Outdoor pool

Reviews of VILLA IRIS LUXURY SAN GIMIGNANO, 6 EN SUITE ROOMS, SWIMMING POOL, SPA, SAUNA.


Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 104 out of 107 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 107 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 107 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 107 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 107 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Daniel E.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Villa outside of San Gimignano
Great villa and property that was fantastic for our group of 12, including 6 children between ages 5 and 11. So much for them to do with the open spaces, various games, pool, etc. I’ve stayed in Italy with my family three times now and I think this was the best villa and location for driving to many of the great Tuscan cities.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Danita G., St. Catharines, Ontario

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful
Group of 6 couples exploring Tuscany. We loved the Villa. It is large, comfortable, well equipped and it has a spectacular view of San Gimignano and Tuscan countryside. We enjoyed an on-site cooking class and an on-site Chef’s dinner. We did not have a car for the first 3 days and that was a struggle. We walked to San Gimignano, and it’s a difficult journey. Our group is physically fit, and everyone found it very challenging - up a steep grade for about 45 minutes. The farm next door (10 min walk) is fantastic for a wine tour/tasting and dining. It was a highlight for us. Our group loved the bocce court, the large dining tables, and the outdoor covered terrace. We highly recommend a stay at Villa Iris.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tom K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Place for Family Reunion
The property was exactly as described. We had 11 adults and an infant with us for a week long family reunion. Caterina was excellent to work with and made all the arrangements for us — chef dinners, cooking classes, wine tours, local dinner reservations, tours, and airport transfers. She was great to work with and very responsive. There were plenty of areas to relax and the outdoor dining area was perfect for our group. It is too far to walk into San Gimignano but we were able to walk to the local winery for our farewell dinner — which was very nice. It is a beautiful villa and completely met our expectations. The only negative was that the pool was too cold for most of us to swim despite temperatures in the low 80’s during the day. At night the temperatures were cool. The chef prepared dinners were excellent. Thanks for a fun time at Villa Iris where we made many new family memories.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Dec 2023
Good evening Mr Tom K, thank you very much for the compliments you gave to us owners, to our staff and to the villa, it is a great satisfaction for us to receive these reviews, we always do our best to fulfill the requests of our guests, knowing that our customers return home with a beautiful memory of the holiday, it is our priority. I hope to be able to welcome you again in the future with all your beautiful family, and I thank you again for choosing Villa Iris. Gabriel

10/10 Excellent

Carl G., Kennebunk, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
A Tuscan Paradise
We heartily agree with all positive comments in the previous reviews! Examples include: The chef's dinners at the villa are delicious and very fun; the villa itself is fantastic, and Caterina, Lucia and Gabriele are delightful to deal with; lunches and dinners at Fattoria Poggio Alloro are excellent; using the villa for short day trips and cooling off in the pool after, made for perfect vacation memories; the nearby Pam supermarket in Poggibonsi is very convenient; the villa's air conditioning works perfectly, even in 90+ temperatures; the Wifi reaches all parts of the property, including the pool area. Regarding driving in Tuscany: We were uncertain if we'd be able to drive independently with our rental car (knowing from past experience how fast and aggressive the drivers are in Sicily, Rome and Naples). We guessed we'd travel by train instead, but driving proved to be quite easy. The roads are clearly marked and the local drivers, although a little fast, are not a problem. It's really important to download an offline map in Google Maps before you leave home (there are videos in YouTube explaining how to do this). With an offline map downloaded to your phone, you can get driving directions without an internet connection. On a typical day we explored the area, had a nice lunch, and returned home to cool off in the pool and play bocce. We thank Caterina, Lucia and Gabriele for an amazing vacation, one of our favorites ever. We highly recommend this villa!
Stayed 14 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Darren T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Words nor pictures do this place justice
What an amazing visit. 12 of us descended upon Villa Iris and we all left beaming with light. This place is special and while I'm sure there are other lovely Villas in the area, you cannot go wrong here. Gabrielle and Caterina were amazing at making sure we had everything we needed and were incredibly responsive. Shower snobs will LOVE the water pressure, which was a pleasant surprise. Hanging out by the pool and bocce court was a regular night time routine and we grilled 2x on the outdoor grill, which was spectacular. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a great group getaway.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Paul W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Spectacular Villa Iris
What a special place this was. We had 9 guests in our group, all family members, and everyone just loved the place. The owners prepared a fantastic dinner for us on the day of our arrival and it was much appreciated as we had all traveled the entire day. We used the pool daily due to the warm temperatures and it was a great place to relax after a day of touring. The large outside table was also special, as it was our go to place for meals, cards and late night discussions. The location of the Villa makes it easy to travel for day trips in the surrounding area. Thank you for all your hospitality and we will definitely consider returning in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jill M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing experience at the Villa Iris!
We had the best three weeks at the Villa Iris! The owners, car service and property manager were all fantastic. We would go back for sure! We toured 6 villages while we were in Tuscany and by far our favorite was San Gimignano. We highly recomend this Villa and team!
Stayed 21 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kara D.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful stay with amazing hosts
Caterina, Lucia and Gabriel are truly wonderful hosts. From before I even booked our stay, Caterina answered every question our group had. She helped to ensure we had all of the information we needed to have a wonderful trip, and helped us arrange tours to other towns, chef prepared wine dinners at the villa that were exceptional and winery tours and tasting lunches that were informative and delicious. Caterina and Lucia provided a thorough check in at the Villa, showing us everything we needed to know during our stay at Villa Iris, and we’re available for any questions or concerns we had throughout the week. The response was almost immediate every time and they couldn’t do enough to make sure we were enjoying every moment of our trip. I have wanted to bring my parents to Italy since I visited my first time back in college, and we couldn’t have picked a better place to stay. From the grounds and pool, to the incredible kitchen and dining room where we were able to share some beautiful meals together as a family, to the bedrooms — Villa Iris is a truly special place and we will be sure to tell all of our family and friends about it (we already have)! We also wanted to mention how lovely Sonia was as our driver. She is a very safe driver, and knowledgeable of the areas. She helped us get the most out of each experience and was extremely patient and easy going on every trip. We had an amazing family vacation and that’s due in large part to our stay at Villa Iris. We’re already planning our next trip back!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Larry G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Awesome facility and location
great facility lovely outdoors cooking class with chef was terrific
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

