Villa Il Paradisino

We had booked 7 nights at Villa Il Paradisino, but left after 3 nights. I wasn’t going to leave a public review but later decided to share my experience as I emailed feedback privately to the owners and the response I received was unprofessional ( seems to be the same for any negative feedback they receive, if you read their responses) We were told twice a baby safety gate would be put on the stairs, however when we arrived we were told it didn’t fit. Ultimately this is why we left early as our one year old was constantly trying to climb the stairs which made it hard to relax. Other points to consider- The mosquitoes are extremely bad , we had our own repellent but were covered in bites in the first hour of arriving. No repellent or burners were provided, until I let the owners know we would be ended our stay early. We completely understand mosquitoes are present in that environment but they need to supply everything possible to help keep them to a minimum. Because of the mosquitos you can’t leave any doors open. Basic items not provided, no cooking oil or coffee , this was standard in the 4 other accommodations we stayed in in Italy. The grounds were overgrown so didn’t look as nice as in the photos online, the lawn directly outside our room was overgrown so our kids couldn’t play in it. If you have young children I wouldn’t recommend staying here as the floors inside are very hard , as shown in the photos online , so it doesn’t have a cosy comfortable feel, nowhere comfortable on the floor for babies / toddlers to play and sit, no rug etc. Pool also isn’t suitable for babies/ small children. This place was such a let down we were so disappointed, out of all our accommodation we booked in Italy it looked the best in the photos, but ended up being a disappointing experience, every other accommodation we stayed at far exceeded our expectations for half the cost .

Villa IL Paradisino is truly a piece of paradise just outside of Florence. The villa dates from the 1500s and has remained in the family while the town has grown around it. Step into the gates and you are in heaven! The land grows wine grapes, olives, herbs, vegetables, and fruits. The cooking classes take guests around the land to harvest herbs and other fresh ingredients. Costanza is a gracious hostess, so friendly and welcoming! The villa is convenient to local transport as well. Highly recommend a stay here!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, it would take me a thousand words to describe my experience at Villa Paradisino. It began with the absolutely magnificent property that produces all sorts of fruits and vegetables. The cooking classes were magnificent and one of the best l've ever had, everything from scratch, and everything in a traditional Italian manner. Sesto is a beautiful town, 10 minutes from Florence by train, and yet it is a whole different world. It is quiet and serine and everybody knows everybody. Costanza has a recommendation right in Sesto for everything you might want. Her friends own restaurants, delis, and little markets. All I had to say was I was staying at Costanza's and they treated me like family. My accommodation was super deluxe. Beautiful antiques and hammocks galore. I have never felt more at home away from home. Do yourself a very big favor and check this out.

Despite some miscommunication about the cooking class my wife and I enjoyed this location quite a bit. We would have loved to take the cooking class with Costanza because she is a sweet soul who wants only to please guests. We would have tried a bit harder to take the class were it not for friends wanting to see us and the price of the class being a bit steep (we paid less per person at a two Michelin star restaurant in Bologna than what they charge for the class with dinner). The villa is within walking distance to the main Sesto Fiorentino shopping and dining areas as well as the train station. Walking through the grounds was lovely. All-in-all a very nice experience.

We were four friends on a girls trip and we decided to take in Costanza’s cooking class. It was a wonderful afternoon and evening collecting herbs from the farm, sipping wine, chopping, tasting, learning, and ultimately eating a large, multi course home cooked Italian meal. We are all fairly seasoned cooks, yet we all came away having learned something new. A wonderful authentic experience on a unique property.

One of the top experiences of my life. The villa itself is stunning. Constanza communicated so well leading up to my trip & helped me get transportation to the villa. The cooking class from beginning to end was incredible. I learned so much and the food was delicious!! I hope to come back again soon-truly incredible