The villa Le Diacce is sublime. It offers a welcome base from which to tour the hilltop towns of Tuscany. Franca is a wonderful hostess whose knowledge of the local history is only exceeded by her culinary charms. Our family of 5 (including 3 adult children) spent a delightful time at this roomy villa. Each of us had our own bedroom and bathroom. It was a perfect holiday and, like so many of Franca’s guests, we will return of that we are certain.

The six of us had an amazing time thanks to our hosts. We did a cooking class with Franca and took their recommendations for exploring Tuscany. Thanks for a great time.

Beautiful place well situated to see different areas around Chianti. Franca was an excellent hostess and very accommodating. Answered all our questions and was very useful for giving recommendations for restaurants and super markets for food.

A group of 10 were fortunate to stay at the lovely Le Diacce villa. The view was breathtaking. The villa spacious and comfortable. The kitchen area was perfect for our late night Chianti sessions.The villa was close to many wonderful towns/villages . The best part was getting to know Franca who was our host. What a gem. Miss it already

We had an amazing time at Le Diacce last Summer. The vineyards are breathtaking, the house is beautiful, the pool is a welcome plus after a hot Tuscan day. Franca is an amazing host who goes above and beyond. Her recommendations for places to visit and dine were perfect - we especially enjoyed our last evening in Barbischio dining at Il Papavero. She also shared her wonderful wines and vast knowledge with us. I hope we can repeat this experience some time!

We had the pleasure of staying for six nights at Le Diacce. It is a beautifully restored farmhouse/villa located in a working vineyard about a 10 minute drive from Gaiole in Chianti. The house has five bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and can be divided into a three bedroom unit and a two bedroom unit. We had the whole house which was ample room for our family of five. It would also be a great place to share with a number of couples. Le Diacce provides an excellent base for exploring the Chianti region and the famous Chianti towns. The owner, Franca, is lovely and a wonderful source of information about local restaurants, sights etc. We also enjoyed a family cooking class and wine tasting put on by Franca and her sister. We would highly recommend Le Diacce!

This is a beautiful vineyard and house to stay out in Classical Chianti in Tuscany. The house has been restored and is very nice. Always cool because of its location and how it is built. Great for a family or a group of couples that want to explore Tuscany. Six nice bedrooms with enough bathrooms. Pool that is awesome to dip in during the hot afternoon. Enough excellent restaurants within 5-15 minutes, and I mean excellent restaurants. You are 7 minutes from the town of Gaiole, which is just one of three small town that you will want to visit when you stay here. It is also easy to get to the rest of Tuscany through the back roads of Tuscany. If you like to road bike, this is the place to be. But it is also a great place to relax and enjoy life. A butcher, small grocery store with bakery, wine store etc are all 7 minutes away and more within 30-45 minutes. The owners are great and always around to help with planning. You can also schedule cooking classes with them, and they have been around the world performing these classes. Once in a lifetime opportunity. There wine is also spectacular, but with so much great wine everywhere, it is hard to appreciate it all. The charm and beauty of this place is you can go all over the place and explore wonderful town, wineries and the history of Tuscany. But here you can also relax and enjoy walks through the mountain sides, vineyards, relax at the pool and sit out at night on the two patios and drink wine with family and friends. I hope to have the opportunity to return again someday. Simply, you have to experience it for yourself.

