Note: all these reviews are from Trip Advisor which you can see here:
Experience Tuscany with a local
Date of stay: October 2021
My friend and I spent a wonderful month in Italy in Sept/Oct 2018. We spent the last week with Rosalinda and family at La Maesta. What a fabulous week we had, where to begin. The hospitality was excellent, warm, authentic and friendly. Location was excellent; close enough to Umbria, did a day trip on the train to Florence, Montepulciano (one of our favourite towns), Cortana, Siena and easy enough for day tripping. Rosalinda would arm us with local maps and good advice a drop us off and pick us up each day.
We went with no real plans and Rosalinda advised us of the best places to visit on our day trips. There is nothing like getting good advice from a born and breed local. Each day was amazing and we packed a lot of experiences into our week. We really needed more days to do a cooking class, just chill and we could have visited so many nearby towns and villages.
We enjoyed the authentic Italian food made with love with fresh produce from the garden. The accommodation was very well set out with larger than average rooms. All set overlooking Tuscany.
A wonderful experience that we will remember fondly forever.
A big thank you to Rosalinda, Stefano, Virginia, Lilla and Florentine for making our Tuscan holiday great. It really did exceed our expectations.
Went we first booked on line we thought the price was a little higher than expected (poor Aussie $) but we quickly realised that it was great value for money.
This is the way to see Tuscany
Reviewed 22 May 2020
Four friends on this lovely relaxing holiday in Tuscany. Our first night there Rosalinda and her family made us feel so welcome, cooked a delicious meal for us, and worked out an itinerary for the week. It was so nice to sit back and watch the scenery as Rosalinda drove us each day to another interesting place in beautiful Tuscany.
Without fail, she would drop us off with directions to the highlights and within minutes we would be distracted by something wonderful, wander off and get gloriously lost. And by the end of each day, we would circle our way back to our starting point and without fail again, she would be sitting there waiting for us just like she said she would be. Ciao for now, Rosalinda, I can't wait to come back!
Diane K
Sebringville Ontario
Excellent way to start the retirement phase!
Reviewed 23 October 2019
What a lovely family running such a pretty property with excellent facilities and fabulous views over the valley. Lots of options for accommodation and a more amenable pair of host you couldn't ask for!
From delicious dinners with family, their happiness in sharing local knowledge and itinerary planning and then actually driving us to all those places, supplying maps and suggestions for lunch spots they were great and always smiling. Although Nonna Lilla wins the gold in the smiling department the other were close seconds.
Show less
Room Tip: Variety of accommodation options the views are stunning from everywhere.
Stayed: September 2018, travelled with friends
cmhardy2016
Townsville, Australia
Wonderful time in Tuscany
Reviewed 17 May 2019
Went to this lovely property with friends for a week. We were in Paris and Florence prior, and looking forward for a more laid back holiday. It did not disappoint. Wonderful views from our apt. great food, and so accommodating.
Our apt. was great, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a full kitchen, which we made a couple of meals, ok ordered pizza from the local town, and made a salad. We had full breakfasts with Rosalinda each morning, and amazing dinners with the whole family 4 times, (once we learned how to cook risotto).
Such amazing meals. Rosalinda and her family were lovely and so kind.
We traveled out each day to a town to explore, saw the local market and even went to a therme bath one day. I can't describe the countryside and towns properly, you just have to go there and experience it yourself.
Great place to stay to explore out each day, but so nice to come back at the end of the day to relax on the patio, (we were too early in the season for the pool) read, or just sit with a glass of wine and take in the scenery.
Thank you to Rosalinda and her family for a great holiday and being so accommodating and kind. Felt like family. Loved riding in the big van and taking in the sights traveling to each town. Oh yes" Mappas" provided.
Stayed: April 2016, travelled with friends
cheryl l
stratford
“Under the Tuscan Sun”
Reviewed 21 January 2018
We stayed for a week at Agriturismo La Maesta in June 2013, and booked the full "Tuscan Sun" package:which included continental breakfast each morning; several family dinners with our hosts: Rosalinda, Stephano, little Virginia, Nonna Lilla & Florintina; plus a comprehensive touring itinerary around the region with Rosalinda.
We stayed in a comfortable self-contained cottage on the property overlooking a small olive grove & veggie patch, just perfect for us to finish each day by watching the sunset with a glass of local wine and regional produce. Family dinner nights were a degustation of local treats, deftly prepared by La Nonna.
On the optional nights, Roslinda either drove us in to Old Cortona with a recommendation somewhere for a great dining experience, or we purchased supplies from the local supermarket and cooked a simple pasta ourselves.
