L'Antico Pozzo - San Gimignano, Italy 

First, San Gimingano is a magical place. Staying there gives you a chance to see it at night, when the crowds are gone & it has even more of the feel of the old walled, medieval town. L'Antico Pozzo is a very nice little hotel. Rooms are spacious and bathrooms are quite nice-- good lighting, marble floors and glass tile showers. Just one caveat--the beautiful guest rooms shown on the hotel's website are not the standard room. If you want one of those--and they are truly beautiful--be aware that they are an upgrade. I didn't know that & ended up in a standard room, which was ok, but very plain. Buffet breakfast is substantial and high quality. It is served in a lovely room on the hotel's second floor. Or you can take your food to a little table in the beautiful enclosed courtyard. Staff is friendly and helpful, everything is very clean & well-maintained. hotel is located on a hill just a couple blocks from the main square, and just inside the city walls. Being a hill town means that you will be walking up and down hills to get everywhere. Be sure to have comfortable shoes!

This is a lovely hotel, right in the heart of San Gimignano, a magical place to spend a night or two, or three in our case. Whiie crowded with day-tripping tourists, it empties out at night when you can share the Piazza Cisterna with the locals, a bicycle riding violinist (who plays around town) and some of the best gelato in the region. This hotel is run by family members who are each gracious, very helpful and knowledgeable about the town and the surrounding area. Breakfast buffet was varied and delicious and a lovely patio offers the morning sun on the lovely spring days we experienced. When the warm weather arrived just before the air conditioning was turned on, we were immediately given a good electric fan. The a/c was in place the next morning. Our room was immaculate with a great shower. We took a great Chiani wine tour with Cor Magis Travel, recommended by the hotel, and enjoyed it very much. Just eight of us in a van with our knowledgeable and personable driver/guide Diego. Don't forget to sample the delicious fare in Chiribiri, a small restaurant with great food. And do pack a picnic and enjoy the incredible views from Rocca di Montestaffoli, a fortress dating from 1353. While many people choose to stay outside the town in the countryside, we really enjoyed the experience of being right in San Gimignano and highly recommend this hotel!