Location: Allesino, Siena Province, Tuscany, Italy, Europe (2 km to Altesino Castle; 5 km to Montalcino; 30 km to Siena)
Accommodations: Villa, 4 Bedrooms + Library, 3 Baths (Sleeps 8-12)
Keywords: Villa
Posizione! Posizione! Posizione! (Translation: Italian for "Location! Location! Location!").
Enter this property and you realize immediately you have ventured into the best Italy has to offer - exquisite views, sublime food, unsurpassed wine, and exceptional weather. As any Italophile will tell you, the Tuscan Val D'Orcia and Crete Senese (and in particular the area near Montalcino) is the most evocative and sensual part of Italy. There really is no better area -- as we have found in 20+ years of experience. Those pictures you see on the calendars, with the vineyards, rows of cyprus and hilltowns -- thats Val D'Orcia/Montalcino...
It is, after all, a United Nations UNESCO Heritage Site. And for good reason. The sheer beauty is staggering. This is the area that refused to allow billionaire media magnate and current Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi to buy a second (well, maybe 4th in his case) home! It is also the area where they filmed The English Patient, Romeo and Juliet, Only You, Stealing Beauty, and Tea With Mussolini.
Amidst this splendor is set the beautiful and private property known as Villa Brunello at San Sebastiano. This centuries-old, independent, four-bedroom, two-bath, 2700-square-foot home has everything to make your Italian vacation memorable. Just five kilometres from Montalcino (two-and-one-half as the crow flies), this ancient farmstead boasts views to die for - from Mount Amiata in the south to Siena in the North. And it serves as the perfect point from which to visit the most beautiful villages and cities in Italy - Montalcino, Allesino, Pienza, San Quirico D'Orcia, Volterra, Florence, Montepulciano, Siena, San Gimignano, Monterrigione, Pisa, Cinque Terra, and Rome.
Or stop at the ancient Roman baths of Bagno Vignone and the monasteries at Monte Oliveto Maggiore and Sant Antimo,... or hike in some of the most beautiful scenery on God's earth. If you are feeling industrious, take an Italian cooking or language class nearby in the monastery where they filmed The English Patient. There are 2 world renowned Italian Language Schools very close by where you can take classes at all levels and varying degrees of immersion.
Located on two lush acres surrounded by exquisite villas and vineyards, this very special home has been lovingly restored inside and outside to ensure your ultimate pleasure. And better yet it is surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and hill towns in every direction.
Open the wrought iron front gates to be immediately transported to La Vita Bella - a pea gravel courtyard welcomes you to your first view of the private church of St Sebastian and the verdant and generous Tuscan landscape. Once inside, your choices abound. Enjoy a beautiful outdoor courtyard just outside the French doors from where you will sip limoncello on quiet Tuscan evenings. Or lounge in the formal living room.
Be tempted by the breathtaking dining room (seating for 10-14) with coved ceilings from which you will enjoy your Tuscan feasts. Or enter a huge modern eat-in kitchen with all the appliances and tools necessary to prepare delicious Italian cuisine. Next to the kitchen on the first floor is an enormous living room/great room with eight-foot by eight-foot fireplace, two full couches, numerous chairs, and a large screen 48" plasma television. Just off the enormous great room and kitchen is a set of French doors leading to two wonderful lanais/pergolas adding outdoor rooms to your living space and which overlook the yard, vineyards and valleys - and by night the lights of Siena. Further down the hill, the pool and pool area is a haven in itself, with expansive views of the valley and numerous wineries. One of our favorite pampering features is the outdoor shower. The house, yard and pool are very private.
Downstairs, there is also a full bathroom and a study/office/bedroom with fold out couch for extra sleeping.
Upstairs you will find four beautifully and authentically appointed bedrooms. Two have queen-size beds and two have twin beds which can be joined to form queen-size beds, where desired. Each bedroom has beautiful linens with at least 400-thread count sheets and pillow cases. And better yet, each room has breathtaking views over the Montalcino Valley. There are also two additional bathrooms on this level, very tastefully decorated.
In case you did not already know (and we are sure you did), Montalcino is the location where Brunello (by far the best wine in Italy, if not the world) is produced. And from Villa Brunello at San Sebastiano, you are ten minutes by car and foot to the best wineries and wine tastings in Italy. We have counted over 50, and by no means is that complete. Banfi, Barbi, Fanti, Tornese, Biondi Santi, Campanna, you name it, they are here. From $30 to $700 per bottle.