The day trips were planned as such that Rosalinda would drop us off in the morning at a convenient location and we were then free to wander around each township armed with a map & highlights, and then to enjoy lunch/wine tastings etc knowing that our trusty driver would pick us up again in the afternoon and we would not have to drive.
We would not have seen as much as we did, had we attempted to do it all by ourselves.
A great introduction to Tuscany!
Date of stay: October 2021
My friend and I spent a wonderful month in Italy in Sept/Oct 2018. We spent the last week with Rosalinda and family at La Maesta. What a fabulous week we had, where to begin. The hospitality was excellent, warm, authentic and friendly. Location was excellent; close enough to Umbria, did a day trip on the train to Florence, Montepulciano (one of our favourite towns), Cortana, Siena and easy enough for day tripping. Rosalinda would arm us with local maps and good advice a drop us off and pick us up each day.
We went with no real plans and Rosalinda advised us of the best places to visit on our day trips. There is nothing like getting good advice from a born and breed local. Each day was amazing and we packed a lot of experiences into our week. We really needed more days to do a cooking class, just chill and we could have visited so many nearby towns and villages.
We enjoyed the authentic Italian food made with love with fresh produce from the garden. The accommodation was very well set out with larger than average rooms. All set overlooking Tuscany.
A wonderful experience that we will remember fondly forever.
A big thank you to Rosalinda, Stefano, Virginia, Lilla and Florentine for making our Tuscan holiday great. It really did exceed our expectations.
Went we first booked on line we thought the price was a little higher than expected (poor Aussie $) but we quickly realised that it was great value for money.
This is the way to see Tuscany
Reviewed 22 May 2020
Four friends on this lovely relaxing holiday in Tuscany. Our first night there Rosalinda and her family made us feel so welcome, cooked a delicious meal for us, and worked out an itinerary for the week. It was so nice to sit back and watch the scenery as Rosalinda drove us each day to another interesting place in beautiful Tuscany.
Without fail, she would drop us off with directions to the highlights and within minutes we would be distracted by something wonderful, wander off and get gloriously lost. And by the end of each day, we would circle our way back to our starting point and without fail again, she would be sitting there waiting for us just like she said she would be. Ciao for now, Rosalinda, I can't wait to come back!
Diane K
Sebringville Ontario
Excellent way to start the retirement phase!
Reviewed 23 October 2019
What a lovely family running such a pretty property with excellent facilities and fabulous views over the valley. Lots of options for accommodation and a more amenable pair of host you couldn't ask for!
From delicious dinners with family, their happiness in sharing local knowledge and itinerary planning and then actually driving us to all those places, supplying maps and suggestions for lunch spots they were great and always smiling. Although Nonna Lilla wins the gold in the smiling department the other were close seconds.
Show less
Room Tip: Variety of accommodation options the views are stunning from everywhere.
Stayed: September 2018, travelled with friends
cmhardy2016
Townsville, Australia
Wonderful time in Tuscany
Reviewed 17 May 2019
Went to this lovely property with friends for a week. We were in Paris and Florence prior, and looking forward for a more laid back holiday. It did not disappoint. Wonderful views from our apt. great food, and so accommodating.
Our apt. was great, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a full kitchen, which we made a couple of meals, ok ordered pizza from the local town, and made a salad. We had full breakfasts with Rosalinda each morning, and amazing dinners with the whole family 4 times, (once we learned how to cook risotto).
Such amazing meals. Rosalinda and her family were lovely and so kind.
We traveled out each day to a town to explore, saw the local market and even went to a therme bath one day. I can't describe the countryside and towns properly, you just have to go there and experience it yourself.
Great place to stay to explore out each day, but so nice to come back at the end of the day to relax on the patio, (we were too early in the season for the pool) read, or just sit with a glass of wine and take in the scenery.
Thank you to Rosalinda and her family for a great holiday and being so accommodating and kind. Felt like family. Loved riding in the big van and taking in the sights traveling to each town. Oh yes" Mappas" provided.
Stayed: April 2016, travelled with friends
cheryl l
stratford
“Under the Tuscan Sun”
Reviewed 21 January 2018
We stayed for a week at Agriturismo La Maesta in June 2013, and booked the full "Tuscan Sun" package:which included continental breakfast each morning; several family dinners with our hosts: Rosalinda, Stephano, little Virginia, Nonna Lilla & Florintina; plus a comprehensive touring itinerary around the region with Rosalinda.
