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Villa Santo Stefano is the beloved
holiday home of a Florentine family with strong American
connections as well as a great appreciation for the
Tuscan country side and it’s pleasures.
This
beautiful villa is set in the heart of Etruscan Tuscany,
immersed in verdant country side and with stunning views.
 It is also close to the auto strada allowing easy access
to all major points of interest.
Around the villa are 20 hectares of
organic vineyards and olive groves producing a very
fine “Chianti dei Colli Senesi", extra vergine
olive oil and various other fruit trees as well as another
two hectares of woods which provide delightful nature
walks.
Marino, the owner, speaks fluent English
and is quite happy for you to call him with a question
or to ask for a recommendation. Many past guests have
told us how he has become their friends during their
stay at the villa and complimented his generous sense
of hospitality. On the other hand, if private seclusion
is what you are after, he can completely understand
that as well.
ACCOMODATION: The
house is a typical Tuscan hill house, restored and added
to over the years as the family grew and changed. It
is one of the few villas that we have with air conditioning.
 The bathrooms were last restored
in 1990 and are all of good quality and condition and
the kitchen was re done in 2000. It has a decidedly
“Italian designer” look to it whilst still
incorporating all the elements of a country kitchen
including a delightful open fire place flanked by a
small comfy sofa for reading by the fire.
It opens onto a pergola covered terrace
for dining al fresco that looks onto a spacious outdoor
area and garden. The terrace is furnished with table
and chairs, a barbecue and a wood burning pizza oven.
From the terrace you have wonderful views and can also
see the pool.
Villa
Santo Stefano is a two-storey house (about 200 mq. in
total): the ground floor includes a large dining and
sitting room, a kitchen with dishwasher, American coffee
machine, microwave and all other domestic appliances
as well as an open fireplace, a store room with the
washing machine, a twin bedroom, a double bedroom
and a bathroom with shower.
 The second floor includes three bedrooms
with king-size beds. There are also two bathrooms, each
with toilet, tub, shower, etc. One of them also has
a hydro massage tub. There are in total 5 bedrooms and
3 bathrooms.
The rooms are bright and sunny with
lovely views, some with private terraces. All come equipped
with window screens and anti mosquito devices if necessary.
In the dining and sitting room you
find TV and VCR and Satellite connection: (CNN, BBC,
CNBC, and many others including movies in original language),
CD player, main telephone line with the possibility
of Internet connection.
Heating is by baseboard electric
units controlled by room thermostats. Almost every room
has the telephone line.
THE GARDEN AND SURROUNDING
ENVIRONMENT: The house - encircled all around
by a garden with private swimming pool -  stands independently
on the top of a hill and is ideal, enjoying the peace
and tranquillity of the Tuscan landscape.
All
around the house are superb views onto the valleys lying
below, mountain tops such as Monte Cetona
and small towns of the surrounding area, such as Citta'
della Pieve, Chianciano, Cetona and Sarteano.
The pool is 6 x 12 meters or about
19 ½ by 39 ½ feet and is well furnished
with lounges and umbrellas. There are lovely wide spreading
lawns for playing games.
One approaches the house through it’s
extensive olive groves and vine yards.
LOCATION: Villa Santa
Stefano is near to Chiusi as well as with in easy reach
of most important Tuscan places of interest. The nearest
airport is Florence (about 1 ½ hours by car)
and Rome (about 2 hours).
The train station is on the main Florence-Rome
line and only 2 kilometers  from the house.From there
trains can take you to the center of either city in
an hour.
From Chiusi Scalo station it is also
possible to reach Siena, Perugia and Arezzo with comfortable
cross-country trains (30 minutes) or by car. Chiusi
is in a very convenient part of Southern Tuscany, from
where you can easily reach many small towns, Lazio and
Umbria (the border between Tuscany and Umbria is just
4 Km.).
OTHER
FACILITIES AVAILABLE NEAR BY INCLUDE: Chianciano
Terme, famous for its healing and relaxing thermal spa
baths, a recently opened Etruscan Museum and a lively
programme of Summer shows, events and plays; Montepulciano,
a Medieval and Renaissance town in whose countryside
the renowned wine "Nobile di Montepulciano"
is produced: you can visit many open cantinas where
it is possible to have free wine tasting; Pienza, a
true jewel of Renaissance architecture and art, planned
by Pope Pius II Piccolomini and Leon Battista Alberti;
Monticchiello, yet another wonderful Medieval village;
Bagno Vignoni, a unique village  with its main squareconsisting of anancient Roman bath; Montalcino, a medieval
village, producing the famous wine "Brunello di
Montalcino"; Cortona, an ancient Etruscan location
but with important Medieval and Renaissance buildings;
Lake Trasimeno, with its islands, reachable by ferry;
the medieval Citta' della Pieve,
with frescos by Perugino; Monte Amiata which has many
nice typical little towns; from there you can drive
to Monte Labro, where is the most important Buddhist
community in the region, on a very suggestive plateau
called "European Tibet".
There is also Tennis, Golf, horse
riding and hiking with in 20 minutes.
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