CIN CODE: IT052022B4KV5P22O3

Halfway between Florence and Siena - First timers, as well as those seeking to explore as much of Tuscany as possible from one central location, will undoubtedly appreciate Villa Florentine. This exceptional location translates into super easy proximity to Florence, Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti with smooth sailing to the rest of Tuscany by car. 

Finding a large villa set midway between Florence and Siena with a highway exit within five minutes is never easy. Finding one chock full of modern amenities and medieval charm is nigh impossible. This centuries-old, totally restored estate is of superior quality from fittings to furnishings - this is a luxury rental home. Original beams, brick archways and terracotta floors frame the villa's many modern comforts. 

Villa Florentine is set amidst a small cluster of similar homes overlooking the plains leading to nearby Poggibonsi in five minutes by car where supermarkets, banks and a train station with service to Florence are found. The estate is bordered by tall pines providing shade, varying degrees of privacy and a clear viewing channel across the fields to a not so distant undulating hilltop. Amidst a superbly landscaped garden, the private swimming pool is on a level below the property and is accessed by an underground passageway. 

The fully air conditioned villa is made up of three attached stone structures that communicate externally. Together, they feature a large dining hall with an open-hearth fireplace, a well equipped kitchen with commercial grade appliances, luxurious bedrooms and a huge covered patio for al fresco dining along with a wood fired oven and barbecue. 

All windows are screened and each bedroom has its own bathroom. A small child's bedroom is across from one bedroom making it ideal for a couple with wee ones - the child bedroom is for ages 12 and under.  For those wanting only a few steps, two bedrooms are on ground level. One of these is in a cottage with its own independent entrance and a bathroom designed with wheelchair access in mind. 

Unlimited use of heat or air conditioning is included in the price along with: a daily refresh cleaning, a mid week towel change, high speed Internet access, a satellite television with English language movie channels and firewood for the two fireplaces. More cleaning, a breakfast buffet, evening meals, pizza nights using the original wood burning oven, and Tuscan cooking classes may be ordered at additional cost (on request with large notice). 

Beyond Villa Florentine, Tuscany awaits. The paved residential access road bordering the villa leads to three key routes in less than two miles. First, there is the entrance to the Firenze-Siena toll free highway in 10 minutes; Siena in 25 and downtown Florence in 45. Then, there is an entry to the SS2 or the ancient Roman road heading north to the walled medieval hill town of Barberino Val d'Elsa with a few restaurants and a great Etruscan museum in a 10 minute drive. A ride south on the SS2 eventually reaches Rome after winding its way through some of Tuscany's best undisturbed hill towns and countryside.

Lastly, the end of the villa's access road lands in modern Poggibonsi in five minutes by car where supermarkets, banks and a train station with service to Florence are found. Continuing on this road in one direction leads to the quintessential Tuscan hill town of San Gimignano in 15 minutes, while the other way heads into viticultural Chianti.

A treasure trove of easy to reach towns lies beyond the immediate vicinity of Villa Florentine with Castellina in Chianti in 25 minutes; Volterra: 40; Arezzo: 60; Lucca: 70; Cortona or Montepulciano: 80; Pisa, the Tuscan coast or Bologna: 90; Perugia: 100; Cinque Terre: 2.5 hours; Rome: 3 hours. 

Technical description:

Main Villa (Part "A"):

Ground floor: Entrance foyer with door opening to a large covered dining patio. Main dining room with open hearth fireplace and large glass doors with four steps down to the outside. Seven steps up into the main kitchen with a stovetop, griddle, oven, microwave, ice maker, commercial fridge with six temperature zones for fridge, freezer and wine storage and dishwasher. An archway opens to prep room with doors to an outside alcove with wood burning oven and large barbecue grill. Small living room for 8 with TV, CD player and Ipod dock. Half bath with washer/dryer. 

Mezzanine: One bedroom with a queen size canopy bed and en suite bathroom with tub and hand shower and separate shower.

First floor: Six bedrooms ( two of which with a queen bed and four bedrooms with two single beds joinable into a double bed). All bedrooms have an en suite bathroom; four with shower, one with Jacuzzi tub and hand shower and one with Jacuzzi tub and separate shower.

Separate entrance wing of the main villa (Part "B"):

Ground floor: Entrance into living room for 12 with TV. Kitchen with stovetop, oven, fridge, dishwasher, fireplace and door to outside. One bedroom with two single beds joinable into a double bed, door to outside and en suite bathroom with shower. Half bath with washing machine.

First floor: Three bedrooms, two of which with a queen size bed and one bedroom with two single beds joinable into a double bed. These bedrooms have en suite bathroom with shower. One small room with sofabed suitable for two children age 12 and under. One bathroom with Jacuzzi tub and hand shower. 

Cottage ground level (Part "C"): Separate entrance with double doors open to living room with TV and kitchen corner with stovetop, fridge and sink. One bedroom with a two single beds joinable into a double and doors to the outside. One bathroom with shower. 

The villa has an alarm system and armoire safes in each bedroom. All bathrooms have a built-in hairdryer. Upon request, there are bedrooms that can be changed from a queen into two single beds (see the Photo Gallery for the exact rooms).