My wife and I (both of us are from the States) wanted a lovely anniversary in Tuscany but we were quite the novice travelers. We were looking for a property that would allow us to wonder the region on our own schedule, yet provide us with some...guidence... if we needed it. Patrignone was a perfect fit. We flew into Florence, downloaded the map of Tuscany on our Tom Tom, rented a very small car and started driving. Before we arrived, Simon sent us a PDF of information about the region that he woud do well to publish. Everything from turn by turn directions from the airport, to tips on driving in Italy, to where to plan to visit. We could not have asked for a more complete briefing of what to expect when we arrived.
When we checked in we found a century old olive plantation that was remarkably restored to a working farm, complete with one of the most hospitable familys you could find. If it makes a diffrence, Simon's native language is English, so if you are worried about a language barrier, there is none.
We were greeted with a bottle of chianti from a winery down the street, and a loaf of fresh bread. I can not say enough how beautiful and comfortable the cottage was that we stayed in. If you can imagine a perfect rustic Tuscan villa, this is it.
During our stay, Simon and his family were always available for questions about anything from where to find a Catholic church, to where to eat. They directed us to the best parts of Tuscany from a market in Panzano with a singing Butcher, to the Duoma in Siena with a violinist playing Ave' Maria.
Every part of our stay was perfect, it was the trip of a lifetime. I can not recommend them enough.