We absolutely fell in love with Villa Rucellai upon our arrival; a lovely (at times nerve-testing) drive from Prato through the hills to the villa. Paolo, Francesca, and Frank could not have been more hospitalble. We loved the unique, spacious rooms--very clean. We only stayed two nights and particularly enjoyed our evening in the living room with Frank (and some vino) hearing the history of the Villa Rucellai--amazing!! My wife, daughter, sister, and brother-in-law universally felt that it was a highlight of our trip to Italia. A must-see!! Be sure to spend some time exploring the vast property and beautiful gardens!

I only left the villa this morning, and I wanted to be sure to quickly recommend it to anyone who can appreciate history, cleanliness and hospitality.

We were greeted by Vanessa and shown to our rooms. Mine had been a priest's cell, but it didn't feel very spartan to me. The bed was comfortable and large, and although there is an air conditioner, I never needed it, as the large window provided a pleasant breeze all night. The bathroom was modern and so clean that it glistened. My friends were downstairs in a large room on the ground floor, and I think I can speak for them in saying that they also had a positive experience, as evidenced by the fact that they have elected to stay an extra day.

In the days we were there we were pleased to meet Francesca, who is a descendant of the family which has owned the villa for longer than the USA has been a country, and her husband Frank, whom she met in the States and has induced (it can't have been difficult) to move to the villa to raise their own children and run the business.

As noted in another posting, the villa is a working business, making its own olive oil and wine. Most of the fresh fruits and vegetables served at breakfast are grown on the grounds. The wine is delicious, and what better place to enjoy it than on the loggia overlooking the valley and Prato in the near distance.

The prices are reasonable, the grounds are immaculate, the rooms are comfortable and the people who work there, owners and employees alike, are uniformly polite, interesting, knowledgeable and helpful.

The only possible drawback I feel compelled to mention is that it is ten minutes from anything else, and as they only provide breakfast, a taxi ride into town (about ten Euro each way) is required. But Vanessa arranged reservations at an excellent osteria in Prato, and any inconvenience caused by the villa's location is more than balanced by its positive qualities.

We loved the Villa! This is an incredible place to stay. Our family of 7 (5 teenagers) loved the villa. Large rooms, nice cool pool to come home to, good breakfast and beautiful surroundings. Would recommend this to just about anyone. The family is incredibly nice, the location beautiful, and the train station a short drive away. We will be back!

The Villa Rucellai is the "real thing" - a 15th century Tuscan villa that has been in the same family for more than 400 years. Moreover, the latest generation of family members still live in part of the villa. The 80-year old patriarch of the family (his deceased wife was a Rucellai) greeted us on our arrival and carried our bags up the windy staircase to the third-floor garret where we slept. The room was quite large, consisting of a main room where our two teenage daughters slept and a loft with a large bed where my wife and I slept. The room originally was home to the family's daughter, before she left home for medical school and the United States - some of her childhood things still can be found in the room. The irony is that she now has moved back to the Villa to raise her own children there!
The room looked out on the Villa's olive groves, pear orchard, vineyard, etc. Moreover, it is a working Fattoria, bottling their own olive oil and wine, and creating various kinds of pear preserves and honey, which is applied to the loaves of freshly-baked bread that are served with hard-boiled eggs and cheeses at breakfast. The main hall of the villa is adorned with busts and paintings of generations of Rucellai family members, and one can almost sense their presence as you sip your evening sherry. Centuries ago, the Rucellai were near equals of the Medici. The villa even has an ancient swimming pool, which is a pleasure on hot summer days.
The Villa is a 10-minute taxi ride from the center of Prato, a town that itself is a 20-minute train ride from Florence. Some of the best and most authentic restaurants in all of Tuscany are a 15-minute walk (or 5-minute taxi ride) from the Villa.
It's a bit out of the way for those who want the typical tourist hotel and surroundings. But, for anyone wanting to experience a Tuscan villa, and for a few days to live the life of an Italian noble of days gone by, the Villa Rucellai is the place to do it. I would stay there again!