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The setting of this villa is nothing short of spectacular, commanding unspoilt, panoramic views over the Chiana Valley and the hilltop town of Civitella from its privileged, elevated vantage-point on a wooded hillside. The spacious interiors are tastefully furnished in traditional Tuscan manner, with an eye for stylish comfort, while providing all modern conveniences. A choice of grass or paved terraces on various levels invite you to relax outdoors and enjoy the magnificent scenery, maybe over a meal, in the shade of lovely mature trees.
 Built at the end of the 1800’s, in honey-coloured Tuscan stone and brickwork, this property is centrally heated throughout, with mosquito blinds at all the windows. It also offers Sat.TV and a computer with Internet connection for the use of its guests.
All its main historic architectural features have been preserved during the restoration process including the colour-washed walls, polished terracotta-tiled floors, tiled and beamed ceilings, internal brick archways and large wood-burning fireplaces. The traditional darkwood furniture, glass-fronted cabinets and wrought-iron bedsteads remain absolutely in keeping with this structural context. Particularly attractive is a romantic ‘four-poster’ bed in one of the upstairs bedrooms, enclosed by its delicate, cream, muslin curtains.
Of special note up here in the peaceful tranquillity of natural surroundings are the property’s exceptional gardens. They slope down on various levels to the rear, boasting a breath-taking scenic backdrop, and extend upwards to the front into olive and oak groves.
 ACCOMMODATION: From the ground-floor entrance, you step into a cream-washed hallway, which in turn leads into a dining area with dining table. A sweeping brick archway divides this space open-plan from the sitting room, where a lovely yellow suite is grouped round a large fireplace with chimney-breast and where French doors open out on to the terrace. The room is equipped with Sat.TV, DVD and video-recorder.
On this level is also a double bedroom.
Adjoining the far side of the dining section is a breakfast room, plus 12-seater table with rustic-style corner-bench, tall glass-fronted cabinets (displaying wine you can purchase) and a large old Tuscan sideboard. French doors lead directly from here on to a rear lawn terrace, under a lovely acacia tree. The ideal spot for al fresco dining.
A large, bright, fully equipped kitchen issues off this room and extends into a spacious walk-in pantry, with fridge-freezer and storage shelves.
Built on to the house and accessible internally at ground-floor level is a garage, now housing the laundry, equipped with washing-machine, iron and board, clothes driers.
 Adjacent to this is a downstairs bathroom with shower. Returning to the main living room, you pass through internal double glass doors into another dayroom. This comprises a corner bar, hi-fi and bookcases (with books, DVD’s and videos), separated by an internal brick archway from a small seating alcove, with upholstered wicker furniture, situated beneath the stairway.
Proceeding up these stairs to the very top floor, you find a twin bedroom, with old-rose-washed walls, antique whitewood furniture and wrought-iron bedsteads. Next to it is a large, tiled bathroom, with bathtub and hand-held shower.
Returning down a few steps, you access the middle-top-storey, where an upstairs living room has as its focal point a large fireplace with old stone surround. Here the colour-scheme is elegant ‘old rose’ and rugs decorate the tiled floor. A second entrance door brings you on to a lovely outside upper loggia, shaded by a sloping beamed roof, from where an external staircase takes you back down to the garden.
Issuing off this central upstairs dayroom are the following: A large double bedroom with four-poster bed, another big double bedroom (with extensive wardrobes), leading open-plan into a single bedroom (with built-in wardrobes).  Ensuite is an extra-spacious stylishly tiled bathroom, with bathtub and hand-held shower, double vanity basins and long wall-mirror.
THE GARDEN AND SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT: On leaving the asphalted country road, you continue a further kilometre along an uphill gravel track, which winds its way through olive groves, shrubs and woodland, affording tantalizing glimpses of the valley and the town of Civitella far below.
The property grounds are securely railed-in and a paved driveway surrounds the house, providing ample parking space. This top-of-the-world location enjoys wonderfully clean, fresh, country air and total quiet, punctuated only by birdsong.
As the house is perched high up on the hillside, it affords unparalleled views over the Chiana Valley, as far as Lake Trasimeno and Mount Amiata (an extinct volcano and now a popular winter skiing destination), embracing too the medieval towns of Cortona and Monte San Savino in the distance. In the opposite direction, the hilltop town of Civitella, with its amazing castle ruins, creates another stunning backdrop.
 The gardens are partitioned by hedges and dotted with colourfully plantedterracotta urns, as well asspotlights for evening illumination.Rosemary, oleander and rose bushes adorn the beds, as do bright red geraniums and vivid orange marigolds.
The lower-level grass pool terrace, accessed by paving-stones, is screened from the house by mature, shade-giving trees, such as sweet-scented flowering acacia, evergreen holm oaks and Tuscany’s trademark Cypresses.
On another shady lawn-terrace, sunloungers entice you to unwind, while table-tennis is available for the more energetic!
Just round the corner from the French doors to the kitchen stands the BBQ so the lawn space between them (complete with table and chairs) is ideally placed for open-air dining.
Behind the house, stone steps lead you further up the slope into the villa’s extensive parkand, full of olive and oak trees, where the views become ever more panoramic.
 LOCATION: It is a 9-kilometre drive to the villa from the Florence-Rome motorway exit. The nearest grocery store, pizzeria and restaurant are situated 2 kms away in the small hilltop town of Civitella. Alongside the main country road behind Civitella is also the excellent restaurant, ‘Il Ristorante dei Laghi’.
OTHER FACILITIES AVAILABLE NEARBY: A monthly Antiques Fair is held inArezzo; the Val di Chiana Outlet Village shopping centre, where you can purchase famous brand-names at drastically reduced prices, is within a short driving distance; walking and hiking; horseriding; tennis; wine tours and tasting; fabulous dining; thermal spas; Roman/Medieval/Renaissance art and architecture.
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