Our party of six adults recently rented the entire Le Diacce villa to serve as our "home-base" for two weeks while exploring the charming Tuscany region. The location of the property is absolutely perfect, as it is quiet and serene while being well-situated to explore the area. The villa itself is well-appointed with all of the comforts of home, and is fully-equipped for preparing meals. Most notably, it has many quaint areas both within the house and the surrounding property to find some privacy and enjoy the outstanding views and wine! Franca, the owner, is truly one of a kind!!! Her personality alone is worth mentioning, as she has a certain spark that makes anyone who meets her gravitate to her in such a way that is almost undescribable. Kind and caring, she went over the top to help us feel comfortable during our stay. From providing small creature comforts such as an "American" coffee-maker, leading an amazing cooking class (along with her sister Mimi and wonderful staff), to helping us print our boarding passes for our early morning flight, she was truly a joy to meet and really made a lasting impression on myself, as well as the rest of the group. I must also mention her marvelous sense of humor :) Due to the close proximity of La Diacce to the town of Montevarchi (about a 20 minute drive from the property), we were able to utilize the train system multiple times, exploring Florence, Pistoia (highly recommended!!), and Venice. By car (a necessity if renting this property, in my opinion), we explored Sienna, Volterra, Assisi, and many other small, whimsical towns that dot the region. That said, if exploring by train and car are not what you are looking for in a vacation, the town of Gaiole (about a 10 minute drive away) has many small shops, restaurants and cafes to explore as well. Gaiole also has a small grocery store (The Coop) as well as a very nice butcher, that we utilized many times during our stay. In closing, no matter what your agenda for your vacation, whether exploring, relaxing, or a combination of both- Le Diacce is simply breathtaking!

Franca was a very gracious hostess. She has created a very beautiful setting. The location is perfect to enjoy the local villages of Tuscany, Sienna, and a very convenient train ride to Florence. The villa is large with ample room. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. Large kitchen and dining room and a spectacular pool area. The views are breathtaking!!

This was the perfect place to stay while exploring Tuscany. We loved how spacious it was, but yet very cozy and inviting. The owners were so enjoyable and helpful with sites to see. This is the perfect get away spot. We enjoyed the ambiance and felt right at home. It made our vacation that much more memorable. I can't imagine staying anywhere else.

I am not sure where to start regarding our stay at Le Diacce on the Podere Ciona Vineyard. Exceptional owners and service, glorious accommodations, breathtaking views and oh did I mention exceptional owners! From a general space perspective: we were a large group (12) and the villa along with the cottage was more than enough room and capable of accommodating everyone. The kitchens were well equipped for us to do all the cooking we wanted and not have to go out to eat if we didn't choose to. Franca and Franco (the owners) and Maria, one of the people who help them were so gracious and friendly during our stay. They offered great advice on places to go close by and even day trips, making us feel as though we were an extension of their family. The morning after our late night arrival we awoke to the most spectacular views from our bedrooms of the surrounding vineyards and countryside, and Franca stopped up with maps and instructions on how to get to Gaiole for food for the week. We spent many happy times at the large pool surrounded by olive trees, relaxing to the smell of lavender from the nearby bushes. The property is just a short drive to Gaiole where we shopped and explored. Franca directed us to the most amazing butcher (Macelleria 1a Qualita - Chini established in 1682!) and pottery (Colori del Chianti) stores in town. We took advantage of both the wine tour and cooking class offered through the vineyard and couldn't be more pleased that we did. Franca & her sister Mimma were entertaining cooks, patient teachers and gracious hosts for the cooking school and joined us as we had an amazing meal overlooking their beautiful vineyard from the patio of the wine tasting & cooking school. I could go on and on about the beauty of this place and the family and staff that provides the accomodations. You should look no further for your next vacation. If you are a couple looking for a romantic getaway or a large family in need of a spacious place to call your home. If you stay at Podere Ciona you will have a very hard time leaving and like us start planning your return before you have left!

