Going to Tuscany was one of the most anticipated stops on our travels through Italy, which included Cinque Terra and Venice. Tenuta di Mensanello not only met our expectations, but far and away exceeded them. It was the type of place that I'd like to exclusively come back to and just spend a lazy week on the grounds and exploring the Tuscan countryside towns and wineries.

We were two married couples travelling, and we stayed in one of the separate buildings in the Granaia room that felt more like our own condo unit than a hotel: a few stairs up to three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room and kitchen, all recently renovated, perfectly clean. We also enjoyed a big outdoor terrace with table and chairs, enjoying wine while overlooking the Tuscan hillsides. Our bedroom had one window with a view of the beautiful pool area and valley across the way, another window looking out over the hillsides and lit up towns in the distance.

Staying here is to experience true Tuscany. Going through the gates brings you into a tiny village founded in Etruscan times, with rooms perfectly updated for today's standards. This place easily convinces you to relax, slow your pace, sleep in and get a late start, and enjoy your surroundings. This is not some stuffy major hotel property, nor should it be. This place feels like a home away from home, a countryside retreat, with farm cats roaming, trucks bringing in wine grapes from harvest and the smells and sounds or rural nature. Coming back after a day walking through Florence, or driving the countryside, is a pleasure.

Situated between Siena (~30 minutes) and Florence (~45-50 minutes), close to San Gimignano and Volterra (~15-20 minutes), and very close to the major wine corridors, this is a perfect home base for exploring the Tuscan region. We wanted to park in one place and make day trips to the major towns, and this location did not disappoint. Rates were very reasonable compared to other properties we considered, so a great value for the money.

The food here is tremendous. You must at least once try their Tuscan multi-course meal for 20 euro/person at their intimate restaurant, which is popular with both guests and locals from other towns. While a true restaurant with seating area, it almost feels like walking into the family kitchen and dining room. All offerings were either from the farm itself or locally produced and fresh - amazing bruschetta, pasta, pesto, olive-oil, fresh bread, cured meats and cheeses, soup, grilled or roasted meat, wonderfully unique Tiramisu and other mouthwatering desserts, along with their own very delicious, inexpensive wine and coffee made to order. (They make two kinds of wine, and although the standard red was fine drinking wine, the red that was a couple euro more was clearly better and wonderful. If memory is correct, one was 4 euro and the other 6 euro - great value.) Top it off with a taste of their homemade grappa and you have an unforgettable meal. The 5 euro breakfast is convenient and plentiful, with great variety to have a nice big, convenient meal to prepare you for your day.

They have a wonderful pool area, set amongst trees and greenery, great for taking in the warm sun or cooling off in the pool and feeling like you are surrounded by nature and not a field of concrete like most hotels.

There is a local town a short 5 minute drive away with an ATM, grocery store and Catholic church (8:30, 10, 11 Sunday services) that is great to have in case you need anything or plan to cook your own meals.

Service at Tenuta was friendly and like talking with family. From the wonderful waitress at the restaurant who explained all our entrees to Carla, who manages the property and somehow seems to do it all with ease. She answered all our questions, and was helpful with anything we needed. Where else would you hug your hotel manager before leaving. With Carla, you want to, and we did!

Without question we would stay here again if (and hopefully when) we return to this region. This is the type of place that makes you want to keep it your own little secret. Would highly recommend to anyone that wants an authentic Tuscan experience and fantastic memories!

We stayed here for a week. The general tenor of the entire tenuta is 'run down' with lots of decrepit buildings, old machinery etc. There are many apartments, some with views, others like ours, overlooking a small courtyard.Our one bedroom apartment was spotlessly clean, but very basic- bed was OK, bathroom ( shower only) functional ( hot water OK) and a very basic kitchen. Bring everything- not even salt and pepper available. Great outdoor pool that was very clean and a good size. Families with kids seemed to really enjoy it. Evenings were quiet.
Manager Carla is wonderful , speaks good English and was very helpful. Some provisions ( wine, olive oil, sausage) from the farm are available to purchase at reasonable prices. An equally rustic restaurant is open a couple of nights a week for a 20 Euro fixed menu meal that was adequate in quantity but rather poor in quality. Nearby towns ( Colle di Val d'Elsa, Gracciana etc) offer a few restaurants but we didn't check them out. Within 10 min drive are a COOP and SMA grocery stores for shopping.
Overall we enjoyed ourselves but in extensive touring around the area it is my impression that other agriturismos offer a higher standard. Don't know how the prices compare. Many of the attractions of the area are within a short driving distance so location is good- accessibility also fine with a drive of 20 min into Sienna, 40-45 min to Florence. You must have a car if you are to stay here.

I cannot say enough about the wonderful experience my family of 4 (2 teenage daughters, wife and myself) and our friend and her teenage daughter had at the Tenuta di Mensanello. The apartments are clean, spacious and easily accommodated the 6 of us. The bathrooms were fine and the amenities were all that we needed for cooking our own meals. The pool was always clean with plenty of chairs and tables for all. The on site restaurant is a must and the food was excellent (we ate there twice and the prix fixe menu included local wine, food and olive oil.)

I have travelled for business and pleasure all over the world and stayed in all manner of accommodations...from open camping and tents to hostels, B&B, house exchanges to 5 star hotels in Europe, Central America, North America, Asia and New Zealand. I have relied on Trip Advisor for many accommodation selections over the years and despite all the wonderful places I have stayed, this is my first review.

Carla, the manager, is a wonderful hostess and provided everything we needed. The entire staff assured that our stay was perfect. The icing on the cake for us was meeting families from other parts of the world and connecting with them.

The location is perfect for day trips around Siena and Tuscany. Florence is an easy 1 hour drive.

I would highly recommend the TdM to any couple or family looking for a wonderful base to explore Tuscany.

My wife and I and four teenagers 16-18 years old, stayed in the very, very spacious main building of the tenuta. A few hundred meters from the main building there are two other houses in real tuscany style. We enjoyed the real tuscany life, the lovely setting, the pool and the surroundings. In the restaurant they cooke typical tuscany food, it was great and inexpensive, you have to experience it! Carla is lovely, she showed me around as I wondered about a review from 2008 on the wild pigs. Well, that appartment is indeed a few hundred meters away from the main building, but it's location is very nice and quiet, the appartment and garden are typical tuscany style; no smell, no bugs, no pigs around.