There are also wonderful restaurants, enotecas, and gelaterias nearby in case you get the urge to indulge off premises. Many of them have al fresco dining with great views. You will soon find out, it is impossible to find a bad meal. But for those times when you are just too sated to leave, you will find the pool, yard, and the outdoor and indoor living, dining, and relaxation spaces to be enchanting. This is what Italy is all about. You may never want to leave.
Touring ideas from the villa:
* Caparzo Castle and Winery 1/2 mile
* Altesino Castle and winery 1 mile
* Montalcino 1.5 miles walking; 4 miles driving
* Buonconvento 5 miles
* Pienza 15 miles
* Montepulciano 22 miles
* Siena 27 miles
* Cortona 40 miles
* Mediterranean Sea 40 miles
* Florence 86 miles
* Assisi 75 miles
* San Gimignano 50 miles
* Lucca 111 miles
* Pisa 125 miles
* Orvieto 60 miles
* Rome 125 miles
* Todi 75 miles
* Venice 225 miles
* Milan 250 miles
* Bagno Vignone 10 miles
* Sant 'Antimo 10 miles
* Sant'Anna in Camprena 10 miles
* Monte Oliveto Maggiore 10 miles
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Linens Provided
- Garage
- Wood Fireplace
- Beds
- Queen Bed (2)
- Twin/Single Bed (4)
- Convertible Bed : There is a hide a bed in the library
- Child Bed : playpen/babybed available upon request for $25 set up fee
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- Video Library : 30+ movies on DVD
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Music Library : 50+ cds
- Pool Table
- Private Pool
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio
- Lanai
- Gazebo
- View/Location
- Mountain View : 360 degree views to vineyards, wineries, hilltowns, Montalcino, Siena and Mount Amiata
- Monument View : Montalcino/Val D'Orcia Unesco Heritage site views
- Communications
- Cell Phone : cell phone and internet available only after June, 2010 through this service -- http://www.cellularabroad.com/italyRmifi.php
- WiFi (Wireless Internet) : cell phone and internet available only after June, 2010 through this service -- http://www.cellularabroad.com/italyRmifi.php
- Other Amenities
- Plasma 42" Big Screen Flat TV, Washing Machine, Fruit trees and herbs, Dozens of CDs and DVDs, 75 rosebushes and numerous herbs, fruits, nuts and vegetables on site
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly : additional $25 cleaning fee
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sailing
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Jet Skiing
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Hunting
- Basketball Court
- Antiquing
- Live Theatre
- Horseshoes
- Shuffleboard
- Horseback Riding
- Hot Air Ballooning
- Theme Park (Amusement Park)
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Museums
- Rafting
- Hiking
- Rock Climbing
- Restaurants
- Other Activities
- extremely close proximity to dozens of wineries for winetastings and to language schools, galleries and cooking classes available on site and nearby.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
June 23- Sept 1, 2012 ....................... $3950/week.
May 26-June 23; Sept 1-Sept 29, 2012 ........ $3450/week.
April 27 -May 26, Sept 29- Oct 13, 2012 ..... $2950/week
March 31 - April 27, Oct 13-27, 2012..........$2450/week.
March 1-31; Oct 27-Nov 25, 2012 ............. $1950/week.
