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PODERE VESCINA
Podere Vescina is a charming, spacious eighteenth century stone-and-brick farm house built in the "Casa Colonica" style, typical of the Siena area. Lovingly restored by its artist owner, the house combines both new and old to create a highly personal and tasteful environment. Its interiors have been featured in international magazines. Located on five acres of land, the house is surrounded by fields of sunflowers and maize. The village of Lucignano, a picturesque, medieval hill town, is five minutes away. From the house there are easy day trips to Florence (one hour), Siena (40 minutes), Arezzo (20 minutes), Perugia (one hour), Cortona (40 minutes).
INTERIORS: The house is divided into two floors. Upside-down in plan, the living space is largely on the upper floor, which provides wonderful views of the pool, gardens and surrounding landscape. The large kitchen has all the necessary appliances for gourmet cooking. Antique ceramics line the walls. The adjacent open dining area makes for easy and comfortable entertaining and a small adjoining terrace is perfect for eating outside.
The living room ceiling is supported by ancient chestnut beams and has a large wood burning fireplace at one end. All of the furnishings are antique, mostly purchased from the Arezzo fair (a wonderful event which takes place the first weekend of every month). Paintings by the owner and friends adorn the whitewashed walls of the house.
The master bedroom has an antique queen-size bed and antique bureaus and night tables. The adjoining bedroom has two single antique beds, side by side, and an antique bureau and closet. All the beds have new and comfortable mattresses. There is a large bathroom with wall decorations painted by the owner. The floors in the house are old ceramic "Cotto" and are covered with kilim rugs.
On the first floor is a large, bright artist’s studio with two sets of double doors leading to the rear of the house. A third bedroom has two single antique beds, side by side, also with new and comfortable mattresses. One of its doors open onto the large exterior terrace. One and a half baths adjoin this first floor bedroom.
GARDENS: The long driveway leading up to the house is lined with cypresses, shade, fruit trees and "Ginestra." Surrounding the house are trees of many varieties filled with birds who sing throughout the day. Flowering gardens circle the house and a large vegetable garden sits below the front hedge. Pots of geraniums and large beds of lavender and rosemary are everywhere. The large exterior terrace, covered by grape vines, has a ten foot rustic stone table for entertaining large groups of friends.
SWIMMING POOL: The five meter by 12 meter pool is surrounded by Mediterranean pines, and is flanked by a stone and brick seating area with comfortable lounge furniture. A rustic gazebo shaded by vines provides a cool spot between dips. The antique chestnut table and benches placed under the gazebo allow for simple poolside dining.
LUCIGNANO: The thirteenth century village of Lucignano is one of the most beautiful hill towns in Italy and has been much photographed and documented by many architects. It is just five minutes uphill from the house by car or a pleasant twenty-five minute walk. The village has supermarkets, butchers, fruit and vegetable vendors, and a number of good cafes where they make home-made ice cream. There are several trattorias which serve both lunch and dinner. Every Thursday there is a market on the town streets where local farmers and merchants sell their wares. Fresh fruit and vegetables! Lucignano also has a bank with ATM machine, post office, pharmacy, a newsstand and at least three hair dressers. |
