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This is perhaps the dream house of many a visitor to Tuscany. Set among the green, wooded hills just outside Florence, this villa is an exceptional combination of the most desirable elements in a rental home. The location is absolutely ideal for those wanting easy proximity to Florence but a quiet, countryside setting. The city is an easy 20 minute drive, Chianti is 20 minutes in the other direction. The setting is tranquil and free from the sound of traffic. The vistas are outstanding whether watching the sun set from a private balcony or enjoying a countryside panorama from the terrace. Every room in the house is beautifully furnished with style and charm, enhanced by excellent antiques from all over the world. The bedrooms are very pleasant, good-sized and air-conditioned; the bathrooms have been updated. You have a heated indoor pool, with a sliding glass wall that opens to the out-of-doors in season. All cooking services are included. The amenities and ambiance of the house are appealing in all seasons of the year.
The villa is situated between the towns of La Romola and Cerbaia, to the south of Florence and on the edge of Chianti. One of our favorite villages, San Casciano in Val di Pesa -- with several excellent restaurants and one of the finest specialty food shops we have ever encountered -- is just minutes away. Take the delightful curvy back roads, or set off on the 'raccordo' to Siena, a trip of about 50 minutes. Jump on the 'autostrada' and arrive swiftly to Lucca or Arezzo. To reach Florence, stay on the local road running in nearly a straight line from the Villa to the Porta Romana and the Pitti Palace. From the villa you are within an hour of all the major points of interest on a Tuscan itinerary.
The villa was originally a farmhouse, set among woodlands. It is thought that sometime in the 1800's the house was converted to a villa by a noble family, who added a warm beige stucco to the exterior walls, changed the finishes and enlarged the spaces. Various improvements and upgrades over the intervening centuries have ensured that the overall quality and design of the house has kept pace with luxury living, without ever sacrificing the authentic and undeniable charm of the rich materials and long history which come with such a house. The current owners' affection for this wonderful place shows in the great care they take to ensure guests feel at home and comfortable. Enormous and spectacular floral bouquets and a daily delivery of five copies of the International Herald Tribune are among the thoughtful touches.
An enchanting 1.8 kilometer drive (some paved, some dirt road) through the woods brings you from the main road to the formal entrance to the house, passing by the Dependence on your way. The sense of privacy is immediate and complete, as you see no other residences. The handsome and refined front facade of the house is balanced by a wide arc of garden, bordered by tall hedges and fringed with flowers. Antique jars of terra cotta sit by the door, stuffed with orchids. A tall, clipped hedge leads you to a path and staircase which descend to the primary terrace, tented with white canvas. This outdoor living room is furnished with mustard colored linen cushions on bamboo couches and armchairs for relaxed reading and conversation. Adjacent is a more traditional dining area, a loggia with cassettone ceiling and table for ten. What you notice, from nearly any vantage point, is the exceptional view -- a Renaissance backdrop of olive trees, vineyards, farmhouses and villages.
A clipped lawn sweeps around to the south and west, past a small dining pavilion for 6 under a white canopy - to the far terrace. Up a short flight of stairs is a rustic pergola and additional dining area -- recommended by the owner for breakfast and even lunch as the mornings are wonderfully fresh. Everywhere you look there are flower beds with spring and summer bulbs, roses, lavender, oleander and broome. Here the view is more intimate, affording a closer review of the rich tapestry created by field and meadow.
Notes
Monday - Saturday arrivals. Required daily cleaning (4 hours/day, 6 days/week); additional cleaning and personal laundry upon request. Cook included for continental breakfast and one other meal per day, Monday - Saturday. Additional cooking, arrival dinner and advance shopping available. Air conditioning in all bedrooms and the living room on the Upper Level. Screens in all Villa bedrooms and throughout Dependence. Automatic fax with dedicated line. There are cats, a dog, a goat and chickens on the property. The caretakers live in a private apartment in the Dependence and are very gracious people. American outlets in two of the bedrooms. Multiple stairs and changes of level throughout the house; not recommended for anyone unsteady on their feet.
Points of Interest
La Romola, Cerbaia (shopping, post office, bank, tennis courts): 5 minutes
Autostrada: 10 minutes
Florence: 15 - 20 minutes
Florence Airport, Arezzo: 30 minutes
Siena, Lucca: 1 hour
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