A group of seven friends spent a week in Solaria in September 2008, and we couldn’t have been happier. The villa is spacious and pleasant, on a hilltop with a balcony looking out over the surrounding farms, vineyards and, on the horizon, towers of Siena. This proved to be the perfect spot to enjoy a brilliant sunset after a day of hill towns or hikes. Though the weather was getting cool by September, we also made use of the swimming pool below the balcony, which was not due to close till the end of the month.

The house is beautifully appointed and comfortably laid out, with minimal stairs, unless the group uses the bedroom/bath on the top floor. We occupied all four available bedrooms and were happy to have a separate, though not en-suite, bathroom for each of those on the mezzanine floor. The dining room accommodated us with room to spare, and the one home-cooked meal we opted for–which turned out to be prepared by our charming and vivacious hostess–was so plentiful that we enjoyed leftovers a couple of evenings later. Our own meal preparations were limited to breakfasts, and the kitchen, while not spacious, was more than adequate for the purpose.

Martin was very helpful not only in selecting the property but also with information and tips about the region. For example, thanks to him, we found our way to a car park on the outskirts of Florence, thus avoiding the discomfort of driving in town. Settling into a special place for a week or two is a great way to visit Italy, and we will be back to IVV and Martin the next time we’re ready for that treat.