Two charming apartments in the ancient COLOGNOLE CASTLE.

Try to imagine a place in Tuscany where you are greeted as if you were old friends by two warm and gracious Italian sisters who are going to to do everything they can to make your stay in Tuscany the best vacation you ever had. Now picture yourself in a 12th century castle on a hill overlooking picturesque vineyards and only a five minutes’ drive from Greve, the largest town in the Chianti region of Tuscany, with a beautiful square, restaurants, shops, a grocery and market days.

Such a place exists with Rosita and Rita Ricci at the Castello Di Colognole, which is an hour’s bus ride from Florence and an hour and a half’s drive to Sienna. There are two apartments from which to choose. Apartment Quarteresi where we stayed can sleep up to six with two queen bedrooms on the second floor and two single beds and a large sitting room on the third floor. My husband, my cousin, and I spent three weeks there, adding a daughter after the first week, and our Spanish exchange student daughter for a couple of nights at the end of the trip. Since you rent by the apartment, rather than by the number of people staying there, there was never a problem as we added to our group as we went along.

Having Rita and Rosita in their own apartments on the property meant having our own translator when we needed it (Rosita) and a cook for hire (Rita) when we wanted a delicious special meal prepared for our group. This vacation was one we will always remember for the Italian people we shared it with in the friendly town of Greve, and for dear Rosita’s and Rita’s gentle and enthusiastic support of everyone who is fortunate enough to come under their care. Grazie belle signore!

We chose this location midway between Florence and Siena for the accessibility of sights in the region. We ended up falling in love with it because of all it had to offer on its own. The castle is singular in beauty and the panoramic view from the garden brought tears to my eyes the first morning. Rolling hillsides are lined with grapevines and olive trees (we enjoyed the Colognole olive oil and Chianti wine throughout our stay.) On our final day our four children (ages 7, 9, 9 and 10) helped collect olive branches to burn in a bonfire just below the walled garden. Seriously, so cute. The courtyards and towers had me itching to pull out paper and paint to capture the stunning beauty of this romantic location and the interior was immaculately clean and comfortably furnished with stacks of books and comfy seating beckoning. We stayed in the Bocca suite (I think that's the name?) with a large kitchen perfect for cooking and a door to the gardens. The sitting room with a fireplace large enough for the whole family to stand in was a favorite cozy nook as we had unseasonably cold weather for March. Our kids bunked together easily (with their own bathroom) up a short flight of stairs and we were tucked cozily in a small bedroom perfectly appointed for two. Rosita and Rita made wood available to us for fires in the fireplace and were very helpful in making sure the home was warm enough for us all after our days of touring the countryside. La Cantina downtown was a perfect dinner spot that offered affordable fare, a terrifically friendly staff, a charming stone interior and unlimited gluten free options (not always easy to manage in Italy!) The outdoor market in the square on Saturday morning was a charming shopping experience where locals and tourists gather to buy fruits, meats and even clothing. Throughout the week the town offered small stores filled with pottery, cured meats, gelato and more. An easy bus ride from Greve to Florence allowed us to see all the sights without the hassle of parking. We also visited Pisa (boring town but ah, the tower...), San Gimignano (love!), Siena (LOVE!), and Monte Fiorelle (so cute.) Each evening we were charmed again by the warmth of our sweet hostesses who were always available but never intrusive, as well as our century-old castle. We can't decide whether to return on our own for a romantic getaway for two or to invite friends to rent the other apartments for a huge Chianti Tuscany fest. Either way, perfetto!

It's fantastic. The castle is beautiful, the oldest in Chianti. The apartments are charming, although the ground level floor is better in my opinion. Rosita and Rita were the perfect hosts and we left feeling as if we had made friends. Rita cooked a delicious meal for us our first night which was perfect after a day of traveling. Rosita gave us a tour of the grounds and castle including the cellar which was fascinating. Views are fantastic!!

The castle is at least a mile from town so if you want breakfast, you should bring everything you need with you.

Also, soap for the shower was not provided and we didn't find a hairdryer, not a problem, just good to know in advance.

The driveway is steep to the castle, a little challenging the first time you drive it, but part of the adventure and after that we knew what to expect.

We only were able to spend 2 nights there but want to return for a longer time. Loved it. Thank you Rosita and Rita!!

We are two retired couples from the USA who have been to Italy several times and have visited all the major tourist sites so we decided to stay 10 days in Greve and visit the surrounding small towns. The highlight of our trip was staying in the castle and having so much personal attention from Rita and Rosita. Our most memorable experience was having Rita cook for us and eating at the dining table in the garden.

This is a beautiful castle with unique features throughout, however, the views are spectacular and the host sisters, Rosita and Rita are lovely in every way. I highly recommend!