We enjoyed Theatern very much - the time in and around the house as well As the trips to Volterra, San Gimignano, Siena and Niki de Saint Phalle’s tarot garden. The daily swim in the pool is a must, and we also enjoyed watching cows and calves just across the access road. Highly recommended!

We enjoyed our extended stay at the Tuscany property. It was especially helpful that Steve looked after us so well and remained in touch before and throughout our visit.

We enjoyed our extended stay at the Tuscany property. It was especially helpful that Steve looked after us so well and remained in touch before and throughout our visit.

Great experience. Steve was very helpful.

Excellent joining instructions. Property as described and we much appreciated the welcome pack, a nice touch. Be ready for the 3km off road dusty track to the property . Cats around the property a bit of a nuisance, looking unfed.

Excellent joining instructions. Property as described and we much appreciated the welcome pack, a nice touch. Be ready for the 3km off road dusty track to the property . Cats around the property a bit of a nuisance, looking unfed.

The manager was great and really helpful. The house was very lovely, and so was the rural settings. We really enjoyd our stay, and can absolutely recommend it.

This villa was perfect for our holiday in Toscana. Although we encounter bees swarming at the entry Steve had a beekeeper on site before we returned from the grocery. The Villa was a perfect location for our day trips to various Tuscan cities. The views were stunning from all sides. Steve was a perfect host, giving us information on some of the lesser known towns, he also hooked us up with an incredible chef to cook a special birthday dinner in our kitchen. We HIGHLY recommend.

This villa was perfect for our holiday in Toscana. Although we encounter bees swarming at the entry Steve had a beekeeper on site before we returned from the grocery. The Villa was a perfect location for our day trips to various Tuscan cities. The views were stunning from all sides. Steve was a perfect host, giving us information on some of the lesser known towns, he also hooked us up with an incredible chef to cook a special birthday dinner in our kitchen. We HIGHLY recommend.

We really moves out stay. The owner was very helpfull. The house was perfect with amasing views. Other owners of the other houses were nog there do we had the swimmingpool to ourselfs.

We spent 2 weeks at Podera Colinella villa 14 and had a wonderful holiday. The villa itself is a semi detached property, although the neighbouring property was only occupied ( by the couple who owned it) for 5 days whilst we were there and we didn't have any noise issues. Overall there are about 14 properties in the complex and it was very quiet. The property is accessed by a 3km track, which was easily navigated in the car (which is essential). The villa itself is small and cosy, we were a party of 4 and fitted comfortably. The furnishings were good and beds very comfortable, we were fortunate to have excellent weather, so the fans in the bedrooms were a bonus. The pool area was lovely, with charming views over the countryside. And most days we had the pool to ourselves. The large pool wasn't heated but that wasn't a problem for us in the hot weather, and was 1.4m depth throughout. There was some shade around the pool area, but some more would be useful. We had a wonderful evening at the villa when a private chef (Laura) visited and cooked a delicious 5 course dinner for us, which we ate on the terrace whilst enjoying the sunset (the 360° views were beautiful). Other evenings we either ate out at one of the many marvellous restaurants in San Gimingano or cooked in the villa ourselves. San Gimingano was about a 20 minute drive from the villa and we visited frequently. We also explored Siena, Lucca, Pienza which were all fascinating and beautiful ( I would recommend going early to find parking space though), driving in the Tuscan countryside was relatively easy, parking in popular tourist towns could be more tricky. Property manager Steve was very easily contacted by email, and was very helpful with suggested trips, he arranged for our wonderful chef and suggested a lovely local vineyard which we visited for wine tasting. We had a wonderful holiday at The Podera Colinella, and would definitely return in future.

The directions made it easy to find. Parking is easy and secure. The house was clean with good supplies for the dishwasher, washing machine and some other household items. The kitchen was a good size and well equipped for all our family meals. The beds were all comfortable and we were grateful for the fans and mosquito nets in a hot July. The two terraces gave us stunning views over the countryside. An umbrella for some shade would be lovely. The pool side had a good shaded area, although there was some competition for this in the latter part of the day. However all the other guests from the other houses were all very friendly, some of them were other owners. The pool was always clean as was the whole property. The position of this house makes you feel you are in a private villa on a private estate. Very luxurious! We can't wait to book again.