This is a LONG overdue review, so long that VRBO wouldn't let me enter our true dates in July of 2014. We first came across Le Diacce (aka Podere Ciona) here on VRBO. All prior visitors left such glowing reviews, luckily it was available for our trip. Podere Ciona is a family-owned vineyard and winery west of Montevarchi about a 90 minute drive south of Florence. The property is secluded and sits at the end of a dirt road in Montegrossi. The farmhouse is well appointed and split into two self-sufficient units but you can take the entire building. The kitchen is fully stocked - bring you own groceries and you are good to go. The bathrooms and kitchens are very modern and the WIFI is excellent. We were traveling with 8 people and had room to spare. There is a washing machine, mother nature dries the clothes. Le Diacce has a large brick patio area bordered by a large lawn. Sitting in lawn chairs looking out over the valley is quite relaxing, read a book, take a nap. We took some long walks around the perimeter among grapevines and olive trees - beautiful. The owners live further in down a long gravel driveway. Keep in mind you are in a rural area so there are lots and lots of animals and insects about both inside and outside. Bring bug repellent and check the rooms and beds before turning in for the night. The summer of 2014 was cool and drizzly so high temps were not a concern. I suspect the stone structure would have remained cool regardless. There is a swimming pool (not heated) a short walk away. Le Diacce’s location outside Gaiole in the heart of Chianti is excellent and an easy drive to Siena, Florence, the Prada outlet in Montevarchi, and the fashion outlets outside Florence. Groceries are available at a small Coop store in Gaiole. Montevarchi is a larger town with frequent train service to Florence. There is so much to see and experience, you would not regret spending a month here to wander the Tuscan countryside. The owners are wonderful people and very considerate hosts. Advice, if you are interested in eating at a local restaurant, Franca is only too happy to make arrangements so have her do so. We found that it can be difficult at times to dine in town without these introductions. Also if you have the opportunity to take her cooking class, do so! We all did it and loved it. By the way, the Podere Ciona Chianti Classico DOCG Reserva is very good wine! We enjoyed a bottle at Osteria "Il Papavero" in Barbischio.

We just finished a week in Tuscany and stayed at Le Diacce. What a wonderful place. There were 9 of us, 3 families, 3 generations and staying here fit our needs just right. Lots of room to get lost and relax, but also the intimacy of the great dining room to have dinner together into the late hours of the evening. While I could write at length about the accommodations, it really is Franca who makes the place special. She was helpful with everything we needed but was also thinking ahead for us. It was 3 weeks before we arrived when Franca asked if we would like dinner reservations for our first night there, knowing that we would be tired from our journey. She was even helpful in shipping some packages back to our home a few days after we had finished our stay and had already departed. While there, do take the time to do a wine tasting. Not only do they produce excellent Chianti Classico, the stories and history that you will hear are most fascinating. Consider also the cooking class with sisters Franca and Mimma - it is interesting if you want to learn traditional Italian cooking but also a great time to just to go and eat. Thank you to Franca and all the people at Podere Ciona who make this a wonderful place. Spero che facciamo venire e visitare di nuovo.

What an amazing Tuscany vacation! Our family of 6 (3 couples) absolutely loved our stay on Franca and Franco's vineyard. If you are looking for the perfect Tuscan getaway - seriously, do not look any further. You have breathtaking views of the Tuscan countryside, a villa tucked away on a vineyard, and local villages at your fingertips. Franca could not have been a better host. She was eager to provide us with restaurant recommendations, driving directions, hiking trails, etc. The restaurants she recommends were the best we had over our 10 day trip. Local places that we never would have found without her. The villa is very well suited for 3 couples. You each have your own bathroom, and the beds are comfortable. If you would like to cook, you have a kitchen with all the necessities. There is more than enough space for everyone. I would certainly recommend doing the wine tastings and cooking classes as well. It's an experience you'll never forget! A big thank you to Franca and Franco for an amazing stay. Remember, the cooking class with Mimma and Franca is not to be missed!

Our group of 6 travelers chose to rent both sides of Le Diacce to ensure our laughter did not bother others. Wow, did we choose right! From the very first glimpse of Podere Ciona, the house, grounds, Franca - we were captivated. Franca assisted us with places to eat, things to see, wine, each and every one amazing. Franca and her husband Franco even assisted us when our rental car had a flat tire. We cooked both at home and at the cooking school, enjoyed the pool, walking up to the castle and touring the area. Even in cold, rainy weather, there is plenty to do or not do at Le Diacce .. Pour yourself a great glass of Chianti Classico, grab a book and snuggle in to the living room. Heck, we even got a kick about making sure the boar gate was closed at night. We were very sad to leave and hope we can return soon.

What a wonderful place to stay for our cousin reunion. Very peaceful and quiet. Franca is an excellent hostess and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We had one night catered by her chef and the food was delicious. We would also recommend doing a wine tasting while staying at the property. It was everything we hoped it would be for our reunion.

