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Set in a striking, prominent position on a corner, in the bend of a quiet country road just outside the medieval hilltop village of Castelmuzio, this lovely villa in mellow Tuscan stone and brickwork boasts a fascinating history, dating back to the 11th century.  It has recently been fully renovated and harmoniously furnished with stylish antiques, at the same time ensuring maximum comfort by means of its modern fittings and equipment in all the kitchens and bathrooms.
Centrally heated throughout and providing mosquito-blinds on all windows (except the French doors), this three-storey villa is self-contained within a brick courtyard to the front, surrounded by a stone wall and railings, with an automatic entrance gate.
The very special “tower” bedroom, located under the pitched roof on one side of the building, originally the granary, forms a unique feature, with an unusual porthole-style window and another at floor level.
From the tiled sunterrace, while relaxing or dining al fresco, you can enjoy magnificent, unspoilt views over the surrounding olive groves and the more distant wooded hills, towards the Monastery of Sant’Anna, where scenes from “The English Patient” were filmed.  Whereas for those health-conscious, who prefer some extra action in their holidays, the downstairs wellness room provides a veritable exercise haven!
ACCOMMODATION: Through large arched French doors at ground-level, you enter a bright sitting-room with sofa; glass-fronted cabinet; DVD and plasma-screen Sat.TV. The downstairs double bedroom, with attractive barrel-vaulted brick ceiling, leads off this area, as does its accompanying, elegantly fitted bathroom with shower cubicle. On this level there is also a fully equipped service kitchen, with marble worktops and a 6-seater table. The newly installed wellness accommodates exercise bikes, a heated jacuzzi pool and a sauna, and its glass doors open out on to a tiled ground-floor terrace to one side of the house.
Adjoining are service bathroom facilities, with a shower and a half-sized bathtub.
Proceeding up an internal staircase, you come into a very spacious first-floor living/dining room, divided by a large rectangular archway, frescoed on its interior.The cornices of the pastel-coloured walls are  likewise charmingly frescoed and the pitched ceiling is wood-beamed and terracotta-tiled, in true Tuscan tradition.
Persian rugs adorn the tiled floors and a superb, original stone fireplace with chimney piece (all in full working order) forms the impressive focal-point of the living space. Here antique sofas guarantee luxurious comfort and an original, built-in niche to the left of the fireplace displays fine porcelain-ware. There is a large dining table, with the additional possibility of eating outdoors at a second large table, plus sunshade, on the secluded upper terrace, which faces well away from the road.
The main kitchen is also situated on this first-floor level, fitted with attractive wooden cupboards, travertine stone worktops and all modern appliances, including: gas hob and extractor fan, oven, dishwasher. From here French doors take you out to the side terrace.  Two double bedrooms issue off the central day-room one with four poster bed. Each bedroom has its own adjoining bathroom, with stylish modern fittings and shower cubicle.
A final flight of stairs then beckons you up to the top floor, which houses the air-conditioned double “attic” bedroom, tucked away in a private world all of its own, so enticing that you might not want to come down to earth again! Especially because directly opposite is its own bathroom, with shower cubicle and sloping, tiled, beamed ceiling.
THE GARDEN AND SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT: The property nestles among evergreen olive groves and wooded hills, with a view up towards the nearby village of Castelmuzio and out over the distant countryside. Large terracotta urns planted with colourful flowers brighten the courtyard, as do flowerbeds and small Cypress trees along the walls. An ancient covered-in well and an old-fashioned 3-lantern lampstand also make attractive features.
 Although there is no swimming pool on site, guests can make use of a private open-air pool belonging to a hotel (with restaurant and wellness centre) only 50 metres away.
LOCATION: The villa is situated 5 minutes’ walk away from the small, medieval, hilltop village of Castelmuzio, which has a grocery store, bar and restaurant. It is within easy reach of many major places of interest in Tuscany as well as many less well-known, but equally interesting locations. The nearest airport is Florence, 1 ½ hours by car. Pisa and Rome are equidistant (2 ½ hours). The nearby towns are Pienza, Montepulciano, Montalcino and many other well known places all providing restaurants, wine bars, enotecas, medieval and renaissance art and culture. It is an hour and 15 minutes from central Florence and 30 minutes to Siena.
OTHER FACILITIES AVAILABLE NEARBY: Tennis, 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 andarchitecture.
 Please note that this property does not have air conditioning. Air conditioning is rarely necessary in Tuscany due to the lack of humidity and the temperate climate. Almost all of our properties at InTuscany are in remodelled medieval or renaissance buildings. They generally have very thick walls and high ceilings, most are built on the tops of our gently rolling hills where they catch the breezes that spring up at mid day and in the evenings.
Generally air conditioning is only found by the sea side or in the city centres where noise and/or humidity make it necessary. We do not have air conditioning in our offices, in any of our homes or in any of our larger rental villas. If you feel that air conditioning is essential to your well being then please look at these properties, let us know which ones appeal to you and we will check availability for you.
HISTORY...
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