Small town Tuscan living at Casa Delle Campane

We all enjoyed it very much. The person who received us and let us in was relaxed and efficient, with all the help we needed readily available. Chiusi is in a good position for all sorts of visiting to towns of Umbria and Tuscany. Our apartment was large and comfortable. No complaints at all. We thank the owners, the property manager and her husband, and Vrbo for the chance of a lovely holiday in beautiful surroundings.

The apartment was clean, well equipped, attractive and comfortable. The photos do not really show how large the rooms are so that people can easily share the space; we used the patio frequently to have dinner or share an after dinner drink; it was a very warm September but the large fans in each room made it completely comfortable; my husband I invited two different couples to join us at different times and the space was more than adequate for us to share. The apartment is arranged so that it is easy to make it your home. We were there for 5 weeks, made multiple trips to other cities and came home to read in the evening and talk about our day while listening to voices from the street as it is centrally located. It felt like home. We loved Chiusi for several reasons: it is not a tourist town; the locals spoke very little english but were warm and helpful and we had no difficulty in getting what we needed, (we were on a first name basis with local purveyors very quickly) it is a short bus ride to Chiusi Scalo train station where you can catch a train easily to go anywhere, or a short bus ride to the Hertz or Avis rental car agencies. The town was an Etruscan town before it became a Roman town and there is an Etruscan museum and tombs that are outstanding as well as ruins of Roman baths, a Roman gate, etc. Our walk every morning included the discovery of the nooks and crannies of this beautiful town. Our favorite restaurant was Il Bucchero (owned by Pino) which has traditional Tuscan dishes and was comfortable and delicious. In the US, we would find this restaurant a gem because it is local, inexpensive and inviting. And Maria, the property manager - she was always responsive to our questions and requests as well as friendly and competent in solving any problem. She is a gem! We have stayed in several VRBO apartments - all which were great - but this experience was the best! We will return.

Check-in process was very smooth as we were informed of all the necessary instructions beforehand and everything was set up as explained. The rooms were nicely prepared. This place is outstanding from a few points: 1) location - conveniently located near quaint restaurants, market and the trains. Day trips to Rome and Florence are easily managed due to train access. The historical center nearby is a short walk. 2) amenities - as a traveler from the United States, I appreciated the kitchen, great bathrooms and linens. These are creature comforts when traveling in Europe. 3) professional management - you can get what you need and timely responses. I highly recommend asking her for local restaurant or small day trip suggestions. She was spot on! The pizza and wine at Osteria Estrusca are to die for. You will appreciate the atmosphere and food at Il Bucchero. We went on day trips to Montepulciano and Castiglione del Lago. You will enjoy the scenery, the food, shopping and of course, the wine.

Their place has western comforts not normally found in small town atmosphere's like Chiusi. The beds were extremely comfortable and there is everything you would need for your stay. You walk everywhere you want to go in upper Chiusi. The restaurants were all fabulous as well as the restaurant owners and townspeople. The people of Chiusi were perhaps our favorite part of staying there. I cannot say enough about how friendly and welcoming they were to us. If you want to see other areas in Italy, it is very convenient to hop on the train to Florence, Rome, or Venice. Montepulciano and Sienna are close. However, if you want to just stay and relax in Chiusi in the Tuscan countryside you will be very happy. There is no question we will be retuning.