We stayed in a comfortable self-contained cottage on the property overlooking a small olive grove & veggie patch, just perfect for us to finish each day by watching the sunset with a glass of local wine and regional produce. Family dinner nights were a degustation of local treats, deftly prepared by La Nonna.
On the optional nights, Roslinda either drove us in to Old Cortona with a recommendation somewhere for a great dining experience, or we purchased supplies from the local supermarket and cooked a simple pasta ourselves.
The day trips were planned as such that Rosalinda would drop us off in the morning at a convenient location and we were then free to wander around each township armed with a map & highlights, and then to enjoy lunch/wine tastings etc knowing that our trusty driver would pick us up again in the afternoon and we would not have to drive.
We would not have seen as much as we did, had we attempted to do it all by ourselves.
A great introduction to Tuscany!
“I'm coming back to Agriturismo La Maestra”
Reviewed 16 November 2013
I spent a week at Agriturismo La Maestra in May/June 2013, & it was absolutely perfect...The accommodation, the hospitality, the meals, the breathtaking views, the sight seeing transport, ,eveything anyone could wish for in a Tuscan Holiday. My only complaint..it wasn't long enough.I was with 6 friends, & we all had a wonderful time, & I can't wait to return to Rosalinda, Stefano, Virginia, Lilla, & Florentina in September 2014...
Room Tip: All rooms are very well equipped, & afford beautiful views in all directions from the balconies.
Reviewed 16 November 2013
I spent a week at Agriturismo La Maestra in May/June 2013, & it was absolutely perfect...The accommodation, the hospitality, the meals, the breathtaking views, the sight seeing transport, ,eveything anyone could wish for in a Tuscan Holiday. My only complaint..it wasn't long enough.I was with 6 friends, & we all had a wonderful time, & I can't wait to return to Rosalinda, Stefano, Virginia, Lilla, & Florentina in September 2014...
Room Tip: All rooms are very well equipped, & afford beautiful views in all directions from the balconies.
“The Perfect Tuscan Villa”
Reviewed 3 November 2013
We could not have asked for a better holiday it was beyond our expectations. The meals and their hospitality was excellent. The ability to discuss as a small group where you wanted to visit and then being driven and picked up from the locations was a joy. We would recommend a stay to anyone who is looking for a more relaxed stay.
Reviewed 3 November 2013
We could not have asked for a better holiday it was beyond our expectations. The meals and their hospitality was excellent. The ability to discuss as a small group where you wanted to visit and then being driven and picked up from the locations was a joy. We would recommend a stay to anyone who is looking for a more relaxed stay.
“A piece of Tuscan paradise”
Reviewed 10 September 2013
My family and I have recently returned from a wonderful week at La Maesta on our first trip to Tuscany. We stayed in Casa Virgilio which was a spacious, spotless and very well equipped villa and had the most amazing view of the valley below from two of the bedrooms and the balcony. The balcony is the perfect place for lazy breakfasts and lunches and having a glass of wine watching the stunning Tuscan sunsets. The shared pool is lovely to return to after a day of sightseeing in this beautiful region
.
Rosalinda and her family made us feel very welcome and offered many helpful tips for visiting local towns and cities to ensure we found our way, found great parking spots, good restaurants to try which ensured we really made the most of our time in Tuscany.
La Maesta is very central to reach many of the delights of Tuscany with good train and road links – just over an hour to Florence, half an hour to the wineries and within easy reach of many key towns. We were lucky to see stunning fields of sunflowers as well as the stunning Tuscan landscape of olive groves and cyprus trees .
Cortona is only a 15 minute drive from La Maesta and is an enchanting hillside town offering amazing views of the valley, quaint cobbled streets, a good selection of restaurants and gelaterias. Local supermarkets are within a 10 minute drive offering the basic essentials during your stay.
We left after a fantastic week wanting to come back for more, having only scratched the surface of visiting this beautiful region of Italy. Our stay was a perfect introduction to Tuscany and I hope the start of regular visits to explore this region further.. We hope to be back very soon and a big thank you again to Rosalinda and her family for making our trip so memorable and making us feel so welcome.
Reviewed 10 September 2013
My family and I have recently returned from a wonderful week at La Maesta on our first trip to Tuscany. We stayed in Casa Virgilio which was a spacious, spotless and very well equipped villa and had the most amazing view of the valley below from two of the bedrooms and the balcony. The balcony is the perfect place for lazy breakfasts and lunches and having a glass of wine watching the stunning Tuscan sunsets. The shared pool is lovely to return to after a day of sightseeing in this beautiful region
.