David T., La Quinta, California, United States

Liked: Cleanliness
A Magical Week In Tuscany
Due to Covid, we had to delay our trip by one year. Gabriel, the owner, and Caterina, the property coordinator were very accommodating in helping us choose dates for our 2022 visit. By delaying by one year, we had two couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary which made the trip even more special. We were a group of 10, five couples, four from California and one from Missouri. The property was perfect for entertaining, especially with the pool and bocce ball court. There was some heavy competition among the Lake La Quinta International Bocce Ball Team. Having six en-suite rooms was perfect for our private time. We enjoyed a chef’s dinner one evening. The food, the service and the ambiance was outstanding. We also used the van service which was coordinated thru the property coordinator. Sonia, was truly phenomenal. She was able to take us on several sightseeing and wine tasting trips which added so much to our experience. On our final evening, we had dinner at the neighboring Fattoria Poggio Allora. Gabriel, the owner made a call to the owner of the agritourismo and let him know that his special guests from the Villa Iris were coming for dinner. The experience was out of this world and exceeded all expectations. It was truly the best possible ending to a magical week in Tuscany. Grazie Mille to Gabriel, his lovely wife, and Caterina for making our week so enjoyable and memorable. This is definitely a five star property and experience!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely stay near San Gimignano
We just returned from an amazing week in Tuscany on this beautiful rustic property. We had 14 people (including 2 seniors and 6 children under 10 years old). Everybody loved the house and the outdoor space was the absolute best- our kids had the most amazing time in the pool, playing bocce ball, foosball and ping pong. Despite the pool not being heated, it wasn’t an issue at all, the hot summer days kept the pool warm enough and our kids who are usually sensitive to cold water did not complain at all. Even better was the hospitality of our hosts- Gabriele, Lucia and Caterina were very responsive to our needs and went above and beyond to attend to any questions or issues we had. Gabriele even brought over fresh produce from his uncle’s garden and a brand new folding bed! They were lovely people and you could tell they really cared for the comfort of their guests and wanted the best experience for them. Their location was ideal, just an 8 minute drive to San Gimignano (don’t miss Gelateria Dondoli- they truly have the best gelato!!) and a 2 minute drive to Fattoria Poggio Alloro, which we did a wine tasting one day and had dinner another day (both wonderful experiences, and the view is just beautiful). We did not use their chef services but did cook in many days, which was easy to do in their kitchen (Pam supermarket is 15 mins away and I went there nearly everyday, they have everything there!) Thank you Gabriele, Lucia and Caterina! We hope to return in the future!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Arturo Z.

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice house in fantastic location, great garden and pool, interior needs a refresh
The outstanding: Chef Meals prepared at the house (by Baba and Olga at an extra charge) are superb, do not miss them, The Garden and Pool (not heated). Air ' conditioning makeas all the difference in the Summer, loved it. Caterina and Lucia are prompt in theirresponses and take care of all your needs (Thanks). The good: The villa is spacious and located very well for access to most of the Tuscan attracitons within 1.5 hours tops, it can confortably sleep 6 couples. It has a very nice view of San Gimignano from the pool area (while standing up). The average: The decoration inside the Villa is old and dated, it lacks a proper living room area to relax as a group, and while bathrooms are addequate, there is no storage space for your bath items, and very little space for clothes in the rooms. All in all a very god experience, and if the interior is renovated tastefully, it would be a true gem.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 21 June 2023
We thank you for your review and for the compliments made, even if we are sorry that the interior part and in particular the furniture has not been appreciated by you and has not been to your liking. In this case we would like to point out that we carried out a careful complete renovation of the villa in 2015 and in particular all the furniture of the villa which was made by a famous Florentine craftsman based on the drawings made by an important italian interior designer, just to make savor and relive to our customers the atmosphere of the typical old Tuscan farmhouse. Villa Iris, given its location and the structure which dates back to 1737, certainly cannot host a modern style. moreover, the villa has been chosen by important television channels to record cooking classes, given its particularity and uniqueness in re-proposing the Tuscan style. We are very sorry as out of 95 reviews we have it is the first in which the unique style and furnishing of the villa is not appreciated, which is well known and clear even from the photos on the site. The villa has large spaces both inside and outside and all the rooms, which have a private bathroom inside, are very spacious, having two windows per room, desk and large wardrobe. For Villa Iris and Villa sarah we received the request directly from the famous site of luxury villas to be part of it and that we accepted with great pleasure being an honor for us and also there from all the customers we hosted we have been a great success for our villas. We are still sorry but it may happen that the style and setting in which a villa is located and above all its particularities that can make a stay even more unique is not understood. Best regards Gabriel

