In the home there is a guest book that shows the painstaking process that Stephano went through as he renovated this 500+ year old home. The book begins with a quote from Walt Disney that says "If you can dream it, you can do it." This sums up this amazing place and the soul and character of the owner. It is really beyond description. I've spend my life traveling around the world and have stayed in many amazing places; but this home in Arezzo is a cut-above. We wanted a relaxing vacation where we could make day trips to Florence, Sienna, and various places in Tuscany. Arezzo is ideally situated for this purpose, and it is big enough that you can still have plenty to do on the days you want to just hang around town. Stephano was our host, but so much more. We had him as a guide, and he did a cooking lesson for our family. He is full of good will, humor, and kindness. There are very few people you meet in the world who are so authentic, kind, and genuinely care about your happiness. This is Stephano through-and-through. He even has a little dog named Spritz that my family just loved! There really aren't enough words to describe our experience at this place, in Arezzo, and our time together as a family. The home is spacious, every detail has been thought through, and the giant fireplace just brings such warmth and love into the home. Beyond all of this, it is Stephano's passion for preserving the past and the magic that he sees in this edifice that is truly inspirational.

This was the most beautiful place to stay! We loved everything about it

Stefano is an absolute gem! a super host without a doubt!!! He made you feel so welcome! He shares his passion for history and the magic of renovating this 15th century dwelling. The place is so comfortable you will find it hard to leave.

We were so lucky to have found this exceptionally beautiful apartment for our eight-night stay for four of us in Arezzo: it exceeded our already high expectations for a gorgeous place to stay in a wonderful location in the historic section of town. It was very beautifully appointed, with fabulous antique decorations and furniture, lovely linens and plenty of them, and everything a chef could ask for in the well-appointed kitchen, and though we didn't cook often there was every utensil and pan that we could ask for. There is a beautiful private garden, and the interior was so spacious and comfortable, it made for a wonderful experience on every level. And Stefano! What a tremendous host! Words cannot express what a charming, charismatic and helpful host Stefano is, and he made our visit to Arezzo absolutely the best of our yearly vacations to Italy. Although we had mapped out an itinerary for each day prior to arriving, Stefano had even better ideas of what to see and we followed his advice to the letter and in doing so had many experiences we would not have had otherwise, and for that we are forever grateful. Directly across the street is a superlative pasticceria, Fratelli Bruschi--a wonderful place to start each morning with a warm welcome from the owner, Stefania, as if we were old friends. We have every intention of returning for a future stay in this exceptional apartment! Grazie mille Stefano!

A house does not make a home, and not all VRBOs are created equal. This villa and its host, Stefano, offer more than any hotel can in Italy. It is a place to discover meaning and purpose, and to connect with humanity across the globe. Everything you read about this villa and Stefano is accurate. There are many choices in Tuscany, but what makes this villa unique is its amazing host. Stefano brings humanity and authenticity to an amazing Italian vacation. He communicated quickly and effectively, and provided great recommendations on where to stop on our way up from Rome (Orvieto), great recommendations in the town of Arezzo during the Antique market, and finally a pasta making experience that my family will cherish for a lifetime. If you are trying to make a choice on where to stay in Tuscany, I recommend skipping the shiny villas on the hillside and instead stay in this beautiful villa and take some time to meet Stefano.

A wonderful property and a friendly and attentive host; we stayed three nights. The location is excellent: close to free parking just outside the city walls and just a few minutes walk from the centre of town. This is an historic property, lovingly restored, with a decorator's eye. Surpassed our expectations; highly recommended.

The property and photos were accurate descriptions of its history, charm and elegance. The owner, Stefano, communicated easily in English and was most helpful. We were very pleased with our three night stay.

To all the reviews before us...Ditto! The Locanda Bellavita is as pictured, but even more breathtaking when you are in her prescence, know her history & how Stefano restored her for all to enjoy. If you have a dream, Stefano will make it happen...he did ours! Now write yours~Once upon a time.... Stefano, we will cherish our time with you, the laughs, food, wine & friendship, you are in our hearts forever. 💕 Grazie Mille~Jim & Vonda "There really is a kind of insane beauty around us all the time. It's just a question of learning to slow down, take a deep breath and meet the moment." Graham Nash

My husband, friends and I were fortunate enough to recently spend 3 nights at Stefano’s Villa in Arezzo. We had an amazing time. The Villa has been beautifully restored to its original grandeur, which we appreciated during our stay. Stefano was the host of all hosts. He provided us an experience like no other. Upon our arrival in Arezzo, he was there to great us at the train station, and transported us to his Villa. On our first night we had a cooking class, where we prepared the most delicious ragu with home made raviolis. We ate outside on the terrace, enjoying bottles of wine with our meal. It was like a dream! For the next two days Stefano was our tour guide, bringing us to the most quaint Tuscan towns, where we could experience authentic Tuscany away from the crowds. One day he even brought us to a river in the woods where we were able to swim and cool off. If you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to stay at Stefano’s Villa, I highly recommend. We will forever fondly remember our stay and hope to return one day.

