I'm a South African living in Bermuda with a passion for Italy. I rented this absolutely adorable medieval stone apartment in the gorgeous village of Gaiole in Chianti, Tuscany, for the entire month of May 2009. Alice Tetelman was an excellent resource and provided absolute support for the trip, by answering all of my travel questions and also providing required visa letters etc.

This beautifully furnished rental include 3 bedrooms, a kitchen with washer, dining room, living room, 1.5 bathrooms, a cute garden and a barbeque.

The pictures do not portray the beauty and quaintness of the place - from the babbling brook right outside your front door, to the women of the village hanging their washing out on the lines religiously each morning, to becoming very good friends with the butcher who doesn't speak any English, to waking up from an afternoon siesta to the clanging of the church bells every day at 4:30pm, to the delicious Chianti Classico - I could go on forever.

This is a great rental if you are looking to stay in a town where you can just "feel" the Italian way of living and be within walking distance to grocery stores, butcher, cafes and some of the best restaurants ever. This little village is not touristy, and there is no English spoken, so be prepared for a wonderful adventure and to speak a few words of Italian. It is also an excellent central venue for day trips to Florence, Siena, Radda in Chiani, Castellina in Chianti, Greve, Cortona, Orvieto, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Castello del Lago and so much more.

For trips further away, drive 20 mins to Montevarchi, park the car and take the train to Florence/Rome/Venice.

For excellent events, you have to go to Panzano (about 20 mins drive) for a fantastic meal experience at Dario Cecchini's restaurant, Solociccia. And for excellent wine tasting tours and cooking classes (with English-speaking guide and they'll pick you up from Renaiola) call Simonetta and Paola de'Mari at Toscana Mia. For walking distance restaurants don't leave out Carloni, it is 2 mins walk and the food and wine is brilliant. And ask the butcher for some "piquante salsiccia" and the cheeseman for some "pecorino fresca" (cured spicy sausage and fresh sheep's milk cheese) and enjoy it with some Tuscan break and EV olive oil.

There are just so many good things to say about the place but I'll leave you with the fact that I'll definitely be returning.