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This imposing, immaculately maintained villa is a historic, listed building, dating back to the early 18th century. It was recently carefully restored and divided into separate apartments, three of which are available for let.  The interiors are spacious and elegantly furnished with antique or rustic pieces, yet guarantee all modern facilities. The apartments and lovely, manicured grounds afford superb, uninterrupted views over unspoilt countryside, as far as Montepulciano on its hilltop in the distance. This privileged, secluded setting ensures complete privacy and quiet.
Each apartment in this villa is self-contained, with its own private entrance and outside dining area. Yet they all share the traditional structural features, now meticulously preserved, which were so typical of old Tuscan farmhouses. These include colour-washed walls; terracotta-tiled floors; tiled and beamed ceilings; internal brick archways and large, wood-burning fireplaces. The interior design is in keeping with this environment, featuring dark-wood furniture; glass-fronted wooden dressers; wrought-iron bedsteads; and floor-rugs.
 Particularly striking about this property are its magnificent grounds, set in a sunny, elevated position and combining a harmonious blend of well-tended lawns, rose borders and rockery and a variety of native, shade-giving trees. Surmounted by a lovely wooden gazebo, a spacious, travertine-stone terrace near the pool area forms the ideal meeting-point for relaxing or dining, complemented by the spectacular backdrop of gently rolling Tuscan farmland.
ACCOMMODATION: Click on the name of each apartment for more information:
- Gli Archi (sleeps 6);
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Il Camino (sleeps 6);
- La Valle (sleeps 8).
THE GARDEN AND SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT: The property is approached from a quiet country road via an external, asphalted drive bordered by olive trees and parasol pines.  This terminates in a covered parking area to the rear of the ochre-washed villa, outside its railed-in grounds.
From here automatic gates open on to the villa’s gravel surround, which is dotted with garden lights and terracotta pots brimmimg with colourful plants and lemon trees. A reed-covered wooden loggia shelters the ping-pong table and next to this stands the BBQ and pizza oven.
In a wide border flanking the railings to one side of the house is an olive grove. Adjacent to this, at the front of the villa, is an immaculately kept lawn with rosebushes skirting its far edge and parosol pines, Cypresses and sunshades providing welcome shade. Out beyond the garden stretches the spectacular sweeping panorama of wooded hills, fields and olive groves, encompassing on the far horizon the medieval hilltop town of Montepulciano.
 To one side, incorporated into the lawn area, is a lovely travertine-stonework patio, surmounted by a wooden pergola, where stylish garden furniture invites you to relax the hours away!
The patio extends into the poolside, fully equipped with sunloungers and shades. The main pool measures 12 x 6 metres and is fed by an Alpine-style water-trough, which runs down from the circular children’s pool above it. This second pool is 70 cms deep and 4 metres in circumference. Both are securely fenced-in.
Nearby is a little rock-garden with shrubs and unusual displays of local ‘tufo’ stone, as well as a long marble table with wooden benches, ideal for al fresco dining.
Within the grounds, a paved drive leads down to a large underground room, housing a TV, billiard table and table-football.
HISTORY: In the 1700’s the main building originally formed part of Florence Hospital. Subsequently it was converted into a farmhouse. The property is a historic, listed building, under the protection of the Cultural  Heritage and Fine Arts Association, and consequently can be structurally renovated only in adherence to strict guidelines.
LOCATION: Poggio al Sole is located between Cortona and Montepulciano as well as with
easy reach of most important Tuscan places of interest.
The nearest airport is Florence (about an hour and a
half). Pisa is about two hours and Rome airports both
about two and a half hours away.
The nearest village is Chianacce 4 km or about 2
and a half miles. Cortona, which is a large town boasting
wonderful art and architecture as well as all modern
services is 20 km or just over 9 miles.
OTHER FACILITIES AVAILABLE NEARBY: Tennis, golf, the beach, horse riding, bike riding, hiking, wine tasting, fabulous dining, thermal spas, Hot air balloon flying, designer out let shopping, Etruscan ruins and Renaissance and medieval art and architecture.
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