General Description
What mysterious force drives some of us to relinquish all we know for the promise of a dream? Here is one account. In the early 90's a Florentine family led by Laura, Giorgio and their two sons left behind the bustle of their famous city for the lure of a simple life beneath the Tuscan sun.

They settled atop a Chianti hill midway between Florence and Siena laden with a bounty of vineyards, olive groves and soul-cleansing vistas. There, four stone structures, once part of a 13th-century monastery, were lovingly restored and converted into a private hamlet made up of the owner's home, a reception office and eight well designed units amid a setting of flowers, shade and fruit trees and the heavenly scent of lavender.

At one end of Querceto lies a children's play zone and a salt water pool open during the season from 9 am to 8 pm. On the opposite side of the estate is a small pen with some goats, ducks, turkeys, a donkey and an occasional peacock. Everyone, guests included, seems to enjoy eyeing one another through the fence.

A community room, where much of il Querceto's activities are centered, offers Wi-Fi Internet access, games, a barbecue and a pizza oven. At additional cost, guests can enjoy bicycle rental including kid size bikes, hiking maps, use of the laundry room, daily breakfast and communal, Tuscan themed dinners offered on two select nights per week. Cooking classes ranging from one to three days may be reserved along with participation in a wine tasting taking place in the estate's cellar. If requested, a light lunch may also be arranged with the tasting. A mid week towel change is included in the price.

The four units we chose are all in the same stone structure. Moro and Laura, on the side nearest the community cottage, open onto a shared furnished patio. Tinaia and Mandorlo, on the other side of the building, have their own private furnished patios outside their entrances and are separated by a sloping lawn with scattered stone steps.

Inside, with the exception of heated towel racks, the country decor is simple and functional. All windows are screened with the exception of one of Tinaia's ground floor bedrooms.

While guests of the estate must park at the entrance 100 yards away and walk up a slight incline over scattered stone steps, Tinaia comes with a private parking space adjacent to its entrance.

An unpaved, bumpy road leads to the SS222 in a scant half mile. From there, it's a 10 minute drive to either Castellina's shops and restaurants or Panzano's Sunday morning outdoor market; Radda: 15; Monteriggioni: 20; Siena: 25; Greve in Chianti: 30; San Gimignano or Florence: 45; Volterra or Arezzo: 70; Montepulciano, Perugia, Lucca or Pisa: 90.

Technical Description
Ground floor: Entrance from furnished patio and up two steps into living/dining room with fireplace and CD player. Kitchen area with stove top, oven and fridge. Two steps down to one bedroom with a single bed. Three steps up to bathroom with shower and hair dryer.

First floor: Ten steps up to a landing with two single, joinable beds.