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PLEASE NOTE: VILLA ROVEZZANO WILL BE UNDER RESTORATION FROM 01 JENUARY TO 31 DECEMBER 2008
Villa Rovezzano is only a few minutes
from central Florence and yet set in a peaceful and
elegant park, approached by a long winding tree lined
drive way. It is the perfect way to have total access
to the city whilst still being able to escape in an
oasis of green tranquillity.
 The
Villa was originally the limonaio (Green house), stables
and granary of a much larger noble villa near by. By
no means diminutive it’s self it has been in the
same Florentine family for several generations housing
their residences upstairs and a cottage workshop that
weaves fine Florentine textiles downstairs. Fortunate
guests at the villa might be lucky enough to get a peak
into the companies show room that is stuffed with old
family portraits, Venetian mirrors, busts and antiques
as well as sumptuous lengths of the beautiful silks
and brocades woven right there.
Although the looms are operating during
the day they are whisper quiet and the small staff consists
mainly of family members and trusted retainers.
ACCOMODATION: One
enters the villa by way of a fairly steep stair case
which affords glimpses through beautiful old arched
windows on to the work shop floor of the weaving studios.
The stair case finishes in a spacious open area that
houses a large antique writing desk and book shelves.
From there is a long hall way off of which open all
the bedrooms and the one bathroom that is not en suite.
 All
bedrooms are either double or twin except for one that
has three beds. Each has it’s own television and
an over head ceiling fan.
The bathrooms are pleasantly tiled
with pastel colours and in good condition, they were
last renovated in 1980 and are all fitted with hairdryers.
The en suite bathrooms have showers and the bathroom
that is not en suite has a bath tub with hand shower.
At the end of the hall way is the
sitting room with another smaller desk, two commodious
comfy sofas, a fire place and other occasional furniture.
The white washed walls are hung with 18th and 19th century
prints, the floors are original worn terracotta and
the ceilings have massive chestnut beams. From the living
room one passes to a large open plan dining and kitchen
area that opens on to an equally spacious terrace, wide
enough for two long dinning tables as well as sun lounges
and pots of lemons.
The kitchen is well out fitted with
stove, oven, fridge and dish washer as well as a big
wooden dining table and Carrara marble counters. Please
note that there is no telephone and so guests to whom
this might be important are advised to bring their mobile
phone equipped with roaming. In the case of an emergency
the owners live  on
the property and will provide you with every assistance,
including calling emergency services.
THE GARDEN AND SURROUNDING
ESTATE: The villa is approached through the
narrow and unimposing streets of Southern Florence.
Although seemingly unremarkable the road is actually
the old ‘Arentina’ consular road that once
connected Florence and Arezzo. (If you didn’t
mind all the stop signs and traffic lights you could
still get to Arezzo that way) Suddenly on a corner one
is faced with two impressive stone pillars that flank
heavy wrought iron gates. When you ring on the door
bell Francesca and Carlo will open the gate by remote
control and you will drive down a delightful gravelled
drive way, flanked with clipped hedges and a shady avenue
of mature poplar trees.
After several minutes the drive way
opens out in to a large and immaculately manicured renaissance
park that includes a walled vegetable garden, a fenced
area with the swimming pool and extensive lawns, on
the other side of clipped hedges stretches an even larger
botanical garden belonging to the Florence city council.
The feeling is of being immersed in greenery despite
being minutes from the city centre. Please note that
swimming pool is open in high season only and is 11.5
x 7 meters.
 LOCATION:
Florence is less than 10 minutes by car or 20 minutes
by city bus. The villa is only 5 minutes form the Firenze
sud Auto strada exit that can connect you with the rest
of Tuscany, Italy and even Europe. The closest airport
is Florence 25-30 minutes, then Pisa which is about
1 ½ hours and Rome airport is about 3 hours by
car.
HISTORY: The villa
was built on medieval foundations in the 17th century.
During the second half of the 19th century it used to
belong to the baroness Firella Favard de L’Anglade
and since 1946 houses the artesian workshop created
by Countess Maria Antionietta di Frassineto who wished
to continue the antique Florentine Renaissance art of
hand weaving drapery fabrics. Guests are also invited
to observe specific characteristics and the fabric production
techniques in the owners historical archives.
OTHER FACILITIES AVAILABLE
NEAR BY: Communal swimming pool, Tennis, horse
back riding, Designer outlet shopping (www.intuscany.net/guides/shopping.html)
restaurants, banks, supermarket etc.
 Please
note: 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 remodeled
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 centers
where noise and/or humidity make it necessary. We do
not have air conditioning in our offices or in any of
our own homes.
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Villa
Rovezzano