Rosalinda and her family made us feel very welcome and offered many helpful tips for visiting local towns and cities to ensure we found our way, found great parking spots, good restaurants to try which ensured we really made the most of our time in Tuscany.
La Maesta is very central to reach many of the delights of Tuscany with good train and road links – just over an hour to Florence, half an hour to the wineries and within easy reach of many key towns. We were lucky to see stunning fields of sunflowers as well as the stunning Tuscan landscape of olive groves and cyprus trees .
Cortona is only a 15 minute drive from La Maesta and is an enchanting hillside town offering amazing views of the valley, quaint cobbled streets, a good selection of restaurants and gelaterias. Local supermarkets are within a 10 minute drive offering the basic essentials during your stay.
We left after a fantastic week wanting to come back for more, having only scratched the surface of visiting this beautiful region of Italy. Our stay was a perfect introduction to Tuscany and I hope the start of regular visits to explore this region further.. We hope to be back very soon and a big thank you again to Rosalinda and her family for making our trip so memorable and making us feel so welcome.
“Wouldn't stay anywhere else”
3 October 2012
We stayed her for a week after the hustle and bustle of Rome and it was just wonderful. Being so close to Cortona and other towns in the Tuscan region made getting around easy. We used the facilities of Rosalinda's wagon and tours which were always well organised and not rushed. There is nothing better than visiting a town from the top and walking down to meet your driver.
Being spoilt by Lilla's magnificent homestyle italian cooking was more than we expected and we never walked out of the dining room feeling hungry. Having dinner with their Italian family let us learn much more about the culture than we ever could staying at a hotel in town.
Pure joy to stay, thanks Rosalinda, Stefano, Lilla and Virginia for letting us stay with you in your beautiful home and introducing us to Tuscany - we will never forget your kindness and generosity.
We stayed her for a week after the hustle and bustle of Rome and it was just wonderful. Being so close to Cortona and other towns in the Tuscan region made getting around easy. We used the facilities of Rosalinda's wagon and tours which were always well organised and not rushed. There is nothing better than visiting a town from the top and walking down to meet your driver.
Being spoilt by Lilla's magnificent homestyle italian cooking was more than we expected and we never walked out of the dining room feeling hungry. Having dinner with their Italian family let us learn much more about the culture than we ever could staying at a hotel in town.
Pure joy to stay, thanks Rosalinda, Stefano, Lilla and Virginia for letting us stay with you in your beautiful home and introducing us to Tuscany - we will never forget your kindness and generosity.
“A perfect holiday!”
22 April 2012
Delightful B&B - clean, comfortable, quiet, and ideally located for day-trips to all the art/history centres of southern Tuscany and Umbria. We went to Cortona and Arezzo (very close), and further afield to Perugia, Florence, Siena. Stefano was our driver and guide on one trip (Florence), while we did the others ourselves.
La Maestà was always good to come "home" to, especially if Lilla and Rosalinda cooked dinner! And when we wanted to eat out, they had some great recommendations for good Tuscan food at reasonable prices. It wasn't swimming weather, but the pool was huge and the patio around it very spacious, perfect for when we didn't want to go anywhere but just soak up the sun and the view over the Valdichiana.
Our hosts were charming and helpful without being intrusive. Top marks for value for money - we're certainly coming back for more next year.
Delightful B&B - clean, comfortable, quiet, and ideally located for day-trips to all the art/history centres of southern Tuscany and Umbria. We went to Cortona and Arezzo (very close), and further afield to Perugia, Florence, Siena. Stefano was our driver and guide on one trip (Florence), while we did the others ourselves.
La Maestà was always good to come "home" to, especially if Lilla and Rosalinda cooked dinner! And when we wanted to eat out, they had some great recommendations for good Tuscan food at reasonable prices. It wasn't swimming weather, but the pool was huge and the patio around it very spacious, perfect for when we didn't want to go anywhere but just soak up the sun and the view over the Valdichiana.
Our hosts were charming and helpful without being intrusive. Top marks for value for money - we're certainly coming back for more next year.
