|
This elegant villa combines superior
accommodation with an exceptionally secluded, peaceful
location and a stunning scenic backdrop. A traditional,
spacious country house in warm, honey-coloured “tufo”
stone, it has been carefully restored with loving attention
to original detail, yet incorporating every modern convenience.
A fascinating documentation of the recent reconstruction
work is recorded in a series of photographs displayed
in various rooms.
 Apart
from the preservation of many unique features, including
a well-shaft, now ingeniously integrated into the kitchen
space, the impeccably landscaped, terraced gardens are
particularly noteworthy, as is the elevated, suntrap-position
of the swimming pool. Out of sight of the house, it
opens like an eye to the sky on the uppermost lawn terrace,
which feels like the top of the world and shares with
you its silence and spectacular all-round views of the
Tuscan countryside.
Set well away from the main road,
with no other property nearby, in an elevated position
surrounded by olive groves and woodland on the lower
slopes, this villa is built into the hillside: as a
result, it comprises dayrooms, bedrooms and two paved
terraces for al fresco dining and relaxation on a variety
of levels. The mellow “tufo” stone exterior
is echoed perfectly in the walled, raised beds of the
garden, as well as in the organically curving, low,
gravelled steps which lead up to the front entrance
and onwards to the upper terraces of the garden, alongside
and behind the house.
 The
property is centrally heated and double-glazed throughout,
with spacious living and dining areas and four large
bedrooms, two on the upper floor of the main building,
two in the self-contained attached annexe. All the bathrooms
are tastefully tiled in light shades of local “travertine”
stone and fitted with generous-sized, modern shower
cubicles. One also boasts a double basin unit, as well
as a stylish, white, freestanding, “Napoleonic-style”
bathtub (fully plumbed-in, of course!) – perfect
for those long, indulgent soaks!
ACCOMMODATION: Ground-floor
access is through large, arched French doors at the
front of the house which take you into the spacious,
open-plan dining and living area, divided by a broad
stone arch. Two pretty, arched windows set at a high
level let extra light in and the terracotta tiled floors
and the beamed ceilings maintain the traditional character.
There are an 8-seater dining table, a working open fireplace
and three leather sofas.
From here you enter the kitchen,
again divided into two spaces by a stone archway. The
breakfast area accommodates an 8-seater table and a
large, glass-fronted dresser. The modern, fitted units
include oven and hob, dishwasher and large fridge-freezer.
A glass door leads out to the front garden at ground
level.  Just
round the corner, an open-plan larder features stairs
down into the base of the renovated, red-brick well-shaft,
which forms an unusual spherical room, lit by sunlight
from above. Other unique features are the two high-level
kitchen windows and a long, rectangular skylight flanked
on either side by thick, wooden beams.
Another archway opens into the TV
room (widescreen; Satellite; DVD home theatre; Internet
access), where an internal open window space and a narrow
doorway have been neatly preserved to connect back with
the living room. You can proceed from the TV room on
to a railed-in outdoor terrace, equipped with sunshade
and garden furniture, and affording relaxing views over
the wooded countryside behind the house. From here the
second paved terrace – where the disused well
stands (securely covered in!) – can be reached
up an external stone staircase (quite steep, but with
a handrail).
Returning to the lower terrace, a
glass door leads you into the “annexe” attached
to the main house, where two double bedrooms issue from
a central corridor, which includes plenty of storage
space. Both bedrooms have mosquito nets for the beds,
electric ceiling fans and French doors to the first-floor
balcony which commands lovely views to the front of
the house. One of the “tufo” stone walls
has been left exposed as an attractive feature in one
of the rooms. The bedrooms share a modern, fitted bathroom,
complete with spacious shower cubicle and heated towel
rail.
 The most recent addition to the renovations is a self-contained mini-apartment, facing out to the front and located at the lowest ground level, below this annexe. Accessed both from the exterior and by an internal staircase, it consists of a twin bedroom with its own bathroom; and a sitting area, incorporating a fitted kitchenette.
On retracing your steps back to the TV room, a curved, open staircase in light, “travertine”
stone will take you to the upper floor
of the main building, extending at the top into an open-plan
sitting area, complete with working wood-stove and a
fireplace in local “serena” stone. Here
there is also a study corner with Internet access and
two glass doors: one opening on to the upper terrace
at the rear of the house, the other to the external
stone stairs leading down to the front garden.
Off this space there is a modern,
tiled bathroom with a large shower cubicle and a heated
towel rail, in addition to two double bedrooms. Both
of these have mosquito nets, electric ceiling fans and
views out to the front of the house. One of them boasts
a kingsize ensuite bathroom, with double washbasins
and mirrors; heated towel rail; exceptionally roomy
shower cubicle; and a luxurious, free-standing bathtub,
fully plumbed-in, of course!
THE GARDEN AND SURROUNDING
ENVIRONMENT: The meticulously maintained terraced
lawns and flowerbeds of this villa are particularly
striking, affording many opportunities for leisurely
relaxation and al fresco dining in the presence of breathtaking
scenery. The front looks out towards the medieval town
of Montisi on the hilltop opposite, with undulating
countryside in between, dotted with olive groves; vines;
yellow flowering broom; pines and lone Cypress trees,
so typical of Tuscany. The garden offers the shade of
holm oaks and olive trees and is planted with broom,
roses, geraniums and purple lavender (a magnet for bees
and butterflies!), as well as colourful oleanders in
big ceramic pots.
 The
uppermost lawn with its rectangular swimming pool is
perhaps the most original asset of this property. Up
here the superb views sweep round full circle and the
surrounding flowerbeds are brimming with rosemary and
lavender bushes. At the far end of the pool there is
a paved terrace area partially covered by an undulating
wickerwork roof shade. In addition to the sunbeds, there
is a large 8-seater table and a built-in kitchen unit
comprising barbecue, sink and fridge, allowing you to
be completely self-sufficient in this roof-of-the-world
paradise! The hillside behind these protects them from
any cooler incoming winds.
The original
bread oven is built into a sheltered niche in the side
of the house near the top terrace, but it can't be used.
LOCATION: The villa
is approached from the main road via a longish, private,
gravel road which passes through wooded fields and climbs
uphill to the villa’s gravel drive. The nearest
small town is Montisi, but Pienza and Montepulciano
are within easy driving distance. The A1 Rome-Florence
motorway (Autostrada del Sole) is about 20kms away.
The nearest airports are Florence 1 ½ hours by
car. Pisa and Rome are equidistant (2 ½ hours).
 OTHER
FACILITIES AVAILABLE NEARBY: A private “boules”
(bowls) pitch is located to one side of the pool. The
area can also offer: horseriding; bike riding; nature
hikes, thermal spas; hot air balloon flights; fabulous
dining; wine tours and tasting; and a whole host of
nearby locations of historic, artistic, architectural,
culinary and scenic renown, such as: San Quirico D’Orcia;
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); the abbey/monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore;
and, of course, Siena (home to, among countless other
things, the celebrated “Palio” horserace).
|