10/10 Excellent

Sue G., North Vancouver, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Tuscan retreat
Our group of 8 looked at numerous villas but this one checked all of the boxes plus offered a 60 day cancellation policy which was necessary during the uncertainty of Covid. Fortunately, our timing worked out perfectly and restrictions were eased when we arrived. Communication with Caterina (the girl who arranges everything) was excellent. She was very quick to respond and was extremely helpful. During our stay, I could always just text her requests and she would respond instantly. We quickly realized the walk to San Gimignano was instead a long hike. A few of us did it a few times in the morning but you don't want to be walking the trail into town for dinner. The villa has a driver that can be hired on request. For her to take you into San Gimignano for dinner is 50 euros each way and her van can seat 8 people so we did that a couple of times during our week. For pick up, we just text her 20 minutes prior to when we want to be picked up. We also hired Sonia for a day of wine tasting so she took us to three wineries that she booked for us. She was fantastic. For our last night, we arranged for a chef to come in and make dinner for our group and it was fantastic and wished we did that twice. We shopped at the PAM Supermarket in Poggibonsi about 10-15 minutes away by car and you can find pretty much everything at reasonable prices. Note that both the pool and whirlpool are not heated. We stayed from May 7th to May 14th and the first couple of days were cool but it gradually got warmer every day. During our last few days, it because a refreshing plunge pool to cool down when it got too warm in the sun. We really enjoyed playing some bocce while having drinks in the afternoon. I only noticed a couple of swings in the playground area so anyone coming with children may want to inquire about the playground set up. The only real issue we had was the dining room table inside. As mentioned our first couple of nights were cool so we could not have dinner outdoors. The tabletop is a gorgeous slab of wood, however the surface is very uneven so we had a difficult time setting the table and trying to balance wine glasses to avoid spilling. Adding a piece of glass or plexiglass over the wood table top would certainly be helpful. The best part of the villas is the outdoor space so you do want to be there when the weather is nice. Our group had a very memorable week here. Grazie Gabrielle and Caterina!!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Joan D., New York

Liked: Cleanliness
Paradise is real!
We had the good fortune to stay at Villa Iris for 10 days. It was a dream come true. The location was perfect and the views from the property were spectacular. We were 7 adults and needed 4 en-suite bathrooms. We had six bedrooms to choose from and each one was perfect. The kitchen was amazing and we gathered each night around the huge dining room table. They provided a chef to cook for us and we even took cooking lessons. The grounds are gorgeous and we often gathered by the pool area just to relax and sit and chat. But most important they were amazingly responsive to anything we needed. When we needed a cab they arranged for us. Any questions were answered immediately. We hope to return in the future! Perfect hosts and perfect location!
Stayed 11 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Anne T., Bermuda Dunes

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Tuscan villa experience.
I choose Villa Iris for a milestone birthday celebration in Tuscany with friends & family based on the location, the villa’s aesthetics and amenities. We found the location to be perfect for what we wanted to do - day trips to Siena, Florence and wine tasting in the Chianti region. The property, the owner and the property manager ALL exceeded our expectations and truly made for a very memorable vacation experience! Some highlights of the villa: spacious house with 7 bedrooms 6 with en-suite bathrooms, a fabulous sauna, nice and plentiful linens, cleaning service, stocked kitchen with all of the cookware & dishes one could need, a great outdoor space for relaxing and gathering, a gorgeous travertine pool & hot tub but just a little chilly at first. Our only suggestion would be to add a heater for the spa. Additionally, we can not say enough good things about the people involved - Caterina the property Mgr(?) and Sonja their driver for hire. If you don’t have a car or prefer not to drive like us, Sonja the driver was awesome., such a sweet gal!! Caterina was incredibly helpful with local restaurant recommendations/reservations, arranging a private chef to prepare meals which I HIGHLY recommend!! She even helped arrange for massages at the villa which was an unforgettable experience. The property is close to San Gimignano, but not walkable (from what we could tell) despite what others have said,. It’s close by, probably a 8 to10 minute drive and a MUST SEE. We were blessed with great weather all week and couldn’t have had a better time at Villa Iris! We are already talking about a trip back.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Andy S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Area
Great stay and the team of people assisting is amazing and super responsive.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

PAUL B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Love Tuscany
A very comfortable stay at a very nice Villa, well situated. Everything needed for a Tuscan holiday.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ronald K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Stay
We had a wonderful summer vacation at Villa Iris. The owners and property manager were very responsive, great to work with and addressed our needs. The location was very nice too. We took advantage of the cooking-class and chef dinner another night which was a ton of fun. We definitely look forward to staying with them again in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

richardson.rebecca.s@gmail.com R., Denver, Colorado

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Autumn in Tuscany
We had a superlative time at Villa Iris. What an incredibly special property. The kitchens (indoor and out) are well-equipped (note that you need to buy your own supplies), the bedrooms are comfortable, scenery exquisite and lovely location. We hit a little late for the pool, but a few brave souls went in. The owners and staff are lovely, warm and helpful. We enjoyed our time immensely.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Andrew C.