Property by the Week ONLY; Saturday 4 PM to Saturday 9 AM. Pool open Mid April to
Mid Oct. Cleaning $150E (Euros) paid to housekeeper. $1000 Fully Refundable Damage
Deposit. All Utilities included. You won't find better rates in this area anywhere
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
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Credit Cards Accepted:
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Property Photos
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- gorgeous 2750 square foot villa with exquisite views - Montalcino, Tuscany Villa
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- San Sebastiano pool w view and lounge chairs for 8 and dining table/8 chairs - Montalcino, Tuscany Villa
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- breathtaking view to montalcino - Montalcino, Tuscany Villa
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- living room with huge fireplace and plazma tv
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- one of many outdoor dining areas with amazing views
Traveler Reviews (15)
Guest: Gwendolyn Pittsburgh, PA
(-)
Date of Stay: 05/01/10
Review Submitted: 05/02/11
Hi Dave - we had a blast!! Your home was comfortable and has such a great location. We loved some lazy days around the casa and a few exploring the area. It was a nice break in the middle of an otherwise busy touring trip. Il Lecchio was fantastic - went twice. We will consider another vacation there next fall - mostly likely late September. I'll make the reservation as soon as possible, as I'm sure that's a popular time. We'd love to be there in pool season. Do you get over there much? When was your last stay there? We LOVED the cooking class, dinner and wine pairing. Wish we had done it earlier in our stay, so we could have enjoyed leftovers longer. I trust you heard that we left your home in great condition. We look forward to enjoying your home again soon! Thanks and have a great summer! Gwendolyn
Recommended for:
Guest: John - Manhattan
(-)
Date of Stay: 08/28/10
Review Submitted: 05/02/11
We are getting ready to leave on Saturday after a 6 week stay, and I just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed our stay. The property is wonderful, as you know. We wish you luck with everything. This part of Italy is absolutely gorgeous. By the way, Moreno is all you said he was. The Coop was great, much fresher products than we expected. We loved Montalcino. It's not really a tourist town, so one feels part of the life. The markets were small, but fun. And, the prices in Italy are much better than we thought they'd be. We even found good bread, once we realized that there are some loaves made with salt. Bread, for my wife being French, is an essential part of life. We ate out a bit, but as everyone cooks, there was nothing better than sitting at the table in the garden at lunchtime, and in the evening, watching the sunset, while eating and drinking products from nearbye. The silence, and the fact that the land isn't being overdeveloped, is a privilege. The San Giacomo from next door is great at 2€ the liter.
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Guest: The Seatons
(Vermont)
Date of Stay: 09/01/08
Review Submitted: 09/01/08
Hello, Dave, We're very nostalgic about our time at what we are now calling "our" home in Tuscany (we wish it were ours!). It exceeded our expectations - the website doesn't do the views justice, and we were so surprised at how much larger the rooms are than they appear in photographs. We had so much trouble dragging ourselves away from the pool, the terrace, and the view, so we didn't do nearly as much sightseeing as we'd thought we would - but it was all good! The location is perfect - close to everything, but far enough away that it's quite private and quiet. We were in awe. You have a slice of heaven at Villa Brunello at San Sebastiano!
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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 10/15/07
Review Submitted: 10/15/07
Dear Dave, Thank you for opening your wonderful home to us for a fall wine retreat. We spent the days traveling to various wineries and towns in the area, afternoons sitting in the backyard, and evenings eating at as many resturants as possible. We'd love to come back again...........enjoy your treasure. Bob and Nancy, Mike and jackie
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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 07/17/07
Review Submitted: 07/17/07
The four of us had a thoroughly delightful time at the Villa. The views were truly breathtaking from every angle. We had several great dinners at I Poggolio in Buonconvento. Enjoyed all the surrounding towns and Sant Antimo Abbey for Gregorian Chants. The pool and Villa were very clean and well-cared for. Brunello wine is wonderfully rich. Hope to visit again.
Recommended for:
Guest: Yvonne & Dennis
(Southern California)
Date of Stay: 07/15/07
Review Submitted: 07/15/07
