Unbelievable but true: As holiday guests, you have this property all for yoursel
Location: Monteroni d'Arbia, Siena Area, Tuscany, Italy, Europe (Crete Senesi region - 40 km southeast of Siena)
Accommodations: Villa, 8 Bedrooms + Other (See Description), 6 Baths (Sleeps 15)
Villa San Giovanni is a beautifully renovated, spacious villa, the origins of which date back to the XVth century, situated opposite the ancient castle of San Giovanni d'Asso. A large sunny terrace and garden with private swimming pool overlook the spectacular Tuscan countryside.
Villa San Giovanni is located in the hilltop village of San Giovanni d'Asso, (with the River Asso running below). It is a large villa, originally a palace which, over the centuries, among others, was owned by the Bishop of Pienza and members of the Siennese noble Montepulciano family. Its spacious rooms, high ceilings and windows overlook the valley.
The villa is laid out on two floors:
The ground floor comprises a large entrance hall, from which you enter into the beautiful, formally designed, XIXth century garden; two sitting rooms, two dining rooms (one dining room seats comfortably 12, the other eight people), one of which leads out onto a large, sunny terrace, equipped with dining table and chairs; a fully-equipped kitchen with all domestic appliances and cooking accessories (refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, gas hob, and fan assisted electric oven); three bedrooms, and three bathrooms.
The first floor comprises four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Further steps lead to an upper floor with another bedroom. 7 bedrooms (of a total of 8 bedrooms) are equipped with fans. The villa is elegantly furnished with antique furniture. A household help 4 hours per day (5 days per week) is included in the rental price.
The private 6 x 12 metre swimming pool, maintained by the daily gardener, is located on a terrace in the garden, next to a large changing room which was the original laundry room to the villa, and which contains a toilet and large refrigerator freezer suitable for poolside drinks and snacks. A daily maid cleaning service, all bed linen and towels are included. A parking is 60 meters from the house, but you can reach the square in front of the house with your car to load and unload your suitcases and shopping bags.
In the hamlet another villa for 6 people (belonging to the same property owner) can be rented: La Capannina (please contact us for further information). Rented together these houses (each with private pool) can sleep a group of 19 people.
Short description of the rooms: One entrance hall, two sitting rooms, two dining rooms, one fully-equipped kitchen, three double bedrooms, three twin bed rooms, one single bedroom, flour spacious bathrooms, plus one en-suite bathroom to the single room (flour with shower, one with small tub).
San Giovanni d'Asso is a small village with approximately 300 inhabitants. The villa is situated in the upper part of the village - the "Borghetto", directly opposite the ancient castle, the origins of which date back to the XIIth century, and which is now the seat of the municipal authorities. The territory of San Giovanni includes the hamlets of Montisi, Lucignano d'Asso, Monterongriffoli, Vergelle and Pieve a Salti. (San Giovanni was originally the seat of rural Etruscan settlements, an area contested by both the Bishops of Arezzo and Siena, and it was sacked by the Ghibellines in 1315.
It assumed a more precise definition of its municipal boundaries with the General Regulation of the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1777.) The castle hosts the famous White Truffle Market in the month of November. The ancient Romanesque church of San Giovanni Battista is near to the castle, while in the lower part of the village lies the most important church in the area, the beautiful San Pietro in Villore, built in the XIth and XIIth centuries, and which is now surrounded by many cypresses.
Within the municipal territory is the picturesque village of Montisi, with its Chiesa dell'Annunziata and its historical grain tower. Here, every year, on the Sunday nearest to the fifth of August (the Festival of the Madonna delle Nevi, the patron saint of Montisi) a jousting contest - the "Giostra di Simone" - takes place. Among the agricultural products of the area, the white truffle is prized and famous throughout Italy, as are the excellent wines, oil, savoury cheeses and honey. In this upper part of the village there is a restaurant.
The lower part of San Giovanni d'Asso has a baker and butcher, a supermarket and cafe/bar. There are public tennis courts 8 kms away at Torrenieri, the famous abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore is 7 kms away, the thermal spa town of San Quirico D'Orcia is 14 kms away, Montalcino 17 kms, and Pienza 20 kms. The beautiful medieval city of Siena lies some 40 kilometres away, and Florence and San Gimignano are within a day's drive. There is no public transport in San Giovanni, and it is essential therefore to have a car. The nearest airports are approximately two and a half hours' equidistant drive away from Rome, Florence, and Pisa.
Pool in winter? Tuscany is famous for its Hot springs, belonging to a geothermal system that more or less encircles Monte Amiata, the most spectacular being Saturnia in the south west of the region. Steaming water collects in a number of white limestone basins - a rare natural spectacle and great fun to bathe in! Swimming possible both in the natural basins and in smart thermal baths. Saturnia offers a wide range of comforts and even a sauna.
Close to the property is Bagno Vignoni which has been popular since Etruscan times. St. Catherine of Siena is said to have appreciated its therapeutic qualities, as is Lorenzo the Magnificent, whose family built the splendid arcaded pool - a kind of flooded, bubbling piazza, famously used by Tarkowsky for some of the more surreal passages of his film Nolstalgia. Not far from this antique piazza there is a hotel with a lovely open air swimming pool, fed from hot springs. This is also available to external guests.
Just relax here!
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Linens Provided
- Wood Fireplace
- Beds
- King Bed (3)
- Double Bed (2)
- Twin/Single Bed (5)
- Child Bed
- Crib
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- CD Player
- Private Pool
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Catering Available
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio
- Balcony
- Gazebo
- Communications
- Computer w/ Dial-up Internet: Only dial-up line available.
- Other Amenities
- Mobile Phone, Freezer, Ceiling Fans in some bedrooms & Fans in other bedrooms, formal garden, sunny terrace
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Swimming
- Biking
- Hiking
- Museums
- Other Activities
- Thermal Spa/Hot Springs in Bagno Vignoni 20 km
Rate Details (In Euros)
Low Season ... € 5290 / week with an occupancy of 15 people.
Mid Season ... € 5990 / week with an occupancy of 15 people.
High Season ... € 6490
June, July, August
Bed, bath & kitchen linens, water, electricity, gas, wood for fireplaces, maid
service (4 hours house cleaning per day 6 days per week), final cleaning, pool
cleaning service, garden maintenance all included in the rental price.
Baby bed and high chair: free of charge. Cook/First shopping available on request.
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Credit Cards Accepted:
Property Photos
- Unbelievable but true: As holiday guests, you have this property all for yoursel - San Giovanni D'Asso, Tuscany, Italy - Tuscan Villa Rental
- The large lawn - San Giovanni D'Asso, Tuscany, Italy - Tuscan Villa Rental
- The large panoramic pool - San Giovanni D'Asso, Tuscany, Italy - Tuscan Villa Rental
- Spectecular views from the pool
- One of the two living rooms
- Dining room with fireplace
- The yellow bedroom
- The light blue bedroom
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #27259
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This listing was first published here in 2003.
Date last modified - July 04, 2009