OVERVIEW
Sitting on a hill in the heart of Chianti, between Siena and Florence, this classic farmhouse has been transformed into an exquisite holiday villa which beautifully blends Tuscany charms with minimalistic, modern style. Extreme attention has been paid to every detail, from colorful textiles and design objects to the custom-made outdoor Jacuzzi and fabulous infinity pool overlooking rolling vineyards and olive groves.
The large main house revolves around an internal courtyard which creates a lovely natural flow. The building’s original stone walls and massive wooden beams have been retained, however, the interiors have otherwise been reinvented and feature exceptional modern fittings and luxurious amenities.
The large double living room has two sitting areas, each with a working fireplace, stylish furniture, design accents and unique lighting. There is also a cozy separate TV room with a fireplace and an office. The generous kitchen and breakfast room are located in a newly added extension which has vast windows facing the rolling hills and opening onto a sunny outdoor dining terrace. Much of the outdoor living during the day will likely take place in the shady central courtyard, which has a comfortable sitting area and long dining table.
One of the villa’s six bedrooms is found on the ground floor whereas the others are on the first floor. Each bedroom is uniquely decorated with lovely features like reupholstered mid-century chairs and gorgeous bedspreads. The spacious master bedroom has a dressing room. The wow factor bathrooms have stone or marble basins, freestanding soaking tubs or extra-large rain showers.
There is also a small gym which has an infrared sauna which comfortably fits four. Alternatively, you can relax in the unique outdoor Jacuzzi, made of copper and wood from wine barrels and built into a raised terrace with a soaring panorama. More splendid views can be savored from the long, stone infinity pool, above which are two terraces for relaxing in the sun or enjoying a drink or snack around the wooden table. There is also a bocce ball pitch for further outdoor entertainment.
Guests are free to make use of the bounty of the villa’s vegetable garden, however, you will most certainly take the short drive into Panzano to enjoy a meal or two at Dario Cecchini’s three eateries. People come from near and far to sample the world famous butcher’s exceptional meats and other Tuscan specialties. Weekends are busy thanks to his free aperitivos, but since the villa is so near, you can easily pop into town whenever you like. The villa is also well situated for winery visits nearby or easy day trips to Florence, Siena or to the many hilltop villages and cultural sites of Tuscany.
Outdoors
• Magnesium salt water pool, heated on request
• Two terraces by the pool with sun beds and a round wooden table
• Villa is set within a large garden with wild flowers, shady sitting areas and soaring views over vineyards, olive groves and rolling fields
• Shady courtyard with outdoor living area and dining table seating 12
• Sunny al fresco dining terrace next to the kitchen and breakfast room with table seating 6
• Raised terrace with built-in Jacuzzi
• Bocce ball pitch and ping-pong
• Vegetable garden
Indoors
• Completely restored interiors with historic details and a clean modern look
• Stone walls, wooden beams and working fireplaces throughout
• Attractive furnishings including mid-century armchairs and designer lighting
• Double living room with 2 fireplaces
• TV room and separate office
• New modern kitchen with lovely vintage range
• Sunny breakfast room
• Small gym and infrared sauna
• Six double bedrooms, one on the ground floor, four on the first floor and one in the tower
• The master bedroom is spacious and has a dressing room
• Beautiful bathrooms with high end finishing
DETAILS
Amenities
• A/C in all bedrooms and in the gym
• Wi-Fi throughout the property
• Apple TV, Netflix and Amazon Prime and regional satellite in the media room (a second TV is in the gym)
• Sonos system in common rooms, two additional portable sonos speakers
• Hot tub at pool
• Infra-red and Swedish sauna
• Small gym equipped with Technogym rower and cross trainer, pilates equipment, a TRX, free weights, resistance bands
• Changing room and bathroom in the pool house with indoor shower and a minibar with fridge
• Beauty set including organic shampoo, body cream and shower gel
• Bocce ball pitch, ping pong and vegetable garden
• Laundry facilities
• Ice machine
• Pizza oven
Staff | Service included
• A Saturday night welcome dinner
• Continental breakfast served daily
• There will be 1 or 2 cleaners for a total of 8 hours per day, usually from 9am to 1pm
• Midweek towel change
• The villa manager lives on site in separate accommodation, on hand to help throughout the stay. She is flexible to meet the guests needs. Her weekly day off is Tuesday.
Staff | Service on request
• Additional maid service
• Guests are welcome to book a chef for as many meals as they require. It is best to arrange this in advance.
• Special grocery requests can be provided for arrival, charged at cost
• Pool heating
• An excellent choice of local wines can be purchased from villa wine cellar
• Laundry and mid-week linen change
• Electric bikes
• Yoga can be arranged and there is some Pilates equipment at the villa
• Babysitting
• Local taxis, massage, wine tours, art tours, hot air balloon tours,etc can be arranged
Distances
• Closest village Panzano in Chianti with shops, restaurants and bank 4 minutes drive, 2 km
• Closest commercial and private (private jets) airport Florence 50 km – 1 hour drive
• Castellina in Chianti 10 km - 15 minutes drive
• Siena 40 km – 50 minutes drive
• San Gimignano 40 km - 50 minutes drive
• Florence city center 40 km - 1 hour drive
• Volterra 60 km – 1 hour drive
• Pisa 100 km - 1 hour and 30 minutes drive
• Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi140 km - 2 hours drive
• Rome 300 km - 3 hours drive
Things to do
• The village of Castellina in Chianti is a lovely hilltop maze of terra-cotta and stone, complete with a long vaulted passageway that tunnels through the medieval town walls.
• The Chianti area: Famous for its wines - the Chianti Classico - this area of Tuscany has more than just world-class oenological pleasures to offer. The curious visitor will come across many delightful villages, each of them with a history of its own. Let us simply mention lesser known gems such as the Romanesque church of Sant'Appiano, the Basilica of Impruneta, the fortified castle of Monteriggioni and the roofless Romanesque abbey of San Galgano which are all close. And don’t miss the Saturday market in the small town of Greve.
• Siena: The Sienese have no doubt, their town is the most beautiful in all of Tuscany, if not all of Italy. Siena has remained a Gothic city. Renaissance, one of the major influences in Florence, hardly affected the urban development of Siena. The city unfolds around the main shell-shaped square called "Il Campo." Twice a year the famous horse race known as the "Palio" takes place here. The narrow streets are lined with old shops and small cafes, while churches and museums are real treasures of the fourteenth century.
• San Gimignano is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. It is mainly famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, which may be seen from several kilometers outside the town. The town also is known for the white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, grown in the area
• Volterra. This town has a fascinating Etruscan past and amazing views over the surrounding countryside. It’s one of the most charming small towns in Tuscany.The area around Volterra is characterized by the ‘balze‘, steep clay hills that create a unique and otherworldly panorama.
• Florence: The city lies on the Arno River and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture. A center of medieval European trade and finance, the city is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance; in fact, it has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages.[2] It was long under the de facto rule of the Medici family. From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. The historic center of Florence continues to attract millions of tourists each year and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982.
• The seashore: the sandy beaches along the coast of Versilia at turn of the century Viareggio and fashionable Forte dei Marmi with their trendy bars, designer shopping and some of the best seafood restaurants in Italy