Liked: Cleanliness
A week to remember in Tuscany
Four couples spent a week at the villa and thoroughly enjoyed the stay. The highlights included Our initial communication and during our stay with Caterina. Nothing was ever an issue with helping us and even during our initial planning, even considering the time difference between Italy/AUS Lucia’s stay in Villa prepared meals were a highlight, well prepared, presented and wonderful interaction during the evening. (And also the awesome welcoming platter and condiments for the stay) We utilised Sonia’s transportation services on a number of occasions, We found Sonia to be fantastic. She was punctual, helpful, safe, courteous and a lovely lady. The walk from the Villa to San Gimignano is some what short in distance, but is steep and challenging - the reward of a beer/vino or gelati (or porchetta roll) and the top is true reward for your efforts All in all - a wonderful life opportunity
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Thomas K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Did not stay at Val d’Elsa but Villa Iris. Picture was correct.
This Villa was outstanding as were the employees and owner; however, the best thing about the Villa were the grounds. They were beautifully maintained and attractive. We so enjoyed either sitting under the Villa roof patio for lunch or drinks as well as under the gazebo near the pool. The welcoming buffet was not only beautiful but delicious. My only constructive criticism was concerning the bed and bath linens which should be upgraded. The furnishings were perhaps too rustic for my taste and I had expected a warmer feeling. We had a wonderful family vacation and were so pleased with the owner and his staff.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 21 June 2023
Dear Sig. Kibler, Thank you very much for your 5-star review on our property. Being the well-being of our customers for us primary, we do everything to ensure that they spend an unforgettable holiday. For this reason it is our duty to listen to the advice and above all the criticisms that are addressed to us, in order to constantly maintain our standards at the peak of approval. By virtue of what has been said, we are very keen to respond to your criticism of our bedroom and bathroom linen. For our Villas we buy all the linens from a famous company that serves the most famous and important luxury hotels and villas ("Martini and Pari", website www.martiniepari.com). The company offers a very high quality standard especially with reference to the products of the prestige line, fabrics with 100% pure high quality cotton. We care a lot about small details and cleanliness inside the villa. In fact, we change towels twice a week and every three months we change our linen completely, inserting new bathroom and bedroom sets. As for the criticism of the rusticity of our villa, I must point out that I personally Gabriele Saccocci, owner of the villa, being a design for interiors and with my twenty years of experience in renovating old buildings, I have long cared for the renovation of the villa , trying to bring the cottage back to the ancient splendor of the past, precisely from the 1720s. Respecting the soul of the building, we were nevertheless able to create a luxurious setting. We thank you very much and look forward to welcoming you again in the future at Villa Iris. My best regards. Gabriele Saccocci

10/10 Excellent

Cathy W., Windsor, Colorado

Liked: Cleanliness
Absolutely Fabulous Vacation!!!!
From the moment I booked Villa Iris until the moment we left everything was perfect. We celebrated my birthday with our three adult children and spouses and everyone had a wonderful time. The Villa was spacious and we all had private spaces in the six bedrooms (plus a cute bunk room) and seven bathrooms. With a Boce court, workout room, arcade, sauna and the beautiful pool, we did not lack for things to do. Caterina, Gabrielle's incredible assistant, took care of organizing wonderful tours for us, making restaurant reservations, and even did some shopping for us prior to our arrival. Do not miss having Lucia and her staff prepare dinners for you. We had them do both the meat and fish dinners and they were superb. We loved being at the Villa, eating well and having no cleanup. The area around the villa is so charming that we hated to leave. We will be back and it will definitely be a stay with Gabrielle at his properties. His new property, Villa Sarah, was unveiled to us prior to our departure and we were stunned by its beauty also. If you only need five bedrooms it is perfect but we find the charm of Villa Iris hard to beat. It definitely falls into the “Best Vacation Ever” category!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Michele S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing retreat
Staff was very attentive to our dietary needs based on allergies. We had an thorough cooking lesson, fantastic chef prepared dinner our last night. Recommend highly!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Philip I.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous Villa
Villa Iris was beyond our expectations! Caterina was very quick to respond to our questions prior to arrival, helped organize activities and dinners while there and provided restaurant recommendations in the area. Upon arrival we were greeted by Lucia and Caterina with a very large welcome buffet which included local wines. The villa itself is immaculate and well equipped, the grounds and pool are also well maintained. The location itself is quiet and the view is spectacular! We found the villa very easy to find using GPS coordinates given, and there are signs that mark the entrance. Each bedroom has an en suite and AC which was much needed during our July stay. Having cleaning three times a week was also a plus. We had the chef, Lucia and staff prepare dinner for us one night to celebrate a special birthday. It featured local cuisine and wines and was outstanding. They really went above and beyond to make it special. Checkout was also very easy and we were able to meet Gabriele the owner, who is very passionate about his villa. He told us about his upcoming projects, and brought us to visit his newest villa, Villa Sarah, opening soon which also is spectacular. Our only decision when returning will be which villa to stay in! Thank you again for a fabulous week in Tuscany!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Robert M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Family Stay
Villa Iris is a fantastic Tuscan villa. We were a total of 10 adults and there was plenty of room inside the home and out on the property. From the point of reservation to check-in communication was never a problem. Lucia (Owner) prepared a wonderful welcoming buffet (also prepared foods sensitive to my sons dairy allergy, thank you), Gabriele (Owner) is very nice and Caterina handles nearly all communication services. All well done! The villa is really well maintained and very nicely appointed. The villa is really nicer than in the photos. Villa Iris is a 5 min drive to San Gimignano and well within driving distances to other Tuscan towns. We really enjoyed Villa Iris and we will be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

8/10 Good

Jeanne P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful landscape -hard to find,,,must be good driver!,-
Beautiful landscape--but villa is hard to find due to steep narrow roads. need to be an expert driver for sharp curves!! lovely villa tho -
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 21 June 2023
Thank you for your review. We are sorry to hear these words because in many years of working with our customers who have stayed at Villa Iris it is the first time that we've received a review of the road to arrive to the Villa. We are sorry for the inconvenience you had ,but unfornately you went in the wrong road,and in the opposite road from the one that takes you to Villa Iris. The owner Lucia and Caterina also took care to meet you and help you get to the Villa. Villa Iris is a very well known in San.Gimignano and the cities near it, and furthmore there are many signs that show the way to Villa Iris, in addition to our directions and coordinates that we provide to all our customers. Being only 2 kilometers from the center of San gimignano,most of our guests go to the city on foot,as you can also read on the previous reviews,the road is all paved up to the gate of the Villa. We are still sorry but we cannot do anything about this as it is not something that concerns the Villa and our services. -The owner Gabriele Saccocci Villa Iris

