Location: Montevarchi, Chianti Area, Tuscany, Italy, Europe (30-45 min. Florence/Siena/Arezzo: 60-90 min. Airports)
Accommodations: Villa Cottage, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths (Sleeps 6-7)
Il Poggiolo is offering the FIENILE, an independent cottage on a private villa property with resident owners - for short or long term stays. There is also a second accommodation possibility on the property (sleeps 4+1), please see website.
The FIENILE is an traditional barn tastefully converted in 2006 into a two storey cottage. It sleeps 6(+1): upstairs there are two bedrooms (can add crib or cot for child) and one bathroom; downstairs there is a third bedroom/study and a second bathroom. Furnished with antiques, traditional ironwork beds and decorated withoriginal prints. The main floor also hosts a panoramic, enclosed veranda (a peaceful place to read, write, or eat), a sitting room with lots of books, and a fully equipped kitchen big enough to eat in (with granite counter tops and solid wood cabinets). There are all modern appliances (microwave, electric oven, 5-range gas burner stove, dishwasher and fridge/freezer), in-floor heating, washing machine (and clothes drying rack, iron & ironing board) as well as other amenities such as satellite TV & DVD & wireless internet. Windows in all rooms have screens. The Fienile has two garden areas with chairs, tables, and benches to admire the breathtaking views. Parking area on the property.
Outside is an extended garden area with pots of flowers, a table and chairs for dining, and benches to admire the views. In the second sitting area (an enclosed area off the veranda) you can sit and watch the sunset. From Il Poggiolo you can see the Valdarno valley, the Appennine mountains, the Sienese hills, and on a good day, all the way to Vallombrosa.
LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION: Guests appreciate the fact that Il Poggiolo is located equidistant from Florence, Siena, and Arezzo (30-45 minutes drive). While a car is necessary for your stay, Florence can be reached by train from Montevarchi in just 35 minutes. Nearby are historic sites, picturesque villages, national parks, thermal baths and, for a day trip, seaside beaches. Swimming nearby in local pools (10-15 minutes drive). Excellent wine and fine restaurants in the area, as well as informal village trattorie. Numerous designer outlets in the area for clothes, shoes, household items, etc. Perfect for day trips to all the historic attractions of Tuscany, for sports enthusiasts and gastronomic tourism, for family vacations, or just to get away from it all.
No pets or smoking (inside) please - allergy controlled environment.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer: Clothes-washing machine in unit
- Linens Provided: Sheets, towels, kitchen towels, provided. Thermal spa/pool/beach towels provided on request.
- Off Street Parking: Private parking in Il Poggiolo parking area, near accomodations.
- Beds
- King Bed: Can be divided into two wide singles (please request min. 15 days before arrival)
- Twin/Single Bed (4) : Two single beds can be combined into a King bed upon request (please request min. 15 days before arrival)
- Child Bed
- Crib: Sturdy wooden crib available (please request min. 15 days prior to arrival)
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- Video Library: DVDs in multiple languages available for guests, please inquire. Guide books and information on local attractions also provided. Recreational reading library in various languages.
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen: Fully equipped country kitchen with built-in chestnut cabinets and granite tops. View over sink frames the Chianti hills. Extendable table can seat up to 8 with room to spare.
- Cooking Utensils Provided: For tea drinkers, there is a kettle and teapot, for coffee fanatics, three types of espresso pots. Plan to bake a cake or a pie - you will find all you need.
- Refrigerator: Refridgerator is also equipped with freezer compartment.
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Catering Available: Local prize-winning "Gastronomia" in Montevarchi will provide four star meals - just drop in to pick up dinner, or order ahead from their extensive menu.
- Outdoor Features
- Deck/Patio: Two sitting areas outside with chairs, tables, umbrellas and views of the Tuscany hills. One has morning sun, the other evening sun.
- View/Location
- Mountain View: Il Poggiolo is located on a hilltop with views onto the Valdarno and Appenine mountains to the North-East, and the Chianti hills to the South-West.
- Communications
- Cell Phone: Cellphone available for guests' use (fixed fee + set rate calls)
- WiFi (Wireless Internet): Bring your computer already set up for WIFI, you will be furnished a password upon arrival. Guests are required to fill out a form for internet access (Italian anti-terrorism laws)
- Other Amenities
- Some toys and games for children.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly: Safety gate at the top of the stairs.
