'Tuscanflat,SienaVistas' in Siena City with spectacular terraces on all old city

When we first arrived we thought that is was just musty from not being used and would air out if we opened the windows. Unfortunately each day it got worse and when my wife did laundry on our third day she noticed that the source of the smell was mold growing in the small room where the washer was located. By the time we left we noticed the mold growing on the floor of the bathroom as well. By day 4 both of us noticed that within minutes of being in the flat we started getting headaches and sore throats which disappeared within an hour of leaving the flat. I am sure the mold is in the air and is extremely unhealthy.

Like Elpeth we found the unit needed a thorough deep cleaning and the oven she mentioned in her review had still not been cleaned. We put up with this for 4 days and emailed the owner that we were going to leave and I am writing this review on what should have been our 6th night in the flat. Instead we booked a hotel at additional cost for our last two nights in Siena. I am upset that we are paying twice for two nights of lodging but I am more angry about the time the owner of the unit has stolen from our once in a lifetime vacation in Italy that we planned for over a year. At this time of year it took several hours to find and move to a new accommodation. As of this writing we still have not heard back from the owner and he didn’t even bother to acknowledge the issues or give us instructions as to where to leave the keys. Something we would have needed on our normal check out day in any case!

What is so terrible about the owners’ apathy is that the flat is very well done with probably the best views in Siena from the roof top deck. The unit has several televisions, Wi-Fi, espresso machine, nice dishes and modern construction. It is also in a great location and easy to reach from the bus station. Within minutes you can be in the main plaza and the main street of the old town runs into the square the apartment is located. We planned to spend the first few days in Siena exploring and then the last few days relaxing on the patio and being lazy. The flat is perfect for that except the umbrella for shade is broken and the flowers shown in the picture are long dead. It appears nothing has been done with the flat since the pictures were taken several years ago.

In case the above seems sugar coated let me be plain spoken and say…DO NOT STAY AT THIS FLAT UNTIL THE OWNER THOROUGHLY CLEANS AND SANITIZES THE FLAT!

The Good:

Good location at the north end of historic Siena; great roof top terrace with 360 degree views, food market and specialty stores near by, free parking a short walk away but no need for a car except for excursions.

The Bad:

This is not a "rental" unit but is occupied by the owner when not rented. The oven was filthy and the fridge had 1/2 eaten food and open drinks in it. We were given no instructions as to how anything worked, no contact for an emergency. We blew a fuse which meant no electricity and no water for the entire unit. No telephone, contrary to the website. Luckily. Some students who lived in another rental apartment could contact the owner and found the fuse box hidden behind a wall. The lower terrace is in fact an enclosed living room with the owners office and professional books.

The Ugly:

The owner's girlfriend received by hand and in cash as requested 100 euro more than the agreed upon rental price. When we realized and contacted him, he refused at first to acknowledge this over payment. He then agreed that it did happen and told us he would send it to a paypal email account. He even asked which email he should use as he had both of ours. The money never arrived. He lied

about this as he lied about the condition of the apartment.

I stayed at this property for 10 days in Sept. and enjoyed every single minute of it and the enchanting city of Siena. I didn't want to leave but I know I will rent this flat again. The photos are very accurate but the view from the terrace must be seen in person to be truly appreciated. To see the city change with the time of day and the different weather patterns was magical. I couldn't get enough and spent most of my time on the terrace when I wasn't out walking the city. If I can just drag myself away from the view for a moment I will say that the flat was very comfortable and well equipped. Ideal for 1-2 people although I think the couch is a bed. The bed is very comfortable. The bathroom is new and modern with fantastic water pressure. There is a washing machine too which is a must especially when traveling for long periods. Also there are many guide books and maps which was a huge help. As others have stated there are a lot of steps leading up to the flat but unless you have physical restrictions it is totally worth the walk. I found that after walking Siena day after day the climb got easier. On the practical side I took the bus in from Pisa and I was happy to discover that it is in easy walking distance from the bus stop. I loved the location.

The owner and his father were very helpful and easy to communicate with.

The apartment is very well situated in Siena, less than 5 minutes from the bus terminus on the Florence Siena line, and very central, being only a few minutes from the Campo. The terrace is magnificent with panoramic views of the centre of town especially the Duomo,the bell tower of the Palazzo Publlico, and out to the hills beyond. The apartment is very well furnished with mod cons. The air conditioning works really well, and while it maybe 35C on the roof, it is very comfortable inside, and very quiet as well, which is not so common for an apartment in the centre of town. I would have no reservation in recommending this apartment to anyone, and we have stayed here on a number of occasions. The owner, Simone, is very helpful, and this year when we had a medical emergency, he was very kind, and offered to let us stay on if we needed to. In short if you are in Siena it is the best apartment to go for

This is a wonderful place to stay in Siena if you are there for five days or more (and it is certainly a city worth spending time in). It is not for those with mobility issues because there are a lot of steps up to the flat and then internal stairs as well. But for those of ordinary or better fitness, the fabulous 360 degree views from the rooftop over Siena and the Tuscan countryside more than compensate. And the steps are not as daunting as the numbers sound - they are wide and shallow and there are several landings. The flat itself has everything you could want - a fully equipped kitchen including all the basic provisions to make a meal, for example olive oils and balsamic vinegar. The bathroom has a good shower and is well lit. It also has a washing machine. The enclosed terrace or sitting room is very comfortable, with quality couches, and those amazing views. There is useful reading material in English about Siena. And importantly, the bed, in a separate bedroom with good cupboard space is also very comfortable. The highlight for us was the roof terrace - relaxing on the sun lounges, or having lunch or a glass of wine at the table, and being able to gaze around at Siena's architectural wonders. There is a high quality grocery/delicatessen/wine shop practically next door (to the right from the front door) selling the best of Tuscan produce, and a very large supermarket tucked away downstairs in an arcade to the left just a minute's walk away. We tried a variety of local restaurants. We didn't have any outstanding culinary experiences, and preferred the unpretentious osteria which offer limited menus of good home style Tuscan cooking and decent house wine for very reasonable prices. Siena is a small city, and all its major attractions are within an easy stroll of the apartment. It also makes a good base to explore the Tuscan countryside or for a day trip to Florence. Not having a car we booked a day trip with local guide, Donatella, to visit some wineries to try the famous Brunello di Montalcino. This was a great day out with a very engaging and knowledgeable guide. Overall, we highly recommend a stay in this Tuscan flat.