The Villa il Poggiale was the highlight of a truly fantastic holiday in the South of France and Tuscany. The bedrooms are lovely, the common areas comfortable and beautiful, the staff incredible and the views from the terraces breathtaking. The breakfast buffet was quite good, but dinner was outstanding. We'd not thought to eat in, but choose to do so because we enjoyed the meals and the atmosphere so much. The staff members are friendly, personable and helpful; they make you feel welcome and are very accommodating. They reviewed my daily itineraries, provided additional information and tips, made reservations for wineries and tours, and advised on the best routes to our destinations. Bikes are provided; we rode close to the hotel past the olive orchard and vineyards. However, the public roads are intimidating for the casual rider and the hills are quite challenging on the private roads! We found the location perfect for visiting the villages in Tuscany - Sienna, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Montefioeralle, Greve, San Miniato, Vinci, Badia a Passiagno, Castello di Verrazzano, etc. - and close enough to Florence that it was an easy 40 minute drive for an early morning flight home. The villages are very close together so you can visit several in one day without feeling rushed. Several of the other guests used the hotel as the base for visiting Florence, Lucca and Pisa. We had chosen to stay in the larger cities for a few days, but either option would work. Highly recommend