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Swimming
- Mountain Biking
- Hiking
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Antiquing
- Museums
- Other Activities
- Medieval/Renaissance towns throughout areas, from main sites (Florence, Siena, Arezzo) to picturesque Castles, Abbeys and Hamlets. Markets with local produce, fine wines. Privately managed pools in area. Thermal Spas 30-45 min. drive. Easy country walks at your doorstep, serious trekking trails in nearby hills. Many designer outlets in the area.
Rate Details (In Euro)
Xmas/New Years in Tuscany - € 1,450/week x 6 heating included !
2010 rates: €1200/week first 2 guests + €100/week each guests n° 3 & 4
€ 50/week each guests n° 5 & 6. Cot/crib for child €50/week.
25% non-refundable deposit due at booking. Payment by PAYPAL: Visa or Mastercard
Balance due by bank transfer 60 days prior to arrival OR in euros on arrival.
DISCOUNT for each consecutive week. Monthly rates available.
Heating: at cost (November 1 - April 15)
Price includes all linens, utilities and final cleaning.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Credit Cards Accepted:
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
In 1994 Allen and I bought the property we had been renting for over 10 years. The reasons why we ended up in Tuscany - on a hilltop in the Valdarno - are totally serendipitous, and entirely too long to go into here. But we did it, and lived in happy nonchalance, raising our daughter and commuting to work in Florence until the economic crunch began to make itself felt. In 2005 we had the belated realisation that this property had better help maintain itself, otherwise we would find it very difficult to keep up the land and buildings after we retired. I keep buying lottery tickets with blind faith, but in the meantime we bit the bullet, hocked our souls to the Banca Toscana, and decided to carry out a dream: to restore and convert the villa’s barn into a rental cottage, and renovate the half of the villa once occupied by Allen's mother, now happily ensconced on the Italian Riviera. The idea was that holiday rentals would help with the mortgage, garden maintenance, and miscellaneous upkeep until – when we are well into our dotage – we downsize and move into the converted barn ourselves. Read the first installment of the saga about this renovation process on the 'Wandering Educators' site (under 'Barn conversion').
Why the Owner Chose Montevarchi
Tuscany is not only a tourist mecca, but the climate is better than Paris and London (where we had been living before), and Florence is within an easy commute, so it is possible to live in the countryside and work in the city. The people in the area are wonderful. In fact, the Tuscans are the main reason why my husband and I opted to stay in Italy, to buy the family villa (divided into two large apartments) and make a life here. The 'Fienile' was originally one of the agricultural outbuildings (a barn) which we used to park the tractor and the car, store tools, and hang laundry. It has become a charming dwelling, where we plan to retire one day. In the meantime, we have had marvellous guests. We are grateful to VRBO for having been such a helpful intermediary.
Property Photos
- Il Poggiolo Tuscany - the Fienile and one of the garden areas - Montevarchi, Tuscany Villa Cottage Rental
- Bright and charming second bedroom with two single beds (can be combined) - Montevarchi, Tuscany Villa Cottage Rental
- Master Bedroom, with nido d'ape brickword visible through the windows - Montevarchi, Tuscany Villa Cottage Rental
- Il Fienile - daybed in sitting room with stairway leading to top floor
- Il Fienile - Veranda with panoramic view of Siena hills and Valdambra
- Fienile Veranda in afternoon light, with enclosed sitting area to watch sunset
- Il Poggiolo seen from the South - Appennine mountains in the distance
Guest Comments (7)
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #157259
There have been 3559 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2008.
This listing was first published here in 2007.
Date last modified - October 27, 2009
Positive Rating
Allan and Sharon Kelly , Sherwood Park Alberta
Homeowner Response:
You certainly managed to "do" Tuscany when you were here, and you lucked out in terms of weather, so your travel stars must have been right!
Positive Rating
Julia and Henry , New Jersey
Homeowner Response:
You were wonderful guests, and the children a delight. I am so glad the little lizards let themselves be caught, and the hibiscus flowers were out in full bloom for your stay. Now we just have to figure out how to transport the Montevarchi gelateria to New Jersey...
Positive Rating
Jill and Gary Hill , Edmonton, Alberta
Homeowner Response:
It was a joy to have you as next-door neighbours. Your appreciation of the smaller treasures in addition to the usual art centers was wonderful. Thank you for the kind words!! Sara
Positive Rating
Tuzzolino Family , Seattle
Homeowner Response:
You were a great group to have, full of energy and ready to try everything. Even your enthusiasm about the local Coop supermarket was heart-warming (admittedly, it is a very good little market). Do come back and go again to the thermal baths, and have dinner at San Giusmé! Sara & Kyra & Allen
Positive Rating
,
Homeowner Response:
You two were troopers and it was your intrepid spirit as much as wheelchair-friendly itineraries that made your trip. Hope to see you some time in the future .... and for your sake without the crutches !!