10/10 Excellent

Lindsay B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Villa in the heart of Tuscany!
We were able to stay at Villa Iris for a week in early June with 12 of us total (family and friends). The Villa was exactly as pictured and exceeded all expectations we had. The location is perfect in the heart of Tuscany - just minutes from the beautiful town of San Gimignano and about 30 minutes to an hour to a lot of great spots including Florence, Siena, Volterre, and Montelcino. The Villa was immaculate with no detail left unturned, and the hosts were always available to help with details. The villa property was perfect for us - there were overall 6 main bedrooms and a smaller bedroom off of the sauna room. The rooms were all fairly similar in size and amenities, and it worked out great for each couple since they each have their own bathroom. Overall, there is plenty of space for 12 people and the villa is surprisingly quiet if people wanted to retreat to bed earlier than others. A/C was key for this trip as it started to get to mid 90's (35 C) when we were there - it worked perfectly! Besides cooking and sleeping, we spent most of our time outside at the villa - we ate every dinner on the spacious patio and our kids enjoyed foosball and table tennis as we would prep dinner. The pool and bocce ball court are just perfect spots to hang out - the pool is well kept and there is a nice gazebo next to the pool to retreat in the shade as needed. We spent many of our days visiting hillside and wine towns in the morning and head back to the villa to enjoy the pool for the afternoons. Caterina and the owners helped with a number of arrangements for us - I would suggest to let them set up dinner in San Gimignano on your day of arrival at La Vecchie Mura. Stunning views, great food and great intro to Tuscany. We also got to enjoy a cooking class and dinner cooked by the owner - these are a must do! The last trip I must suggest is the Chianti wine trip that they helped arrange - we visited 3 different wineries throughout Chianti of all different sizes and character. I will not spoil it, but the day just got more and more amazing with history, wines and the experience. I will go back to do this again! Overall, I could not speak more highly of Villa Iris. The hospitality was absolutely amazing. The villa is perfect in every way! We are already looking forward to going back at some point in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Debbie M., Burlingame,ca

AMAZING VILLA! I will return!
This is a perfect location located near San Gimignano! Views from every bedroom! Each bedroom has private bath and Ac. A must is breakfast daly and a dinner or 2 by Lucia!!!! One of the BEST dinners in Italy. Family owned and operated is the best part of all. They are at your disposal for each and every request. Ping pong bocce ball and the pool were delightful and kept everyone entertained.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Maureen L., Nr Axminster, Devon

Liked: Cleanliness
Simply Perfect!
This property did not disappoint in any way, it was absolutely stunning, spotlessly clean and had everything that we could possibly have needed. Lucia and Gabrielle and of course Caterina were absolutely charming and nothing was too much trouble to make our stay a comfortable and memorable one - quite a feat for our rather bositrous extended family of 7 adults and five grandchildren! They organised a wonderful trip to the local winery with lunch and Lucia cooked a fish menu for us all one night that was absolutely delicious. You will never be disappointed staying at Villa Iris, the surrounding countryside is breathtakingly beautiful and the villa charming. There is something for everyone to enjoy, regardles of age. Molto grazie dalla Famiglia Lane
Stayed 7 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Teresa W.

Heavenly....
Where do you begin to leave a review for the most amazing accommodations ever!! This was the perfect place for our group of ten to base and explore Tuscany. The villa is marvelous and so great that we ended up cooking there every night instead of leaving for dinner. We didn't want to leave! Good food, great conversation, and Bocce Ball made for wonderful evenings and this was the perfect place for all of it. We even got to see their new property being built - Villa Sarah - It has the most amazing views!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

David H.

Our Wedding in San Gimingnao
This is the most amazing property which we rented for our wedding. All our family came out and Villa Iris was perfect. It is in a beautiful setting with views of San Gimignano and the vineyards all around. Everything is immaculate with everything you could possibly require. All the contents are of a very high quality and the decor is of the highest standard. The grounds are well manicured and include childrens swings, a boule court which was well used by us and also has table tennis and Fusball. There is a gym and sauna in the property which again were well used. We had a wonderful Wedding Feast prepared on the property which was excellent. I can only give Villa Iris the highest praise and were well looked after by all the wonderful staff topped of with Gabriel at the end of the week showing us his new property Villa Sara. I only hope we will return.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2019

10/10 Excellent

Kristen M.

Excellent stay!
We are two families that stayed at Villa Iris for 8 nights at the end of March. The villa is well set up for two families with 3 bedrooms upstairs and 3 downstairs. We loved everything about the villa including the proximity to San Gimignano and other hill towns as well as the helpful hosts. We did a cooking class with Lucia and it was an amazing experience and an excellent meal. The grounds are lovely and we spent lots of time playing bocce, ping pong and relaxing in the lounge chairs by the pool. Excellent vacation. Thank you Gabrielle, Lucia and Caterina!
Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl F.

Absolutely delightful stay at this lovely property!
We were a group of 8 adults that enjoyed Villa Iris for 7 nights in November. While the time of year and weather didn't allow us to enjoy the outdoors, the villa's setting is enchanting. Lovely ensuite bathrooms and a great kitchen where we prepared a number of meals and enjoyed a cooking class from Lucie, one of the owners. Staff was extremely helpful in all of our pre-planning, especially the all-day wine tour. We look forward to returning!
Stayed 8 nights in Nov 2018

10/10 Excellent

Patricia M.

