Built in 1855, this large, imposing, two-storey villa, surrounded by magnificent gardens and extensive lawns, offers its guests a taste of luxury on a grand, antique scale. Its secluded setting on a sunny hilltop ensures utmost privacy and tranquillity, while its interiors are all generously spacious, high-ceilinged and elegantly furnished with original 18 th century English and 20th century Tuscan pieces. It really is still reminiscent of a Tuscan manor house, in an aristocratic class all of its own!

Although centrally heated throughout and fully equipped with modern fittings and appliances in the kitchen and bathrooms, the villa retains in many areas the authentic wood-beamed and terracotta-tiled ceilings and tiled floors so typical of Tuscany, as well as a fine sundial on its façade. Its many bedrooms, all exceptionally quiet and enjoying lovely garden or countryside views, can either remain independent or become interconnecting, on request. The house and grounds provide a wide choice of separate relaxation areas: these include a large, tiled, suntrap terrace on the ground floor, boasting splendid views; another big, first-floor terrace; a gazebo accommodating 12 people beneath it, just outside the kitchen entrance; as well as an additional sunterrace by the garden house and plenty of space poolside on the hedged-in lawns. Chairs, tables, loungers and sunshades are all provided.

ACCOMODATION

You enter the large hallway at ground-floor level and proceed into a spacious billiard room, with marble floors and high ceiling, from where French doors invite you out on to the lovely ground-floor terrace. An open-plan archway then takes you into a huge, stylishly decorated day-room, divided into three well-defined spaces: a seating area with sofas and armchairs; a second seating area around the big, central, stone fireplace; and the dining-room area, with a 10-seater wooden table and sideboard. There are also a TV and an upright piano. A particularly attractive feature here is the brick-vaulted ceiling. 

Leading off the hallway is also the welcoming kitchen, with its marble worktops and sink; blue-tiled splashbacks; 8-seater table; and huge, wood-burning fireplace and chimney, which extends along one entire wall and is perfect for grilling meat and vegetables.

The kitchen is fully equipped with dishwasher, oven, 4 burner cook top, fridge and freezer, toaster, food processor, kettle and Italian coffee machine. Next to the kitchen is a small office with desk and frescoed walls, which adjoins a downstairs half-bathroom (no shower or bathtub), where the washing-machine is also housed. 

From the hallway three flights of stone steps access the first floor, opening out into an upstairs dayroom, containing antique tables and chairs, a desk and glass cabinet. Issuing from here are some of the bedrooms, as follows: One twin-bedded room, with wardrobe, dressing-table, painted wood ceiling and both countryside and garden views. Another twin-bedded room (can be inter-connected or independent), with beamed ceiling, wardrobe and countryside views. One spacious double-bedded room, with wardrobe, two dressing-tables, TV, beamed ceiling, garden views and ensuite bathroom with shower cubicle.A separate bathroom with shower also leads off the upstairs day-room. 

The remaining bedrooms are located on the opposite side of the landing, asfollows: One big, double-bedded room (plus child's cot), with wardrobe, two dressing-tables and ensuite bathroom, tiled in Delft-style blue and white, with a wet shower. One single bedroom, with wardrobe, giving access to the first-floor sunterrace. One large, double-bedded room, with beamed ceiling, garden views and ensuite bathroom, tiled in Delft-style blue and white, with shower cubicle.

GARDEN & SWIMMING POOL

The scene is impressively set on your arrival by the long, straight, gravelled driveway which leads up to the villa's entrance gates and is flanked on either side by immaculately trimmed box hedges and a row of Tuscany's trademark Cypress trees! 

There is informal parking space on the villa's gravel surround, which then opens out into a lovely garden, shaded by mature, native pines, Cypresses, olives and palms. Beyond this first circle of garden extend a number of well-manicured, sheltered lawns, separated from each other by high laurel hedges. One of these lawns surrounds the pool, which is 15 x 7.5 meters and 1.0 x 2.4 meters deep, which has its own shower and toilet facilities nearby; and one of the hedges encloses the lawn tennis court. 

Within the grounds there stands a tiny consecrated chapel, which means that wedding ceremonies can be held and receptions catered for in the little, green-painted garden house. 

Mobile barbeque facilities are also available. Nothing except birdsong disturbs the peace and quiet of this idyllic location!