We stayed at Torrachia de Chiusi in August 2012 and had an absolutely wonderful experience. You can see and feel the history in this magical, peaceful place. It seems very real and authentic and yet it has many modern amenities including WiFi and air conditioning (critical in August)! Grace is delightful and is happy to help with whatever you need. The cooking class with Bruno is a hoot. We had a great time despite the heat – picking fresh herbs from around the grounds, chopping the ingredients for dinner and even getting a sample of homemade bruschetta fresh out of the oven with a glass of vino – also made onsite of course. Stefano the owner was happy to show us his personal residence and views from the tower. We did the hike into San Gimignano, which took about 1:45 and wound through vineyards, up and down the hills of tuscanny and over a small creek – we HIGHLY recommend. The staff helped us get a taxi back to the Torrachia in the afternoon. After a long day of hiking and touring, the refreshingly cool pool was fantastic! The best views of Tuscanny and San Gimigiano right from the pool. The only slight disappointment was that the room with the terrace had an interior courtyard view – not the best view of the surrounding hills. But given the history, authenticity, and the incredibly nice staff, this was very easy to get over. Bottom line – we would absolutely highly recommend staying here.