with parents £150 per week full board.

Podere Vignali
Localita Vignali, 38, 58040 Pari (GR)
+39 0564 908 004
In the Alta Maremma, south of Siena, overlooked by the medieval village of Pari and surrounded by woodland. There is a farm with olives, fruit, vineyards, lavender and other medicinal plants, and honey. Everything is grown organically. Accommodation is in four rooms/units, accommodating up to 12, each unit with own bathroom and private access, satellite TV and computers connected to the internet. The kitchen, which revolves round the open fireplace, and the dining room where meals are served, are both open to all guests. A range of activities can be arranged, including canoeing, riding and biking, along with agricultural activities like olive picking at the end of October, beginning of November.
Sample Price €70 per person per day dinner b&b.

Villa Pia
Cap 06010, Lippiano, Italy
+39 (075) 850 2027
Around an hour from Florence and two and a half from either Pisa or Rome, Villa Pia with 13 guest bedrooms is on the edge of the medieval village of Lippiano which is on the Tuscan-Umbrian border. It is in five acres of land which includes a vineyard, an Italian box hedge garden, a secret garden, vegetable garden and orchard. There are also olive groves and chestnut woods on the estate, and a pool. Although elegant the atmosphere is informal - self-catering without the domestic duties, or a hotel without the formality suggests the material they send out - and while there is an esperesso machine, fridge with beer and fruit juice, water, wine and bowls of fresh fruit, free 24 hours a day, there is no TV, no minibars room service or reception desk. there is generally a wide range of ages so you should find children for yours to play with. Breakfast is self-service including helping yourself from an espresso machine and lunch is also help yourself. Children eat in the evening at 6pm, adults at 8.3pm.
The British owners, who have three children of their own, also rent out houses in the village so you can eat at the villa for example but don't have to behave communally all the time. If you want help with children girls from the village do babysitting. The village itself also offers a children's playground, a castle, fresh ice cream and a village dance every Saturday night in summer.
Although the place is designed to make things easy for you, so outings may not seem as inviting as they otherwise might, there are all the usual draws of the region, including Lake Trasimeno.
Sample Price Under twos at the start of the holiday are free if sharing, £500 in a separate room. Under 12s sharing are free or £500 in a separate room. There are some large room suitable for families. Otherwise prices for 2001 are £440 per adult per week full board except Thursday when lunch and dinner are not provided.
The self-catering properties in high season for a family start from £755.

While most hotel groups are details in the dedicated report, this one is currently relevant only to this area so listed here.

Lungarno Hotels

Lungarno Acciaiuoli, 4 - 50123 FIRENZE
+39 05527268000
Bookable in the UK through Mason Rose, 8A Bradbrook House, Studio Place, London SW1X 8EL (020) 7235 3245 / reservations@masonrose.com
A group of extremely smart Florentine hotels of which Lungarno Suites is considered the most suitable for families overlooking the Ponte Vecchio and River Arno. The suites are particularly spacious with separate lounge, kitchen area with dining table and en-suite bedroom. Continental breakfast is served in the suite and guests also receive a quintessentially Italian welcome tray of pasta, olive oil and tomato sauce. There are 12 studios (€290), 31 one-bedroom suites (€372) and one two-bedroom suite (€775). Cots and high chairs are free. Babysitting can be arranged at €20 per hour.