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For people wanting a true taste of
Tuscany, these mini apartments provide the perfect position
between town and country.
Centered around a charming garden
courtyard, each one with it’s own private eating
area, the apartments come with every convenience. They
are spacious, good quality, cheerful and well located.
 With
in the original medieval walls of Sinalunga the complex
has been restored from an ancient ware house that was
built next to a noble palace. Fonte Del Castagno gets
it’s name from a fountain that is supplied by
a natural spring underneath the property. The fountain
has remained in it’s present form since 1265.
ACCOMODATION: Each
apartment has traditional terracotta floors and chestnut
beams overhead. They all have their own washing machine
and dishwasher. Care has been taken with the decoration
using a cheerful blue and yellow color scheme that fits
well with the environment. The furniture and fittings
are all good quality and thoughtfully placed.
Each apartment has an out door patio
furnished with a table and chairs. There is a convenient
BBQ.
- Le
Volte (sleeps 4+2);
- Gli
Archi (sleeps 2+2);
- La
Limonaia (sleeps 2+1).
 There
is no telephone in any of the apartments but guests
may use the phone in the managers office in case of
emergency. He will also allow internet use there for
a modest fee. There is good reception for guests own
cell phones.
THE GARDEN AND SURROUNDING
ENVIRONMENT: The garden is well established
with charming pergolas covered with wisteria and other
climbing vines, lawn areas and flower beds.
The pool has it’s own terrace,
a bit away from the main courtyard. It is well furnished
with umbrellas and sun lounges and also has out door
showers. It commands an impressive view of the Val di
Chiana towards Cortona. It is an organic shape but roughly
4.5 x 8.9 meters.
Please note that between the car
park and the apartments are about a dozen wide steps
that must be navigated daily and on arrival and departure,
with your luggage.
 From
the main courtyard is also a very beautiful 18th century
stair case with pediment that leads through a gate way,
directly into the heart of the medieval part of Sinalunga.
In the alley behind is a delicious
pasticceria (cake shop), a bread shop, a small general
store and a butcher. In the main piazza are two bars
serving wonderful coffees and cocktails and every Tuesday
is the farmers market with fruit, vegetables, cured
meat and cheeses as well as sundry items, clothes and
small goods. With in walking distance are several good
restaurants and pizzerias.
As the medieval centers of these
types of farmers towns have been strictly protected,
Sinalunga is almost as it was hundreds of years ago.
It’s churches, theatre, alley ways and piazzas
are a delight to explore. Due to it’s defensive
position, from turn to turn are unexpected and breath
taking views of the surrounding hills and valleys. It
is a real living place that has always serviced the
surrounding community, it has not been exploited for
 tourist purposes like other more well known villages.
LOCATION: Fonte del Castagno is near to Cortona, Montepulciano,
Pienza and Siena as well as with easy reach of most
important Tuscan places of interest. The surrounding
valley and hills are full of lesser known towns and
villages but all equally charming and each with a restaurant
and church at least. There is a major supermarket and
train station with in 10 minutes drive. There are also
daily buses to Florence.
The nearest airport is Florence (about
an hour and a half) Pisa and Rome are equidistant (about
2 ½ hours by car).
OTHER FACILITIES AVAILABLE
NEAR BY: Tennis, golf, the beach (1 ½
hours), horse riding, bike riding, hiking, wine tasting,
fabulous dining, thermal spas, Hot air balloon flying,
designer out let shopping (one hour), Etruscan ruins
and Renaissance and medieval art and architecture.
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