“A secret worth sharing”
May 2012
I have stayed on three separate occasions with 3 groups and my latest trip with my girls, sister and grandson were fabulous particularly sharing this wonderful location. The accommodation is outstanding. The views sensational. The pool area heaven. The hosts Rosalinda, Staphano and nono exemplary and gorgeous Italianos! The location is great, a short distance from the railway line between Rome and Florence. Little villages and tourist spots all within a comfortable drive. The pick up drop off service is wonderful. I will be back xx
I have stayed on three separate occasions with 3 groups and my latest trip with my girls, sister and grandson were fabulous particularly sharing this wonderful location. The accommodation is outstanding. The views sensational. The pool area heaven. The hosts Rosalinda, Staphano and nono exemplary and gorgeous Italianos! The location is great, a short distance from the railway line between Rome and Florence. Little villages and tourist spots all within a comfortable drive. The pick up drop off service is wonderful. I will be back xx
“Tuscan Paradise”
13 May 2012
We absolutely loved our Tuscan experience so much in 2010 that we stayed again in 2011. Rosalinda and her family made us feel so welcome and went out of their way to ensure that we had a holiday to remember. The food, the wine, the people, the views and the atmosphere were just perfect. We would definitely recommend staying with the Lazzeri family and experiencing true Tuscan hospitality, and look forward to staying at La Maesta again on our next holiday in Italy!!
We absolutely loved our Tuscan experience so much in 2010 that we stayed again in 2011. Rosalinda and her family made us feel so welcome and went out of their way to ensure that we had a holiday to remember. The food, the wine, the people, the views and the atmosphere were just perfect. We would definitely recommend staying with the Lazzeri family and experiencing true Tuscan hospitality, and look forward to staying at La Maesta again on our next holiday in Italy!!
“Under the Tuscan sun”
16 May 2012
Our hosts Rosalinda and Stefano made us feel welcomed and included from the start. We were made to feel part of the family and experienced all the local customs youd expect such as family dinner al fresco and local Limoncello.
We enjoyed day trips to various historic and typically Tuscan locations as well as time for ourselves. The accommodation was lovely and comfortable and the views are to die for! We will be going back again and highly recommend this fantastic place as a good spot to see all Tuscany has to offer. We shared our villa with four theirs which enhanced the experience for us.
Our hosts Rosalinda and Stefano made us feel welcomed and included from the start. We were made to feel part of the family and experienced all the local customs youd expect such as family dinner al fresco and local Limoncello.
We enjoyed day trips to various historic and typically Tuscan locations as well as time for ourselves. The accommodation was lovely and comfortable and the views are to die for! We will be going back again and highly recommend this fantastic place as a good spot to see all Tuscany has to offer. We shared our villa with four theirs which enhanced the experience for us.
“The perfect holiday destination”
15 November 2011
The accommodation was excellent. Rosalinda and her family made us feel right at home instantly. Lila's three course dinners under the trellis overlooking the valley were belissimo. With out doubt the best Italian holiday ever. We'll be back!
The accommodation was excellent. Rosalinda and her family made us feel right at home instantly. Lila's three course dinners under the trellis overlooking the valley were belissimo. With out doubt the best Italian holiday ever. We'll be back!
“vacanza indimenticabile alla Maestà
27 January 2013
NEW Per la prima vacanza con alcuni amici abbiamo scelto questa struttura e non potevamo fare scelta migliore.
Nella tranquillità delle colline toscane, in un paesaggio incredibilmente bello ed affascinante con una vista mozzafiato sulla verde Valdichiana, l'agriturismo è una bella struttura tipicamente toscana che accoglie con un ottimo comfort. Siamo stati letteralmente travolti da una atmosfera familiare ed estremamente amichevole: Rosalinda, Lilla, Stefano e la piccola Virginia ci hanno fatto sentire completamente a nostro agio. Sembrava di stare a casa nella meravigliosa Toscana!! Vacanza da sogno in un appartamento ampio, confortevole ed estremamente pulito.
Una esperienza assolutamente da ripetere per noi e che consiglio di provare a chiunque voglia visitare la Toscana.
NEW Per la prima vacanza con alcuni amici abbiamo scelto questa struttura e non potevamo fare scelta migliore.
Nella tranquillità delle colline toscane, in un paesaggio incredibilmente bello ed affascinante con una vista mozzafiato sulla verde Valdichiana, l'agriturismo è una bella struttura tipicamente toscana che accoglie con un ottimo comfort. Siamo stati letteralmente travolti da una atmosfera familiare ed estremamente amichevole: Rosalinda, Lilla, Stefano e la piccola Virginia ci hanno fatto sentire completamente a nostro agio. Sembrava di stare a casa nella meravigliosa Toscana!! Vacanza da sogno in un appartamento ampio, confortevole ed estremamente pulito.
Una esperienza assolutamente da ripetere per noi e che consiglio di provare a chiunque voglia visitare la Toscana.