This was our second time at the villa and once again we had a fantastic holiday!! Booking and communication was made very straight forward by the owner Steve Pitts and any queries were answered promptly. The villa is beautiful, clean and comfy, the terraces and BBQ are a real bonus enabling you to spend the evening watching the most incredible sunsets. We alternated between days out and spending time relaxing by the pool. There are so many stunning places to visit, San Gimignano is well worth visiting especially in the evening as we found some lovely restaurants, Florence is an absolute must and I would definitely recommend going on the train, we also went to Gabni San Filipo Terme which are natural springs and were well worth the journey as was Pienza which is a beautiful town. If you want total peace and quiet in an absolutely stunning location, this is the place to go!!!

We had ana amazing stay. Everything went very smoothly (thank you, Steve!). Great facilities, clean and perfectly situated to explore San Gimignano, Volterra and further afield. Thank you!

We had ana amazing stay. Everything went very smoothly (thank you, Steve!).Great facilities, clean and perfectly situated to explore San Gimignano, Volterra and further afield. Thank you!

The directions made it easy to find. Parking is easy and secure. The house was clean with good supplies for the dishwasher, washing machine and some other household items. The kitchen was a good size and well equipped for all our family meals. The beds were all comfortable and we were grateful for the fans and mosquito nets in a hot July. The two terraces gave us stunning views over the countryside. An umbrella for some shade would be lovely. The pool side had a good shaded area, although there was some competition for this in the latter part of the day. However all the other guests from the other houses were all very friendly, some of them were other owners. The pool was always clean as was the whole property. The position of this house makes you feel you are in a private villa on a private estate. Very luxurious! We can't wait to book again.

We have just returned from a lovely fortnight at the Villa. It is in a perfect position, tucked away with absolutely stunning views from every window, the photos really don't do it justice!!! Booking the villa and any queries etc were answered promptly by Steve and the welcome pack was a lovely touch as we arrived quite late so it was much appreciated. We were all comfortable and made plenty of use of the BBQ and outdoor space, the pool was beautiful and we were often the only ones that used it so we had plenty of peace and quiet and it felt like having own private pool. There are so many wonderful places to visit, San Gimignano, Radda in Chianti, Siena, Montalcino, Pisa and Florence is a must and we can definitely recommend climbing up The Duomo but book first as we waited for 3 hours!!!!! Well worth it though! We had some lovely food and usually opted for the housewine which was fine. We've all had such fantastic time and will definitely be returning!!!!

This a charming appartment on a lovely compound in the Tuscan hills. Great for quiet and a bit of tranquility. The booking process was easy and communication with Steve was always prompt and helpful. The appartment is nicely done and comfortable. The outside terrace is perfect for eating and enjoying the surrounding hills. There is a brick fireplace for grilling. It can get quite windy in the afternoons. The kitchen is not large but well-equiped. The beds are comfortable, the fans were helpful when it got too hot and the views from the bedrooms were, again, spectacular. The welcome basket was a very nice touch.The bathrooms were clean and the washing machine was handy, and there were enough towels for the five of us. The wi-fi is appreciated, although can be a tad slow at peak times. The pool is the same depth throughout (over 4', no shallow end). The water, surprisingly, was cold throughout our stay with no noticeable rise in temperature despite the sunny weather for the most part. The kids weren't allowed inflatable toys in the pool, nor permitted to wear swim shirts. For these reasons we did not enjoy the pool as much as we would have liked. Aside from the pool there wasn't a whole lot else for the kids to do. We could not find kids' channels on the TV, so it was quite handy to have a DVD player, we just picked up a few used DVDs and were good to go.Volterra and San Gimignano are reasonably close by, keeping in mind the twisting roads in Tuscany. The closest grocery store is way down the road. We also enjoyed a nice supper at a restaurant called Tre Case. The access track didn't bother us, but our rental car was happy to get a car wash! The property is suited for adults looking to get away, who enjoy having peace and quiet and being remote all while having easy to do day trips to the coast, Firenze, Siena or the many charming hillside towns in between.