This place is so charming, just what you’d imaged a tuscan villa looking like. Stefano is a great source of information and extremely helpful.

Stefano has done an amazing job remodeling this place. An ancient Counts residence that is now an amazing apartment. The old style charm remains but updated with modern conveniences. Stefano is a fabulous host and I would recommend this place to anyone.

This apartment is quite special. The 3 bedrooms were extremely comfortable and filled with charming details. The towering ceilings and brick walls made us feel like we were living in a fairy tale. The ground-level apartment is naturally cool, and we never missed air conditioning. The host, Stefano, provided wonderful recommendations and was very generous with his time and his backyard, which is filled with lovely trees, succulents and a fish pond. We felt quite spoiled, frankly. I would recommend the town of Arezzo itself highly. It's slightly off the beaten tourist track, and even though we were there in August we never felt like it was crowded or hectic. We had 3 excellent meals at 3 restaurants there, none of which required reservations or waiting time. If you require four beds, discuss it in advance with Stefano. The double bed in one of the rooms can be separated into single beds. The room is shown both ways in the photos (double bed + 2 singles) but I believe it's typically configured as a double bed. The living space and dining table are large and sumptuous. The setting allowed our family of 5 to rest and recharge each night after days spent sampling wine and exploring the spectacular Tuscan countryside. I would eagerly return if I'm ever lucky enough to get the chance. Grazie mille!

Stefano our host, tour guide and chef went above and beyond to make our stay in Arezzo amazing. His attention to detail and beauty in the apartment made it the perfect place for our Tuscany experience. Would definitely recommend any of his tours but especially the Tuscany and wine tour. His love for Italy and history makes it informative but fun.

All we can say is, be prepared to add another person to your family because Stefano will become more than just your average VRBO host! From the top knotch accommodations that he has put so much love and care in restoring (so much history in the very modern comforts) to the beautiful "in town" location within walking distance to everything this wonderful Tuscan town has to offer (just sitting in the nearby park enjoing wine and pasta from the gazebo, overlooking the rolling hills of Tuscany was enough, but there is way more to Arezzo than that), but just the fact that Stefano pours his heart and soul into making sure your stay with him is an unforgettable experience in every way. He even tought us how to make pasta and prepared the rest of a very delicious dining experience right in our own kitchen/dining room! Cant say enough good things about our stay in Arezzo! We would highly recommend Stefanos place for anybodys Tuscan holiday!

The Guest House was clean, comfortable and well appointed. The photos are an excellent representation of the property. A wonderful place to stay while in Tuscany as the train station for day trips is a short walk away. Arezzo is quite a charming city in its own right. While the property alone made our visit worthwhile, it was our host, Stefano, who made our stay so enjoyable. He was available for anything we might have needed. He also prepared, and joined us for, an incredible lunch on the patio one afternoon and took us on a guided tour to Montepulciano on another. He is an amazing, knowledgeable and talented guy. We arrived as his guests and departed as friends. Rich and Kristen C.

This apartment is amazing! Stefano is also amazing and has lots of recommendations for things to see and do. This location is perfect you can go across the street to coffee and fresh bakery goods, or down the street or restaurants and shopping is only a few blocks! We walked everywhere and just enjoyed the wonderful life that Arezzo has to offer! You won’t want to miss the gem in Arezzo! I will be back!

Beyond expectations for friends who have traveled together on many vacations all agree that this was without a doubt the BEST one! We will not only talk about the fabulous charming home with every detail attended to from the beautiful furnishings, fireplace and the big surprise, the zen garden, where we spent many hours together. None of this would have been possible without our wonderful host and new friend, Stefano. Who taught us how to cook, sing and delight us with his stories. Thank you, Stefano for being kind, generous and making our trip so very special!

Our stay was everything we hoped for! The apartment is spacious yet cozy. All amenities are there including the ability to play music that just adds to the ambiance. The kitchen is ready to prepare anything you can imagine. The bathrooms are state of the art. The garden in the back was a favorite place to enjoy a glass of wine. Stefano brought us on the most amazing full day tour. Those memories will last a lifetime. He is always available and really cares about his guests. We were very sad to leave but have so many wonderful memories! Thank you Stefano for a wonderful stop on our dream vacation!

Staying at Stefano's property in Arezzo was fantastic. The property itself is an historic building that has been renovated with all modern conveniences, while respecting the architecture and style from the historic period. We enjoyed the large table, garden, and fireplace. The beds were also comfortable. The location is within the city walls and the historic center is a short walk away. We enjoyed Arezzo as it was less touristy than many of the other cities in Tuscany. The best part of the stay was the engagement with Stefano. He provided a very enjoyable cooking class. It was fun, a learning experience, and ended with a great dinner! His approach is to enjoy the process and everyone did just that. Stefano also drove us to the wine festival in nearby San Quirico d'Orcia. It was very convenient to have these services provided directly by Stefano as it simplified planning for this part of our trip. We have travelled throughout Italy for many of the past 20 years and our stay with Stefano was one of the most enjoyable of all.