An unforgettable and very relaxing family holiday in the hills of Tuscany - lovely house, beautiful views, delightful area, helpful and friendly hosts. Would certainly recommend it.

We stayed at Podere Ciona in July 2014. It is beyond comparison to any other vacation you have ever taken. The setting is pristine, beautiful, healing and even though our group was very diverse....ranging in ages from 70 to 16....everyone felt right at home and enjoyed every minute. We easily drove to many sites...most of which Franca directed us to! She is a gem and assisted us in every facet of our trip. The view, the pool, the food! The food!!! You must have Franca set you up with local eateries and in house chefs. Thank you Franca for creating such a beautiful place for rest and recreation!

I have glanced at the existing reviews and really echo all the positive remarks about the place. Spacious, inside and out...a sense of order, peace and a life style of hard work combined with a joy and grace of living well. There is a timeless quality that connects you to the past and present. Franca is mentioned in all the reviews, as she so welcoming and informative. She altered our plans to make our trip the best ever with no disappointments in what we ended up doing. Could not have done it without her advice. I also recommend her cooking class. Italians totally respect where their food comes from...big lesson here for her American guest. I highly recommend a stay here.

Having conducted an extensive search for the right property for our Tuscan week in Italy, I came across Podere Ciona. It was amazing, comfortable, fabulous setting, stunning scenery and great weather. We had a wonderful time, car is definitely needed, Tuscany is easy to drive compared with other parts of Italy, great places to eat locally. Franca was a gem from our first contact, and always emailed straight back to our questions. Was a great source of info for anything in the area. Property very well maintained and equipped. Thank you Franca, your lovely property will be on our highly recommended list.

This beautiful villa is spacious, well-equipped, quiet, and the perfect place from which to take day-trips. Franca is a delightful hostess! I would love to have her for a neighbor! We had a cooking class with Franca and her sister Mimma. Not only did we enjoy a beautiful meal, but we laughed and told stories through the whole evening. It was a special highlight of our trip. We stayed for 10 days, and weren't quite ready to leave. It's even a lovely experience to do laundry there with clotheslines overlooking the pristine hills and vineyard! Franca is easily accessible to answer questions about the properties or give advice on day trips and provide a rich history of the area. We went with her to the market in Montevarchi and had parmesan that we haven't found since. If you'd like to leave your car in Montevarchi, you can take the trains into Florence and beyond. Trains drop you in major city centers, so you can get right off and start exploring. You will really enjoy this rare gem.

As part of a 10th anniversary trip, my wife and I wanted to have friends join us for a week in Tuscany. After an exhaustive search, we found Podere Ciona on VRBO last October (we also were impressed by Ciona's own web site.) Franca's response to our e-mail query was immediate and helpful—indeed, all our correspondence was so prompt and friendly that I couldn't wait to meet her! We rented Le Diacce, a 5-bdrm country house that is the main guest accommodation at Ciona. Our week was all that we hoped it would be. On July 14, the four couples in our group came together at Ciona. Franca met us and showed us around the house and the grounds, answering our questions about the facilities and the area. The house was lovely and supremely comfortable. Each bedroom was very large with plenty of furniture and space to unpack and "move in". We prepared many meals in the well-equipped kitchen, and enjoyed eating together both in the dining room and at the table outside on the spacious patio. We started each day with a morning run through Montegrossi then up to the Abbey at Coltibuono and back. After a breakfast featuring apricots from the tree just outside, some of us would enjoy sunning and swimming at the pool, a gorgeous setting with an olive grove on one side, lavender buzzing with butterflies on the other. Others would seek shade for reading and contemplation on the grass overlooking vineyard hills toward Siena in the distance. We found Podere Ciona ideally placed for exploring the region. The hilltop towns of Castellina in Chianti and Radda are short drives away, and worth visiting for sightseeing and restaurants. An excellent restaurant, the Abbey at Badia à Coltibuono, lies but a few kilometers away—the food and view are sublime. We alternated days exploring—drives to Siena, and Montepulciano/Montalcino; a train ride to Florence (easier to park the car in Montevarchi and catch the train)—with sunny days of wonderful Tuscan laziness when the main exertion was popping the cork on a bottle of rosé. A definite highlight was our cooking class with the Tuscan Mammas. Franca and her sister Mimma have travelled internationally teaching Tuscan cuisine. Four of us took the class in the wine-tasting facility at Podere Ciona; the rest of our group joined later to savor the results. Franca and Mimma are charming, and had us rolling with some of their stories. The dinner, al fresco, accompanied by several Ciona wines, was simply fabulous. I highly recommend this property.