We had an absolutely wonderful time at Collinella 14 – a truly beautiful villa with amazing views over stunning Tuscan countryside. Loved the wonderful countryside and peace and quiet of the location and even got to see some baby wild boar  I agree with Julie’s comment below - it was just so easy to relax here and enjoy the food, drink, wildlife and scenery. Absolutely idyllic! The villa itself is gorgeous, comfortable, clean and well equipped. The gardens are beautiful and the pool was just perfect for us and the kids (11 and 13) and was never busy. Loved having terraces on both sides of the villa so we could enjoy both the morning sun and stunning sunsets. We also had some great trips out to Volterra, San Gimignano and Pisa, which are all well worth a visit. Booking was really easy and Claire and Steve were incredibly helpful - providing us with easy to follow directions and lots of information. We also found the recommendations for local restaurants and shops very useful. Thanks for a great holiday. We hope to be back soon!

The villa was in an absolutely stunning location 'far away from the madding crowd'. The pool was close by but not intrusively so and it was just a short dander to it. The villa itself was beautiful and well equipped. We would recommend it to anyone. Graham and Natalie, Michael and Vivienne

If you want a peaceful holiday, this will suit you fine. You are half a mile from the nearest road, and all you can hear all day are the sound of the birds and the distant clanking of cow bells. You can see the towers of Volterra on the distant horizon, and apart from that, all you can see are lovely rolling hills. Volterra and San Gimignano are close enough for excellent restaurants, and there are a few places even nearer. The only caveats I would make are (a) the kitchen / living room was rather small for five of us; and (b) the track from the road was becoming rutted and rocky (but it was October and I believe it will be repaired for the new season). Nearly five stars, even allowing for the caveats.

Just returned from our second relaxing holiday in this superbly located and comfortable villa. The views from both terraces are magnificent - whether you are watching the sun set or even a spectacular thunder storm. It was so easy to relax here and enjoy the food, drink, wildlife and scenery. Claire provided lots of very useful info beforehand and was very responsive during both our stays - much appreciated. The booking process was very simple. The pool area is nearby and not intrusive. In fact you can feel very private at the villa because of the planting which provides a natural screen. The villa is well equipped and the beds are comfortable. The villa was clean on our arrival. Proximity to both Volterra and San Gimignano is a bonus and both well worth visiting. We caught the train from Castelfiorentina to get to Florence - so easy. We also managed to get to one of trial races for the Siena Palio - very exciting. Lucca is well worth the drive (about 1h 20m). Lots to see in this area - so much so we came back for a second visit!

Prior to travel, Claire was always quick to deal with our queries or requests for assistance and after arrival, when we encountered small problems with a lock and a dribbling showerhead, a call to her had the issues sorted the next morning. She rang to ensure all was ok - it was and remained so until we left. The podera is very comfortable for four old grumps, with good modern domestic gear and equipment. The water is piping hot on demand with two excellent showers. The ground floor interior, whilst not large, is comfortable with a rustic flavour to match the external setting and the beds and bedrooms (one up, one down) are just as good. Who wants to stay in bed anyway, with 360 degree views to the far horizon whenever you venture outside. Two covered but open terraces on opposite corners demand alfresco dining and whilst we were there, we did morning, noon and night - if we were in! Collinella has several holiday dwellings but none (including next door) are intrusive and all blend to make perfect Tuscan hilltop retreat. We watched cattle with egrets for company, heard skylarks, were visited by a fox and early one evening on the opposite hillside we saw two wild boars going about their business! Contact with the outside world was straight forward, even allowing for the lane in and out - it is not difficult, but just requires low speed. The open roads are not crowded and Volterra is 30 mins. east and San Gimgnano the same west. Thanks to Claire's excellent pre-travel info pack there are several eateries/shops/petrol stations etc. identified that are even closer. Florence, Siena and Pisa/Lucca are easily reached by road and the train can take the strain to Florence or Siena from nearby Certaldo (25mins.) What's not to like?

We had a fantastic time staying at this villa. Fantastic location in the middle of the Tuscan hills and just an hour to Siena, Florence and Pisa. San Giangiamo and Volterra are just 20 - 30 minutes away. There is not a great deal near the villa (which is the appeal!) and there is a 2km dirt track to contend with from the main road but it was well maintained and was not a problem. All you can see is green hills for miles. There are 2 or 3 other buildings on the site but rarely saw anyone else during our stay. The pool was great if not a little chilly to start with! We weren't blessed with scorching weather so sure it will heat up quicker on hotter days. There were 4 adults and a 21 month old in our party and it wasn't a squeeze. The property has a travel cot and big box of toys to keep children entertained and the villa is far enough away from the pool for safety. Villa was comfortable, (as were the beds), clean and the two outside eating areas mean you can enjoy both the morning sun and sunsets. We had loads of BBQs (good fish at the San Gim market on a Thursday) and the local wine is fantastic. We found the booking process with Claire really easy and she kept In touch in the run up to the holiday and provided us with great directions to and from the airport and activities. Highly recommended and surprised it was as nice as it was for the price.