Five Star Villa
We loved the first class villa and the service that came with it! Gabriel and his staff took great care of us.They put us in touch with a driver, who took us everywhere and did a fantastic job showing us the sites. Make sure to have a meal prepared by Lucia. She is a fantastic Chef!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2018

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth S., Toronto, Canada

Beautiful and comfortable retreat in the heart of Tuscany!
Our party of 9 adults of varying ages thoroughly enjoyed our week at Villa Iris recently. The villa is spacious, yet cozy, and is extremely well-equipped. Nestled among vineyards, it is an excellent spot to either explore the local sights or to stay put and chill. The staff and owners were always available to help us, answer our questions and to arrange transport, restaurant reservations and special meals at home. I would recommend Villa Iris to anyone looking for the perfect villa experience in this beautiful area of Italy.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Robert C.

La Dolce Vita at Villa Iris
We were a group of six couples who chose to stay in Villa Iris for two weeks as our "home base" for exploring Tuscany. We could not have made a better choice. Having 6 bedrooms all with their own bathrooms is a rarity in Tuscany and worked out great. As others have said, the property is a good as, or better than, the photos. The weather in September was gorgeous so we spent most of our time outside enjoying the patio, pool, gazebo, and bocce ball court. Renting Villa Iris is like staying at your own private resort. The owners, Gabriel and Lucia, were a pleasure to interact with and genuinely care about their guests' experience. They take pride in their home and it shows. We had Lucia and her helpers prepare dinner for us two evenings (beef and seafood) which was convenient and delicious. We rented two vans for the 12 of us and I cannot imagine staying at Villa Iris without having a rental car. While it is theoretically possible to walk to San Gimignano, we never did because it's an uphill hike on a narrow road. We enjoyed driving to this nearby walled city for dinner in the evening after the tourist hordes had departed. The PAM store, about 15 minutes away, is a great place to shop for whatever groceries, drinks, and beverages you may need. During our two week stay we visited the Chianti region, Pisa, Lucca, Montalcino (Brunello wine), Florence, Siena, Volterra, and San Gimignano. The location of Villa Iris is great for such day trips and we alternated the travel with relaxing "villa days." Simply put, Villa Iris provided once in a lifetime accommodations for a once in a lifetime vacation.
Stayed 14 nights in Sep 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 21 June 2023
Thank You so much for your lovely review we really appreciate It! Read so nice reviews is the most grateful part off our job! Thank You! Looking forward to welcome you back soon in Villa Iris Grazie, a presto

10/10 Excellent

Patricia G.

Most Amazing Trip
We just got home after a wonderful weeklong vacation at the beautiful Villa Iris. It was a perfect place to join our extended family together for a birthday celebration and to enjoy each others company. The Villa accomodated all of us - 10 adults - extremely comfortably. The Villa was beautifully traditional, but had all the modern comforts. The owners were very helpful and responsive during the planning process. They helped us to arrange a Chianti region wine tour, including a wonderful lunch at a private home/vineyard. They also prepared a celebration dinner for us one evening which was perfect and delicious. I would highly recommend anyone staying to take advantage of these experiences. We also arranged a cooking class at a small B&B nearby called Il Vicario which was wonderful. The walk to San Gimignano was quite strenuous - all uphill - but doable. The owners helped us make dinner reservations and arranged drivers to San Gimignano for us while we were there. The location was perfect for exploring the Tuscany region during the day - we visited Montereggioni, Siena, Montalcito, Pienza and Volterra over the course of our stay, but were so happy each evening to return to the comfort and beauty of Villa Iris. We had fun taking advantage of the grounds - the pool, bocce court, foosball and table tennis were loads of fun. We can't say enough about how wonderful this experience was, and hope we can return someday soon. There's nothing quite like enjoying aperetivo in a spectacular setting while the sun sets over San Gimignano in the distance. Thanks for a wonderful trip!!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 21 June 2023
We thank our customers for the wonderful review. Thanks again Gabriele.

10/10 Excellent

jane m.

The most stunning villa in a magical location
Even better than the photos, the villa is in the most magical setting in the Tuscan Hills surrounded by vineyards and a good 40 minute uphill walk to the beautiful town of San Gimigiano. The town is only 5 mins by car which we rented in the town which was very easy. The villa is more than you could ever wish for and loads of comfy outdoor space for hanging out during the day its hard to ever leave. When we did leave, we would drive to San Gimigiano- good to go early morning or evening as the car parks get busy during the day - Caterina recommended some family friendly restaurants, Il Trovatore which was fab and Il Oliveris had delicious food- there are loads of great restaurants in the town- Peruca was on the list but we never made it. Had delicious large coffees every morning in il bobli- there are so many beautiful shops in the town and lovely to wander around the streets after dinner. Sienna and Florence are both less than an hours drive and we also went to Il Fattoria Poggio Alloro vineyard for a lovely wine tasting which is literally the property next to the Villa. Gabrielle and Lucia were beyond helpful and had a lovely welcome buffet waiting for us when we arrived- all in all a magical holiday!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

MJ R.

Amazing villa in perfect Tuscan location
We loved the villa. It has a beautiful pool and grounds including bocci ball court, hammock, covered dining area and playing field. It also has outdoor foosball and ping pong tables. The house is gorgeous. We had three families staying at the villa and it was perfect; each bedroom has its own bathroom. The location is great. San Gimignano is only a vigorous 40 minute walk or 12 minutes by car. Siena and Volterra and Florence are within an hour. We had a dinner catered at the home by the owner Lucia. It was delicious and a highlight of our stay. All in all this villa exceeded our grandest expectations.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Bobbie V., Visalia ca

all Great !
Beautiful home with a terrific location. Our family of 12 loved every minute. Hosts were charming and easy to work with. Thank You!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Mark K.