When we decided to have a family reunion (13 of us) we studied all the large properties on VRBO. The first one I looked at was Podere Ciona and that is where I went back after my thorough search. The exchanges with Franca, the owner were always friendly and prompt. From our first night we knew that we had found a gem. We had booked both the Diacce and the Diacciono and it was wonderful for everybody to have their own bathroom and so much space for privacy. The whole week we kept pinching ourselves to believe this paradise was real. Long meals on the beautiful terrace, great kitchens for the many chefs in our party. Our favorite spot, of course, was the wonderful swimming pool surrounded with fragrant lavender and tons of butterflies. We hope very much to go back some day as this was our best vacation ever. Thank you Franca.

My husband, two adult children, a friend of theirs, and I just returned from an amazing week at Le Diacce, Podere Ciona, a picture perfect villa on a winery. The farmhouse where we stayed offered us five large double bedrooms, each with its own full bath and beautiful views out every window. Everything was in perfect order for us, and very clean. You can see that the owners take loving care of this villa. Franca couldn't have been more helpful, accepting delivery and taking care of pick-up of our reserved bikes, arranging for her cook to prepare a fabulous meal on our first night, and making dinner reservations and recommendations at local restaurants, all of which were outstanding. Franca was always available to answer any questions we might have had, and offer helpful suggestions. We could not have been more pleased with our stay and hated to come home. We highly recommend this villa to anyone looking for a relaxing vacation, within close proximity of Florence, Siena, and gorgeous medieval castles!

Everything was above all our expectations . The photos do not do this property justice - the views are beyond beautiful, you can see for miles over the vineyards and the hills . Coming from Istanbul , 10 close friends for more than 40 years from high school years , wishing to have a real Tuscan week by location , weather , food , wine and hospitality ,we found much more than we had imagined…As soon as arrival , with the warmest of welcomes from dear Franca , we realized we were already feeling at home ! Location was amazing ; just on the perfect spot to go all along the “Strada in Chianti” through wonderful forest and country views and all the beautiful Chianti villages for our daily excursions. We will mostly miss our long breakfast hours and dinners in the company of wine and local Italian delicate food , gathering around our garden table . The pure Tuscan feeling in the garden , house , furniture , kitchen and above all ; warm hospitality of Franco and Franca Gatteschi will be unforgettable. We will definitely be back very soon…..Many many thanks Franca ; you have created a heaven for your guests!

my family spent a week with Franca and Franco at their wonderful villa. the accomodations were extremely comfortable, the pool glorious and the atmosphere magical. they could not have been more charming hosts, making us comfortable, offering terrific restaurant recommendations and generally being available to answer questions. the hidden bonus was their vineyard's WOW rose wine which we could not get enough of! i would highly recommend this very special spot for a restful, well fed family holiday.

What a beautiful place! Franca and Franco made us feel at home from the moment we arrived. We got in late at night --to find the cupboard full, and woke up to the spectacular view. Just what one imagines a Tuscan villa would be. Chianti has, of course, many magnificent towns --and Florence and Siena are a stone's throw, but Ciona was the highlight of our trip. Our touring was happily bracketed by lovely mornings and we were eager to come 'home' each evening. The villa itself was perfect --- comfortable, beautiful, functional. We slept peacefully, cooked happily, and lounged indulgently. We probably could have spent more time sunning ourselves poolside, but it was nevertheless a storybook venue with enormously graceful hosts. We could have stared out over the rolling hills and olive groves for hours.... a glass of Podere Cione rose in hand, and nothing but peaceful beauty at every turn.