Positive Rating
My stay in the Casa Colonica at Il Poggiolo Bucolic, comfortable, elegant. No better words to describe this place than as a little bit of heaven nestled in the Tuscan hills. A great location, equidistant from Siena and Florence, and within easy reach of lovely little historic towns to explore. It is a short drive to the market and to the train so you don’t have to deal with the traffic in Florence. Il Poggiolo is a welcome respite after a long day of urban sightseeing, a place to refresh, restore, and relax. If you travel with kids, as I did, it is a great place to let the kids unwind for a day in between sightseeing trips. Just out the front door are miles of charming country walks, past vineyards, olive groves, fields of sunflowers, quaint stone farmhouses, and villas framed by cypress tree on hilltops, watched over by mediaeval towers on even higher hilltops. Fabulous food is found at local markets. Make your day’s picnic with fresh focaccia bread still warm from the baker’s oven, juicy ripe tomatoes picked that very morning, mozzarella cheese made from buffalo milk, boar-meat salami, a basket of wild strawberries, and a bottle of local wine that is not sold outside of the valley……Nirvana. Il Poggiolo is a magical place for both kids and adults. Rain or shine as you look out over the beautiful hills you see a landscape that is the same as those painted in Renaissance paintings. On quiet summer days you can hear the sheep bells from across the valley. The owners are very pleasant and helpful when you need them, and respect your privacy when you don’t. They provide a basket of guidebooks and maps for you to look over and borrow during your stay. They are available if you need a personal recommendation for a local restaurant or a sightseeing idea….or a bit of disinfectant and a band-aid. The Casa Colonica, where I stayed with my family, is a lovely part of an old Villa: it is beautifully decorated, the beds are most comfortable, the kitchen well outfitted. I also saw the Fienile, which can accommodate more people and is quite elegant. Both the Villa and the Fienile are listed as historic buildings. I have been coming to Tuscany for years, and thus can assert with the wisdom of long experience that Il Poggiolo is an amazing, magical place, unrivalled for the quality and size of the accommodations, amenities, and location. In fact, Il Poggiolo is Tuscany’s best kept secret.
Positive Rating
As we leave Tuscany we want to share some of our memories and impressions with others who might visit Il Poggiolo. Imagine a commodious half of very large casa colonica that welcomes you with flowers, the makings of a meal and a spacious kitchen as fully equipped as any North American home. But there is a big difference that constantly reminds you that you are in the hills of Tuscany. This lightsome house is filled with the richness of antiques against a background of arched windows and doors upstairs and down, all of which have views of treed hills, vineyards, olive groves and winding tiny roads. If you are on a writing mission your computer and other necessities are equally at home. If you are touring, you are within easy distance of endless sites of interest. Imagine that this house is up a country road and that it is surrounded by cypress trees and other beautiful vegetation through which you can see other colonicas spotted here and there across the hills. All this privacy and the vistas collaborate to create a quiet getaway from the hustle and bustle of the nearby tourist magnets such as Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Lucca and Pisa. The two very knowledgeable owners of Il Poggiolo will point you in the direction of nearby villages - Montevarchi, San Giovanni, Bucine, Torre - all of which offer little-known beauty and most of which offer Italian staples and luxuries. If you are willing to travel a bit further there are half-day adventures to beautiful areas like the Vallombrosa, which is a forest, topped by a beautiful monastery. Loro Ciuffenna is a small medieval town built on a ravine with cascading water rushing through it. In the central piazza you can sit with a coffee and eat some of the best gelato in the world while listening to the many sounds of the river. [...] A brief talk with the owners (both professional historians) will acquaint you with special itineraries, such as the route that connects seven Romanesque churches. After all this feasting on painting and architecture you then return to the wonderful house and its mixture of night sounds such as the hooting of owls, the singing of nightingales. Each morning the wonderful light of Tuscany is announced by a distant rooster's praise of dawn. And all this doesn't even constitute half of the area’s treats. Don't just imagine Il Poggiolo. Experience it, as our family has [as guests] over a period of 15 years. It has become a special place for all of us and remains in our minds as we go on about our University chores. We hope that you find it as special as we have.