Villa il Tesoro

One of the finest hotels we ever experienced, Villa il Tesoro, is out of business. If you visit their website it says that it is now a private residence. I checked through the Terrabianca website and they confirmed that the villa is now a private residence. This is a sad day for those of us who have had the good fortune to have experienced this special place. I guess it's a sign of the times.

A splendid location for this hotel, in the middle of vineyards and olive trees. Although it belongs to the municipality of Massa Marittima, it is closer to Valpiano (about 2 km) and Follonica (14 km) on the coast. The Maremma park itself is 50 km from the hotel. Service is excellent. Rooms are very spacious but sparingly furnished. The swimming pool is more for decoration than for swimming. The pool is circular with concentric steps becoming deepr in the middle. A computer with Internet access is available in the reception. Diner can be perfect. Besides the "a la carte" menu, there is choice of daily changing delicious courses but sometimes these courses were not our favourites (e.g. the BBQ on Sunday evening when the chef has his day off). A very good alternative is the restaurant Il Sottomarino in Follonica (via Marconi) serving excellent fresh fish - but forget the dessert here. The best ice cream in town is served just aorund the corner on the via Fratti.

This is a charming small hotel in Marremma. set in a vineyard, there are beautiful view, with an outdoor bar where you can enjoy the sunset. worth having dinner at the restaurant with a good selection of older vintages of the Terrabianca wines. They own the property. The nearby town of Massa Marrittima is a charming town.

The staff at Villa Il Tesoro are a delight - the restaurant is excellent, especially the wines and the lamb dish. Dessert was always divine. Our suite was simple, spacious and clean. Comfortable beds and a great spot to sit outside with a wonderful view on the vineyards. A peaceful, out of the way place with great food, great service and wonderful grounds. Excellent for relaxation and quiet bliss. Dogs welcome. The breakfast buffet had some wonderful Italian breakfast cakes and goodies! We recommend asking for an olive oil and wine tasting session, which was a pleasure. We will be back.

Excellent dining experience, outstanding spot- well worth the drive into rural Maremma for a stay here. Exceptionally well-tended grounds, including olive tree groves and vineyard, and superlative staffing. Peace and quiet at night are wondrous. Prices are a bit high, but worth the splurge.