What a special place we found. Such beautiful grounds with an amazing view. we stayed in their cottage at loved every minute. Here is everything you may need, and more. In fact we loved it so much that we have reserved the entire villa next year in september. 12 persons. 6 bedrooms and all with private bathrooms. Francesca will cook dinners for us, and you can to enjoy dinner either at her beautiful house, or she will come to your villa and prepare a 3 course dinner incl their own wine. I can not say enough about Franca & Franco. they made us feel very welcome and it was never too much trouble to assist with any questions. do yourself a favor, book this villa...look no further. the rate is also very reasonable. ( more expensive many other villa's I looked at, and not as nice)

I brought my fiance here in April hoping he would fall in love with the place and say that we could get married here. After five days, amazing sunsets, and being made to feel as if we were at home with Franca and Franco - he said YES! We are holding our wedding here in June of 2011 and are sure it is going to be the most amazing wedding. I can't say enough good things about Podere Ciona. We just felt as if we had come home and wanted to share it with our friends and family. One evening Franca even asked us why we weren't exploring the countryside. Why leave when we have the most beautiful view? I took a cooking class with Franca and the food was INCREDIBLE!!! I hope to return here for many years to come as our family grows and we will always hold Podere Ciona dear to our hearts.

Ten of my family came to Italy for a wedding. The wedding party was in another villa about 20 minutes away. We all loved the location of the villa in the vineyards with views of the countryside. Franca was very gracious and helpful in many ways including making reservations at the museums in Florence. She gave directions, and recommended restaurants. The pool was refreshing and the patios were wonderful to relax and have a snack. We loved the big dining table for all of us to eat together like a real Italian family. The kitchen was more than adequate and we were able to concoct great feasts. The location was central to everything and we were able to do lots of sightseeing in little midieval villages and take trains to Florence. The roads were rather twisty and remote but in great shape! We found the villa clean and everything as advertised and a good value. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wishes to enjoy rural Chianti. The wine and the food are fantastic. I can't remember the names but there is a great restaurant in Gaiole.

My husband and I were recently married in Tuscany and we rented the large house and a cottage at Podere Ciona for our family in friends who joined us. The pictures of this estate do not and cannot do it justice! It is breath-taking beyond words! The compound of old stone homes and cottages sits on rolling hills among vineyards and fields. The views across the hills are spectacular, especially when you sit at the lower pool (there are 2 pools), perched at the edge of a knoll. The homes are connected by old-fashioned country dirt roads. Absolutely charming! It is as if you stepped back in time to a simpler life. The inside of the homes are down-to-earth country Tuscan. Big kitchens and inside and outside dinning areas give you the chance to make big family style dinners. The bedrooms are large and comfortable and each has its own bath. It does get hot in the summer and there is no AC - but open windows with summer breezes helped us to sleep comfortably. Podere Ciona is a working vineyard with its own wine production. Franca and Franco, the owners, have a home on the estate and are happy to give tours of the winery. Franca is an amazing and gracious woman! At 70, she runs the vineyard, the rentals for the homes and an Italian cooking school. If you rent a home a Podere Ciona, make sure to sign up with Franca for a cooking class. It will be one of the highlights of your trip! Podere Ciona is located down a dirt road from the tiny village of Montegrossi where we spent many an evening at the local restaurant. It is a family owned establishment where the menus are hand written - one menu per table. The food is amazing and well-priced. Gaiole in Chianti is the largest town close by. It was ranked by Forbes as the most idyllic towns in Europe in 2008. There is a wonderful restaurant in town that serves traditional Tuscan dishes such as wild boar and rabbit. Also located in Gaoile is beautiful Spalenna castle with a spa and fabulous 5 star restaurant (this is where we had our wedding dinner!). I cannot say enough about this wonderful property and it's gracious owners! If there was one thing to critique it is that, because this is a working farm, sometimes the mowers got started a bit early in the morning. A very small price to pay for paradise!