Red House -- Country villa in Chianti Classico

SETTING:
The property is located midway between Florence and Siena, about 30min from both. It is surrounded by cypress and oak woods, olive trees, and vineyards, and it dominates a little lonely valley. We are based in one of the most wooded and well preserved parts of the Chianti Classico area (renowned for its wines and food). The quiet atmosphere of the property allows for frequent sightings of roe-deers (even during daylight hours), istrici (a peculiar kind of porcupine introduced by the Romans, emblem of a 'Contrada' of Siena's Palio), and squirrels.

ACCOMMODATION;
You would be housed in a cosy villa (Red House), facing a quiet cypress glade. The windows and veranda offer a soothing view of the swimming pool and the adjoining green valley. The house is fully restored and equipped. It can accommodate 2 to 4 guests. Please see a more detailed list of facilities in the following. We are also renting a larger country house (Yellow House, unit 11198664 on VRBO). The two houses are fully independent and situated on two different levels of the hill.

GROUND FLOOR: The entrance hall leads to the living room (includes a double sofa bed convertible into two singles; chimney; dining table). Central heating and a washing machine are hidden away in a closet. The kitchen is equipped with a dishwasher, a small oven (a microwave is also available in the living room), a four-burner stove, and a fridge and freezer. The bathroom is located beside the staircase and it is furnished with a shower. 

FIRST FLOOR: comfortable master bedroom (160x200cm bed) and a narrow second room equipped with a chair-bed and 6 small windows. 

OUTDOORS: A covered veranda leading to the cypress glade can be accessed from the living room. The veranda comes equipped with a table and two armchairs to enjoy meals and reading in the green. A barbecue is also available.

SWIMMING POOL:  83m²  (open from mid-April to mid-October). The pool is shared with guests from our other unit. However, separate blocks of parasols and sunbeds on each side offer a private relaxation space.

NEARBY FACILITIES:
The property is extremely quiet. Since the nearest country road is 1.1 km away, our closest neighbors live at a 1.5 km distance. Nonetheless, the village of S.Donato in Poggio (4 km) will provide you with most of the things you might need during your stay. There you will find a well-supplied small supermarket (also open on Sunday mornings), a pharmacy, a bank, a post office, restaurants, bars, a bakery, and other shops.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS:
Despite the private setting, the cities of Florence and Siena are easily reachable by car with a 30 minutes ride. You can bike or drive to the numberless charming hamlets, small villages, churches, castles, and panoramic spots of Chianti nearby. In addition, some examples of what the surroundings have to offer are:
– S.Gimignano, with its well known tower-houses
– S.Appiano
– The palaces of Colle Val d'Elsa, the birthplace of Arnolfo di Cambio (the architect of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence), and the nearby Natural Park, which includes the Diborrato waterfall.
– Certaldo, where Boccaccio, the author of Decameron, lived
– The fortress of Monteriggioni
– The Etruscan city of Volterra
– Montalcino and Val d'Orcia, worldwide famous for “Brunello” wine production
– Hot-springs in Bagno Vignoni, the setting of many scenes from the film Nostalghia by film director Tarkovskij
– Pienza, a magnificent example of the Renaissance “città ideale”
– The seafront in Cecina and Maremma