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This stylish, self-contained, second-floor apartment, which is part of an ancient castle includes a fairy-tale turreted tower with panoramic views of the countryside, looking out towards Montepulciano and Pienza. It has recently been thoughtfully restored, with a keen eye for the preservation of authentic detail, while still guaranteeing all modern comforts.
 The owners (natives of New York, but resident in Montefollonico for part of the year) both work in the film industry and their sense of creativity and artistic flair are particularly evident in the imaginative use of space in this property, culminating in the 12th century, spherical tower-room, which leads you up and out on to its breathtaking terrace, complete with battlements and panoramic views of the unspoilt Tuscan countryside.
The authentic doorways which entice you round corners, down stone steps and then up wooden ones, through a variety of surprising spaces and levels, make the initial journey round this property quite an intriguing adventure!
As the apartment looks out to the back of an old stone building, utmost privacy and quiet are ensured, with only birdsong and the crowing of the local cockerel to punctuate the silence!
 Likewise ensured are spectacular, unrestricted views from all rooms, down towards the box-hedge gardens below, and then panning out to embrace the gently rolling Tuscan hills all around, with their typical woodland, grainfields and Cypress trees, and finally encompassing on the horizon the unmistakable conical outline of Monte Amiata, a local, extinct volcano and popular winter skiing area.
The apartment is centrally heated and double-glazed throughout, featuring custom-built, hand-crafted, wrought-iron bedsteads in traditional Tuscan style; elegantly designed and fitted, modern bathrooms; and a brand-new, fitted kitchen in cherry wood with marble tops and top of the line appliances, incorporating every modern convenience. Cell phone reception here is excellent and a land-line has also been installed.
ACCOMMODATION: From a small square at the uppermost point of the medieval hilltop village of Montefollonico, you enter an old stone building at  ground level and find yourself in an extraordinary, light-filled, spherical, domed entrance hall with an imposing central flight of stairs. This in turn takes you up to a circular landing and the apartment’s outer entrance door. This door opens on to two further private stone stairways, which lead you up to the apartment’s front door. Throughout the apartment, the traditional stone floors and woodbeamed ceilings have been carefully restored and preserved.
Off to the right of the small hallway, which houses the intercom phone, is the first bedroom, with double bed and built-in wardrobes. It is accessed through an attractive, arched, glass door, whose elegant curtains guarantee privacy. Directly opposite is its accompanying bathroom, newly refurbished and stylishly fitted, complete with corner shower cubicle and heated towel-rail.
You proceed from the hallway into the generously spacious, high-ceilinged, bright but cool, open-plan living/dining/kitchen area, with its tasteful golden cream walls  and large open fireplace, at present a seating alcove. The kitchen units line one entire wall, which is divided from the rest of the room by an original wooden beam, stretching across the ceiling. Marble worktops surround the sink; hob, with extractor fan; convection oven; dishwasher and large fridge-freezer, with plenty of cupboard space above.
The living area is furnished with a 6-seater, cherry wood dining table with bronze legs ( can be enlarged) ; cream modern sofa; a stylish red leather armchair and ottoman plus an unusual, low, curved, brown leather chaise lounge; plus marble supported end tables. The Venetian-glass chandelier has twelve branches.
A little store-room next door houses the Bosch washing-machine.
The second bedroom, with double bed and two windows (including mosquito nets), issues off this main dayroom through a low doorway and down a single step. Its own, rather special, ensuite bathroom is accessed round a corner, down some curving stone steps, and boasts very elegant, cream, tiled floor and walls, a sloping beamed ceiling, as well as a large, built-in shower cubicle at the far end.
From this area you gain access to a unique, small, stepped room,  which incorporates a skylight into its low, sloping, woodbeamed ceiling and lets further light in through a little, clover-shaped window. With its inviting Indian scatter-cushions, this small space would make an ideal retreat for immersing yourself in a book, in music, or in meditation – or simply in unashamed relaxation!
On the other hand, you may choose to venture onwards into the very special 12th century tower-room, with its stone floors, woodbeamed ceiling and interior, circular balcony built round the entire upper level and accessed via a newly-constructed open wooden stairway with banister. Curving wooden bookshelves line the tower walls at balcony height, lending this room the quality of a library, also with an ADSL Internet connection.
Sunlight enters through a large, rooftop skylight, which can be opened to allow you (very easily) out, via a second wooden staircase with banister, on to the open-air, circular terrace right at the top of the tower, surrounded by its original, medieval  battlements.
This must surely be the perfect spot to sunbathe, to dine al fresco, to savor some of the first-class local wines, or simply to relax and marvel at the beautiful sunsets and this unique, bird’s-eye view of the idyllic Tuscan scenery that sweeps full circle around you.
LOCATION: The apartment is situated at the highest point in the lovely, medieval, hilltop village of Montefollonico, 10 kms from Montepulciano. The village has been carefully restored and is very well-kept, boasting a magnificent, intact, double, stone entrance-gate, as well as the original, fortified town-walls and defensive towers. It has pretty gardens, decorated with terracotta pots of bright geraniums, petunias and other colourful flowers. There is very little traffic in the village itself, so it is best to park just outside the town-walls, although loading and unloading can be carried out directly in front of the house.
OTHER FACILITIES AVAILABLE NEAR BY: Montefollonico has two small supermarkets; a chemist’s; a small inn, a bank, post office and a few nice restaurants. A greater choice is obviously provided by the nearest local towns. Motorway access involves only a short, 15 kilometre drive to the  Rome-Florence Autostrada del Sole (A1).
The area can also offer: horseriding; bike riding; nature hikes; thermal spas; hot-air balloon flights; wine tours and tasting; fabulous dining; and a whole host of nearby locations of historic, artistic, architectural, culinary and scenic renown, such as: Montepulciano (home to the famous Vino Nobile red wine); Montalcino (home to the equally famous Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino red wines); Pienza (famed for its delicious “pecorino”, sheep’s milk cheese); Torrita di Siena; Sinalunga; Lucignano; Cortona; Arezzo (celebrated for Piero Della Francesca’s 15th century fresco-cycle of the “Legend Of The True Cross”); Lake Trasimeno; the Abbey/Monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore; and, of course, Siena (home to, among countless other things, the world-famous “Palio” horserace).
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