Hello Dave, We wanted to write and let you know what a lovely time we had at your villa in Montalcino. We had our children ages 15 & 17 with us and Dennis' mom - a great time was had by all. Moreno was delightful! We left a day early to go to Florence and he appeared Friday morning to say goodbye to us. I'm sure you know how fortunate you are to have him working with you. He was very patient with me and my newly learned Italian. There were only a couple of times I had to rely on my picture dictionary ;) We didn't have a chance to meet his wife, but I'm sure she's just as much a treasure. The place met and exceeded our expectations! We thoroughly enjoyed the surroundings and the town of Montalcino... Il Moro Ristorante became a favorite of ours as well -the food was amazing and very affordable. On our second visit we were joined at our table by Roberto. He had a bottle of wine sent to our table and shared stories with us -we were able to speak in Spanish with him. My only regret is that I neglected to take a picture of the lady who owns the little market Moreno took us to when we arrived on Sunday afternoon. Her name is Mirella. She was adoreable, we visited her store frequently during our stay. Dennis and I are looking forward to planning another trip for just the two of us. It was a great family vacation, but I think we'd like to do alot more wine tasting in the region! Thank you again for opening your home to strangers -what a leap of faith, we are so grateful to have found you. Two of the pictures I've included are of the tiniest hummingbirds I've ever seen -they were feeding in your lavendar bushes...amazing! I feel like I'm echoing the sentiments of others when I say we'd really like to look into how to go about purchasing a property in the area. I took over 650 pictures during our 2 weeks in Italy and none are as breathtaking as the sunsets from your back yard, or the morning views of the sheep being herded out to pasture. We can see why you love it. We look forward to our next visit. Have a wonderful remainder of the summer! Ciao! Yvonne & Dennis
Recommended for:
Guest: Linda Herman
(Minneapolis, MN)
Date of Stay: 07/06/07
Review Submitted: 07/06/07
My husband and I spent a wonderful week in Dave's Villa Brunello with three other couples. Florence and Rome were also on our itinerary, but the week in Tuscany was by far the best part of our trip. It was very warm while we were there, but always relatively cool on the hill with the pool as a great place to cool off on the hottest of days. Our day generally included sight-seeing in the earlier part of the day and drinks by the pool in the afternoon. Seeing as we all fancy ourselves to be relatively good cooks, we alternately cooked at home and went out in the evening. We were pleased that the kitchen had everything we needed and dining outdoors with the views and the sunsets was better than any restaurant. Taverna del Grappolo Blu was a big hit with our group; we were waited on by the charming and gracious owner. Montalcino was, of all the quaint mountain towns, our favorite. Worth going in for Friday's market day with all its colorful people and fun shopping. We did have the pump go out while we were there, but Dave was able to get the caretaker, Moreno, out to help us very promptly. One suggestion is to make sure that you have a European cell phone with you for those emergency calls.
Owner response:Thanks Linda for the nice comments. Linda did it right. The best days are those where you get out early and see the sights and then come back for leisurely afternoons by the pool. I am very lucky to have Moreno and our guests seem to love him.
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Guest: Katherine Thompson
(Topanga, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/24/07
Review Submitted: 04/24/07
My entire family stayed in Villa Brunello for two gorgeous weeks in April, soaking in the intense green of the hills and the wonderful wine. It was the ideal location for jaunts across Tuscany and Umbria as well as for sitting out on the patio all day being mesmerized by the view. We loved driving the tiny country roads, getting lost on purpose, and exploring the towns filled with history. Moreno was prompt and helpful with everything that we needed, and we felt welcomed by the Italian people. It is now our dream to own a villa there too someday. I recommend taking all of Dave's suggestions of local sights and restaurants (we were never led astray with those) and visiting the "Il Paradiso di Frassina" vineyard just up the road where they play classical music to their grapes! Thanks for a great stay.
Owner response:Katherine, Thank you for the beatiful words. I hope you will indeed buy a place right up the road. We would have a great time. Ciao, Dave
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Guest: James and Mary Magee
(Tulsa, OK)
Date of Stay: 09/28/06
Review Submitted: 09/28/06
The Villa Brunello was a perfect location from which to visit the historic hill towns of Tuscany. It was everything we expected and more, very spacious and breathtaking vistas. Because the home is on a peak with vineyards spilling down the hillside, we had a perfect perch for observing preparations for the grape harvest. Viewing seeminly endless acres of vines loaded with grapes from our very private rose filled patio was a treat, regardless of the time of day. At night we could see the lights of Siena in the distance as we sipped our Brunello around the pool. Moreno, the friendly and capable caretaker, kept the pool spotless. The extensive notebook with instructions for everything in the house down to making coffee added to the ease of our stay. Suggestions for restaurants were most helpful, with Il Grappolo Blu becoming our favorite in Montalcino. Exploring Montapulcino, Cortona, San Gimingano, Volterra, Pienza, Buonconvento, Siena, Florence, and Torrenieri, always with a wonderful lunch and wine, was such great fun. We fell in love with the Italian people and their passion for history, wine, food, and life. Great vacation.
Owner response:Thanks James and Mary, It sounds like you covered a lot of ground in your two weeks and yet had time to stop and enjoy the surroundings. Moreno (our caretaker who we inherited and who has been taking care of the property for more than 20 years) described his experience with you both as "Bravissimi!" Please come again. There will be a bottle of brunello waiting with your name on it!
Recommended for:
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #73041
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