Casa Ambra - Sogna
Review Submitted: September 2, 2008
Date of Stay: July 2008
This is a lovely property, and works very well if booked for two families, with easy access from both properties to the garden and terrace - fantastic views. The whole restoration project has been a triumph and it's very peaceful and "away from it all". Casa Ambra was fairly cool inside, but you might want to take a fan - the smaller bedroomds did get very hot. Some of the houses are close together, so we were pleaed that some of them were unoccupied during our stay.
Cooking was slightly limited - barbecues not allowed, the only oven and grill (upstairs) didn't work. Microwave and hob downstairs.
The pool is excellent, although when we were there there was some pressure on access to sun loungers and shade - no parasols, only olive trees, but all very natural. We'd really recommend using the tennis court, but you need to bring your own rackets and balls.
A torch would be a good idea if you're walking back from the car park at night. Some of the paths would be a little difficult to negotiate for someone who is not confident on their feet
The holiday-rentals site does not make it clear that the village of Sogna is only reached by a very steep unmade road, that does take a bit of negotiating. During the two weeks we were there the road seemed to become increasingly rutted in places, but once there the location was worth it.
The house is mostly well equipped but is almost completely lacking in local information, so you need to do a bit of homework before you go. We discovered the delights of Ambra, 10 minutes drive away, with excellent pizzas in the albergo on the main road, a good bakery, superb pasta (and a massive "steak Florentine") in the restaurant in the village itself and plenty of character in the piazza, joining the locals in the only bar.
Once down on the main road it is just 32 kilometers in either direction to Siena and Arezzo, so you can be in either destination in about 40 minutes. This makes Sogna an ideal location for sightseeing. Florence is easily accessible by train from Montevarchi (only 7 euros return, taking about 40 minutes) We travelled with three teenage children, but Sogna was quiet and safe enough for them to be happy to stay by the pool while the adults did a bit more sightseeing - we'd really recommend Pienza and the abbey of Monte Oliveto, and exploring the countryside of le Crete
In short, a stay in the Casa Ambra gives you a bit of everything that is good about a Tuscan holiday, and we would recommend it to a friend
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Helpful votes: 4/4
marks the location of the property in Siena Area