Lovely spot! Conveniently located near the city center. Also a great jumping off point for other villages. Stefano was lovely and very helpful! Thanks!

Stefano was absolutely amazing! We have never rented a space where the owner was available 24/7. We had so many laughs and he was the best tour guide EVER! His cooking lesson was quite an experience! Homemade pasta with artichoke and pork was to die for!” We will miss you Stefano and hope to come back again! Signed , “the calamity and Cindy” 😂

This property is stunning! Stefano has created a beautiful and inviting place. We thoroughly enjoyed the fireplace, the kitchen, the music collection and the outdoor zen garden - truly lovely! We had the BEST time with Stefano as our tour guide for a day in Tuscany. He also gave us many recommendations in the town of Arezzo too. Can’t say enough about how special our experience was!

We stayed at Stefano’s place for two wonderful nights. The first night we did ask for a cooking lesson. We chose to make ravioli, eggplant parm and tiramisu. It was a busy night but we were a party of three and he gave us each a task. Fun night for sure! Arezzo is a beautiful city!! I wish we had stayed for 3 days or more! Really special city and less “touristy” than some of the more known stops. The apt is incredible! The posted pictures are accurate and the love and care taken to restore the historic property is evident. Thanks, Stefano, for sharing your enthusiasm and devotion to preserving the apartment. Right across the street (10 steps) is a super Pastry shop for coffee and edibles! So special!!!

This absolute jewel of a property is both a delight to stay in and behold. From the moment you step through the gorgeous wood front door and gaze at the meticulously restored and decorated interior you feel at home.Loved everything about this place.Stefano is an exceptional host - take him up on the cooking class it was the highlight of our 2 week trip!!Can't say enough about Stefano and this place. We've stayed here twice and will definitely return.

This was the best experience we’ve had with a VRBO rental. Stefan was our personal chef and was making an amazing dinner for us when we arrived, after a long day of travel. It was truly an amazing culinary experience. His attention to detail was on full display- every part of the guest home was carefully thought through and designed. We can’t recommend the place enough!

Stefano was an excellent host! He made a point to meet us for check in, and had a fire going in the spectacular fire place. He also ensured that we had recommendations for things to do in the area, booking us up with wine tasting In Montepulciano, plus a cooking class where we ate ALL the good food. The property was very clean and spacious. The only thing we found challenging was parking, though Stefano did mention a place nearby. I would absolutely stay here again, and recommend it highly.

Beautiful stay in arezzo. Great location. Very cozy and warm. Would stay again!!

Our stay with Stefano was wonderful! The home is located perfectly for our visit to see our son who was studying at OU Arezzo. Our favorite evening was dinner at the home where Stefano taught us to cook an authentic Italian meal. Amazing! The home is lovely and Stefano helped us in many ways on our trip to Italy! We would definitely stay here again! Best experience ever!

We had the opportunity to stay at this beautiful place in Arezzo. Stefano was a wonderful host, giving us tips for our explorations. The house is an historical work of art remodeled with modern comforts. We especially enjoyed the fireplace with supplied firewood as we were visiting in November. Stefano also had some very nice Chianti stocked (pay a very reasonable price for what you use). We will make a point to stay longer next time!

Wow! This home is a perfect representation of Tuscany. Beautifully authentic, great location, fantastic host, we couldn't have imagined it to be a better experience. We were 2 couples, the home is spacious and comfortable with everything you could possibly want right at your fingertips. Stefano was the consummate host and his cooking event he planned for us was absolutely amazing. We actually hated to leave! Don't hesitate, this is the right place for anyone, and Stefano will make sure it is a special visit.

From the moment we arrived until we left, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Stefano was wonderful, cooked us an amazing meal the first night we got in, and our time in the Arezzo area was top notch. Highly recommend this property!!

Stefano is a wonderful host. His property is absolutely beautiful. We had everything that we needed for our stay. Even had a wine rack fully stocked along with a spirits cabinet. The beds are very comfortable, and the rain shower in one of the rest rooms and a soaking tub in the other were so nice. The weather was too warm for a fire, but I could imagine how nice it would have been to have had one. The train station is about a 15 minute walk and it takes under an hour to reach Florence. The city of Arezzo is totally walkable and has plenty of small museums and stores. If you have the opportunity to have a cooking class with Stefano you must do it! You will not be making the ordinary types of food. I do believe that our class will be the piece de resistance of our entire Italian trip, for sure the best dinner I could have imagined. I have stayed in many VRBO’s and this is one of the finest. So nice to make the acquaintance and spend time getting to know Stefano.