Simply Perfect
We spent the last week of June at Villa Iris. We were a family of 11 adults some of whom were making their first trip to Italy. The pictures are certainly accurate but it's even more beautiful once you are there as you breathe in the air filled with flowers and herbs. The bedrooms were spacious and comfortable and the bathrooms clean and functional. The large kitchen had everything we needed to create wonderful meals for our group. We also did the optional cooking class with Lucia and also had Lucia cook for us on our last night. I would highly recommend both. Lucia and her team along with Gabriele are great hosts and made themselves available to answer questions and provide recommendations. I travel extensively and have been to Italy 10 times since 2006. This was my third trip to Tuscany and by far the most memorable. I would highly recommend Villa Iris and hope to return again soon.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Sharon E.

Stunning property both inside and out
Beautiful and spacious villa minutes from San Gimignano--the pictures shown on the website are accurate, but the villa is even better in person. There are six spacious bedrooms, each with its own en suite, a gourmet kitchen, several sitting areas, and a variety of outdoor places to sit and relax or dine. The grounds are well planted and cared for. Even though it is in the vicinity of San Gimignano, the 1.85 mile walk is quite a steep hike (doable, but it is not the short easy walk I had imagined). You do need a car to get around the area easily. The owners are very responsive and when we needed a handyman for a few small repairs, "Gianni" came within minutes. The pool is fabulous. It's as nice as it looks in the photos. I couldn't have picked a better place to stay with five friends, all celebrating our 60th birthdays in Italy. (For families, there's also a smaller room with bunk beds, so the villa actually sleeps quite a large number of people.) We hired Lucia, the owner, to cook dinner for us one night and she and her crew made us a meal to remember, providing food and wine. I highly recommend Villa Iris, Tenuta Melograni for a stay in Tuscany!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Erin B., Melbourne, FL

Amazing Villa!
We stayed here with 10 people in early April, 4 adults and 6 children (ages 10-17). It was PERFECT! We had plenty of room in the villa and the grounds were so beautiful we always wanted to be outside! It is remote enough to be amazingly peaceful and yet just a short drive into beautiful San Gimignano. The hosts were very kind and accommodating and I highly recommend the private chef, Luccia, cooking at the villa for a night! It was delicious and such a special experience. We definitely plan to return to this amazing place!
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Jim M.

Best 60th Birthday ever....
We stayed at Villa Iris with 4 other couples, who were close friends, from 7-14 October 2017. This beautiful Villa is centrally located in Tuscany, near the medieval town of San Gimignano, and many other gorgeous Tuscany sights. We were impressed from the moment we saw this property online. You must reserve well in advance (2 years to 1.5 years) if you wish to have the week(s) you want. We were in frequent contact with Martina, who coordinated all of our requests (Private Chef dinner, Cooking Class, arrival, etc). We were met by Gabriele, Lucia and Christina (translator) upon our arrival at the Villa. They allowed an early arrival, for my wife and I, so we could drop off our luggage and pick up another couple at the airport. They showed us each room and explained how to use the Sauna, appliances, TV, built-in BBQ pit, etc. The property is absolutely stunning. The grass is well groomed, the flowers are beautiful, the pool water is clean, and the Villa inside is very spotless, spacious and beautiful. Each bedroom is very spacious and had a beautiful ensuite bathroom. An amazing buffet was provided for our group arrival in the evening. Five of us enrolled in the Cooking Class with Lucia, Christina and Monica while the rest of us ate what they prepared. Everyone enjoyed it very much and the food they prepared was excellent, which was served with some great wines. The homemade pasta was so good, we're all going to attempt to make it when we get home. On one of the nights we had Lucia, Christina and Monica prepare dinner. The men in our group have been friends since we were 5 years old and the Private Chef dinner was for our 60th birthday party, complete with delicious Tuscan food and wine. Everything was fantastic! We had the seafood/fish dinner which was excellent. The calamari was the best we've ever had! We used the built-in BBQ on the nights we cooked for ourselves. The pool area was our go to meeting area to sit and relax after a long day of sight seeing. The pool water was cold during our week in October, however, some of us Canadians were still bold enough to go in for a swim. Gabriele, Lucia, Martina, Christina and their team are amazing hosts and made our vacation an exceptional 5-star experience. They were very accommodating and friendly during our entire stay. The weather during our two weeks (7-21 Oct) in Tuscany was absolutely stunning. It was sunny everyday, no wind, and temperatures of 23C during the day to 10C at night.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2017

10/10 Excellent

Kathy S.

Paradise in Tuscany
The villa and the grounds are perfect. Comfortable, homey, well appointed, spacious. The kitchen was easily capable of preparing meals for the whole crew. The nearby PAM market had everything we needed. Gabrielle and Lucia are wonderful owners and hosts. Lucia gave four of us a cooking class that prepared dinner for everyone and she also prepared a great seafood dinner to celebrate a birthday. We ate very well! The walk to San Gimignano takes about 40 minutes with some steep hills. The surrounding area is spectacular. It is quiet, beautiful and a home away from home. Our group of eight comprised some very different personalities and travel experiences and everyone gave the villa 5 stars. Quite a compliment. We will go back.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2017

10/10 Excellent

Philip P.

