Relais Chiostro di Pienza

We used to love this place. Got married in Pienza 20 years ago, and over a period of a few years we stayed regulary at this hotel, often several times a year. It was our go to hotel for years when we wanted to relax and enjoy good food and excellent service. We were really looking forward to going back to our “home” in Italy, but unfortunately it didn’t feel like home anymore. The relaxing atmosphere was exchanged with a busy touristy feel. The lovely reading room, where you could relax in a comfy chair with a book and a glass of wine was turned in to a totally misplaced breakfast room and walkway to the restaurant. The reception; once filled with warmth and thoughtfulness, was now just any other reception. And worst of all – the beautiful terrace. Once a haven for relaxation, it was now a busy restaurant. Gone were the days where you could sit for hours, taking in the scenery and quiet while sipping a glass of wine. Now we have a pool bar, scenery completely obscured by a massive set up for the restaurant and waiters giving you a party feeling while busy smoking their cigarettes. We did not try the restaurant. It just didn’t feel worth it. If we want pool bars and party feeling we will go somewhere else than a convent from the 13th century.

What a great place. This property has very unique, beautiful rooms. It’s such a lovely location with beautiful views. The staff is very helpful, especially ALI who goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service to all the guests. We look forward to a return visit.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this rusticly beautiful hotel. It's old, yes, but it had history and beauty that can not be overlooked. The beds are comfortable, rooms are quiet, and the bathroom is big. The views out the window when walking downstairs towards the restaurant is s major plus. It overlooks Val d'Orcia, where Gladiator was filmed. The restaurant was great. The succulent pig on the dinner menu was out of this world, super succulent, and the wine suggested by our waiter was a great addition. We miss this place already and will definitely be back.

I am re-posting my review following management's response to my original post, to make a few additional comments, as the response received only serves to prove some of the problems with Il Chiostro. First, my original review: I was very excited to find a room available at Il Chiostro. It was a splurge to book a suite, and I looked forward to it as my most special stay during two weeks in Tuscany. Sadly, I was disappointed in multiple ways. The website describes that the suites use "refined fabrics" characterize the environment of the suites as "elegant and spacious". See pictures - and compare these photos to those provided by management of a suite. What I found was anything but the promised "elegant" suite. The fabrics in the sitting area may once have seemed refined but today present as tired, outdated, and a bit soiled. The open "closet" felt like something out of a roadside motel, the bed linens were coarse and rough, the bath towels cheap and thin, wi-fi flakey, and the air conditioning so anemic that even with the blower on the highest setting and the thermostat at its lowest, we had to borrow a desktop fan to try to stay cool enough to sleep. Yes, there was a waterfall showerhead in addition to the handheld, but that's not exactly the "hydro-massage shower" advertised on the website. (And honestly, I wouldn't even have noticed or cared about that but for already feeling so ripped off.) All of this for an eye watering 400 dollars a night. On the plus side, I can report the room was quiet, the bathroom small but updated, the views from the terrace splendid, and the breakfast buffet ample, but these positives don't make up for the significant faults. Tripadvisor’s policies preclude me from posting management's response. However, I will note that they dismissed my statement regarding the “hydro-massage shower,” denying that this was part of the room description (on their very own website) and sounding dismayed that I would expect it (something along the lines of “we don’t know where you read this and why you would expect it”). They also took pains to let me know that they don’t use the air conditioning in December in Italy so that I should not have expected cold air to blow. As my review clearly indicated, I stayed there in September. So what you learn from the response is that management of Il Chiostro is as careless as they are arrogant. Even more proof that this hotel is to be avoided.

This was our third stay. We love the village location, the nice rooms, the great breakfast on the terrace and the pool! Yes you need to park outside the walls and walk in with your luggage but that is not a problem for us.