Murlo holiday villa: Murlo

As a middle aged couple travelling without children, this was our first taste of rural Tuscany, and we were impressed by the tranquility of the setting, the friendliness and helpfulness of the owners and the general care taken over outdoor amenities. The owners take good care of their flower displays and their lawn areas. The pool was always clear and without any noticeable chlorine, and there are far more poolside chairs than there are people to use them.
One particular delight were the swallows and the goldfinches.
Shutters on the windows made the rooms dark at night, and flyscreens on the windows made it possible to keep rooms cool - there was usually a breeze, and the nature of the building meant that it never became hot. There were no ceiling fans or air-con, and these weren't needed, even on hot days.
Kitchen provisions were adequate, though a microwave would have been welcome. The gas oven and grill were new and performed well.
Obviously, if you're here you're using a car. We found the local roads to be winding but virtually empty of traffic, and it took about 25 minutes to get to Sienna and 50 to get to Pienza.
We were only here for a week, and used only one local restaurant. Fortunately, the food was good (the wild boar is a must, if it's on the menu) but the range of dishes would probably be a bit limited if you were staying for longer. There are other places a little further afield.
There was a family with young children staying at the same time as us. The owners have provided a range of things to do - there's a table-tennis table, a badminton net, and various children's toys stored in a poolside building.