Birthday celebration at Villa Iris....awesome
We were a party of ten adults celebrating a 60th birthday and Villa Iris definitely fulfilled our expectations. Plenty of space, bedrooms and bathrooms and lots to keep us occupied. The cooking class was terrific fun for all of us. Lucia also cooked a birthday dinner that was truly memorable. We cannot speak too highly of our week at Villa Iris. Thank you Lucia, Gabriele and your team of ladies who looked after us over the week. Philip and Sarah....and our friends
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2017

8/10 Good

Paolo C.

Great Villa
The Villa was certainly beautiful and the pictures and descriptions on the website are accurate. We stayed a week in late August with 9 adults and 3 children. The location of the Villa is great if you are looking to do day trips to Florence, Sienna, Pisa, Chianti or the nearby San Gimignano (and more). However, the walk to San Gimignano is quite difficult with steep inclines and gravel roads (do not attempt it with kids). I would also highly recommend a car as there is not much within walking distance other than a Agro tourism Restaurant (that was quite nice). Positives: -The kitchen and outdoor bbq (not wood) were great for cooking our own meals. -The outdoor Bocce, Table Tennis and Foosball table were great for the evening - The Villa had a laundry machine -The Villa itself was great, spacious, well kept, good water pressure, AC in every room. -The owners were very nice and welcoming. Some of the negatives for us: -The pool did not have a heater and was quite cold, certainly too cold to swim at night, which would have been nice. -There must have been a Wasps nest nearby as we were swarmed when eating outside. -The cleaner did not bring additional toilet paper, so we ran out near the end of the week. It would have been nice if these were refilled without us having to request more. -The price for owner arranged dinners was quite expensive (90Eur per person) so we did not partake. - Careful with the use of the Sauna as it will drive up the electricity very quickly and may require you to pay extra (Gabriele let us off the hook for some minor overages)
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 21 June 2023
Thank you so much for your review , your point of view and sahring your feed back, we really appreciate it as all our guests tought are reason to improve our work and do better daily. I need only to point out a couple of thing referring this review. The most important is that we will be always at guests disposal with our staff and even personally, so for any need we really appreciate when guests raised the point in the moment in order to immedialtely provide support -pool: the fact that our pool is not heated is clear in all our listings, so we do not expect our guests will give this as a negative point.Normally our guests use the swimming pool till autumn (open from March 31st till October 31st) as for the good sun exposure. The swimming pool is under the sun from the sunrise till the sunset. I belive this is a very personal and individual feeling -Wasps: we are not down town but in the middle of chianti area with olive trees and vineyards around... we never had wasps nest in any case if this happens was enough to call us and we will move immediately to take it out. -Toilet paper: We always provide a first forniture of toilet items and kitchen items for all our guests, we also keep some for spare. In case guests will finish and need it before the end of the week was enough to ask our staff and immediately provide.   -Dinners: I am sure this is a misunderstanding. The price of our dinners is eu 60 per person for a meat dinner with bistecca alla fiorentina. This will be for private dinners in villa, with a private chef , staff and bevarage inclusive in the price . Duration 6 hours (3 of preparation and 3 of service) The 90 eu per person was for a private cooking class (with personal chef and staff) together with lunch or dinner - electricity: this is inclusive 300 kw and normally is hard to exceed with a normal use. In any case as per your review Gabriele most of the time, if the difference is not too big, will not ask for it. Most of our guests told us that was enough even for some Sauna's sessions, we also did test before to decide to provide 300 kw  for free.

10/10 Excellent

Samantha W.

Absolutely amazing! Beat all my families expectations
The property is in excellent condition and the location will truly blow your mind. I was so impressed that I plan on booking again. I honestly cannot fault this property. Gabriele went above and beyond to make sure everything was just perfect.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

10/10 Excellent

Carly R.

Absolutely stunning!
We hired Villa Iris for a week in May 2017 to celebrate my dad's 60th. Our party was comprised of 8 adults and 5 children. We couldn't have been more impressed with the Villa and the surroundings. Pictures do not disappoint and the Villa is absolutely beautiful. The owners Gabriele and Lucia are lovely - they were there when we arrived (late on the Saturday night) with a lovely buffet/wine prepared for us. They were so attentive in making sure we were all set up/happy and ensuring that the sleeping arrangements/rooms for the children were all sorted During the week they stopped by a few times (one of the parasols being replaced) and were always very friendly and checking we were OK, but never being over-bearing or intrusive. They were especially lovely to the children. The Villa is stunning- the grounds in particular are set up in such a lovely way with different shades spots eg the hammock or shades area near the pool with overhanging flowers, up to the swing set which the kids loved. It is so well thought out. Lucia cooked for us one night which was fantastic and well worth doing. San Gimignano itself is lovely, picturesque with nice restaurants and a great ice cream parlour. It is possible to walk from the Villa - a few of the adults did this a number of times- though it does take around 40 minutes. Gabriele gave us a taxi number which we used most of the time instead which was about 15 euros each way from the villa to San gimignano. There is also a nearby farm - Poggio Alloro- where we did a wine tour one of the mornings which was really good. They were fully booked for lunch/dinner when we tried, so would recommend booking in advance. There is also another restaurant nearby (5-10 minutes walk) where we had a lovely meal one night - again I would recommend booking as it can be busy. We had a fantastic time and would highly recommend Villa Iris to others. It worked well for us going in May as temperature was high 20s so it was warm but not unbearable for the children.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2017

10/10 Excellent

Andrea H.

Beautiful, clean, great condition in a perfect location! A beautiful villa!
We enjoyed our week stay at the villa immensely! Our family of 11 which included our parents and our 20+ age children loved returning to the villa after our daily tours. There was plenty of room for everone. I highly recommend scheduling a dinner prepared by Lucia. It was wonderful! Andrea St. Louis, MO
Stayed 7 nights in May 2017