We stayed at Collinella in April of this year and had a lovely time. Allan and Claire were very helpful with easy to follow directions and lots of information. The views from the villa were breathtaking. We could get used to looking across to the mountains above Pisa with a glass of red wine. The gardens around podera collinella are beautiful with Cyprus trees and olive groves. We spent many happy days exploring San Gimignano, Sienna and Volterra. Previous guests had left recommendations for restaurants in the villas folder which we enjoyed. Thanks for a great holiday. Highly recommended.

My husband and I and our 20 month old son have just returned from this Villa in Tuscany, which has wonderful views of the surrounding countryside, which never fail to please. We did lots of visits to the nearby hill towns, which were very picturesque and historic. The downside for us was the size of the villa, the main living and eating areas are very small and there was far too much furniture for such a small place. While the sleeping areas were a good size the extra downstairs bedroom could have been better utilised as part of the living area. The villa is also semi-detached, which we were not aware of and would not have booked if we had known, and the walls were very thin so we could hear everything from our neighbours and I mean everything! Perhaps the most disappointing thing for us was the unmade road you have to drive along to access the property, which again we were not aware of until we had paid our final instalment. While some people might not find this an issue, the fact that it is approx a mile and a half of craters and steep hills, turned my stomach every day we had to drive along it. We made sure that if we went out, we only returned when we were finished for the day as I could not face the journey more than twice a day. I am glad we took out extra insurance for our hire car as most hire car companies do not cover you on such roads and for damage to the tyres and underside of the car. One of the other reasons we booked was to make use of the swimming pool with our little boy but unfortunately this was not heated and in September, while the weather was still lovely, the pool was freezing so we could not make use of it. It is a shame that some of these things were not mentioned in the property particulars before we booked as we certainly would have reconsidered. These things may not bother a lot of people and if not the villa is set in a beautiful location and Claire provided a lovely welcome pack on arrival. However, because of the above we could not recommend the property.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the villa with our 3 teenage boys. The location is ideal for trips to all the most beautiful and interesting Tuscan locations such as San Gimingano, Sienna, Volterra, Florence, Pisa and Lucca. We interspersed the culture with long lazy days chilling on the terraces and by the pool. The pool is very well maintained and clean. Although there are other villas and apartments the pool was never crowded and most days we had it to ourselves. The villa has everything you need and its position gives great views on all sides and is ideal for catching the breeze on the hottest days. It is very peaceful and quiet and deer were spotted, but sadly no wild boar or porcupines. Its not a large villa but the terraces add space for sitting out and relaxing - private and not overlooked. Had the most amazing evening all lying on loungers watching shooting stars and the milky way. Clare and Allan were very helpful getting a local plumber to us as soon as possible to mend the sink. They also sent loads of useful info about the place including shops and restaurants. The only downside was the gravel road to the villa which was very uneven in places and needed great care.

Thanks Claire and Allan, we have just returned from a great holiday at your property. We were really pleased your house was so comfortable and well equiped, giving us a chance to relax and enjoy ourselves. We particularly liked the two wonderful sun terraces with spectacular views over the Tuscan countryside. We needed your lovely pool to cool down as the weather was so good. There are so many great places nearby to visit, our favorites were San Gimignano and Volterra. So much history, culture and beauty in those streets, plus great places to eat, not forgetting the heavenly ice creams. Your directions were excellent as was the house brochure, with lots of useful information. The welcome pack was much appreciated as we arrived late on the Saturday evening. The red wine was particularly nice.

A very rural retreat with spectacular views across the Tuscan landscape. A perfect base for accessing Pisa, Florence Siena and San Giminiano. Villa is well equipped and having access to the swimming pool was a bonus. Claire was extremely helpful and her instructions and recommendations were spot on. A welcome pack on arrival was greatly received. This was our first visit to Italy and the perfect introduction to the Tuscan way of life.