18th-Cent. Villa with Gardens & Panoramic Views - Near Florence/Siena/Arezzo
Location
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Florence
- Region
- 37 miles to rental
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Historic Centre of Siena
- Attraction
- 28 miles to rental
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Arezzo
- Region
- 19 miles to rental
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prada space
- Attraction
- 2.3 miles to rental
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Car: Necessary
A scenic rural retreat in a central area of Tuscany surrounded by vineyards and olive groves with easy access to numerous sites of interest, from Medieval & Renaissance towns (Florence, Siena, Arezzo) to charming local castles, monasteries and hamlets. There are numerous markets with local produce & fine wines, oulet shopping nearby. Many privately managed & municipal pools in area. Thermal Spas 30-45 min. drive. Easy country walks at your doorstep, serious trekking trails in nearby hills. Designer outlets in the area (VAT tax rebates for non EU citizens). Cooking classes, painting lessons, bike rental and winery tours are some of the favorite activities after cultural tourism. There is something to do for visitors of all ages and interests, and in the morning and evening you will see the roebuck deer in the fields around the house.
Owner info
Year Purchased: 1994
About the owner: 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 realization 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 Montevarchi bank, and decided to carry out a dream: to restore and convert the villa’s barn into a rental cottage, and renovate the part of the villa once occupied by Allen's mother. 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 Bucine, Arezzo, Italy:
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 and make a life here. When Allen's mother moved to the Italian Riviera, the dowager apartments in the 'Casa Colonica' were used on and off by friends and family until we decided to restore them for vacation rental. So far we have been very fortunate with having marvellous guests. We are grateful to Home Away/VRBO for having been such good intermediaries for Il Poggiolo!
The Unique Benefits at this Villa:
N° 4 TRAVEL BENEFITS .....
1. PERFECT LOCATION: Il Poggiolo is within easy reach of the major Tuscan sites of interest, ideal for day trips. At the same time you have the calm of the countryside and vibrant sunsets over the Chianti hills. For both gastronomy and shopping, the Valdarno offers excellent wineries and restaurants as well as a number of designer outlets (the Prada outlet 'SPACE' is a 5 minute drive from Il Poggiolo).
2. LUXURY OF SPACE : The Casa Colonica has the advantage of spacious quarters and far many more rooms than are usual with vacation rentals. This can make all the difference when travelling with a group of friends or family, and the garden also offers the possibility of sunning in lounge chairs, reading in the shade of the evergreen oak , or dining al fresco.
3. OUTFITTED LIKE A REAL HOME: The Casa Colonica offers you all the advantages of a home, with all the conveniences and more beside. There is free parking on site (but you do not need to look at your car - only the view!), the gardens are comfortably furnished, inside there is a flatscreen SAT-TV, DVD player, and fast WI-FI. Bedrooms have extra pillows, and cozy blankets and quilts for cool nights. If anything is missing, please let us know !!
4. EXPERIENCE of LOCAL HOSTS: You have someone next-door who can give advice about restaurants and places to see that are off the usual tourist itinerary. You will not see your hosts unless you need them, but having someone on hand to help with the details of a stay or an emergency can be a blessing.
Contact us
Links to more information:
Photos
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Casa Colonica sitting/dining room
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Fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher and washing machine
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Kitchen corner (fireplace no longer in use)
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Sitting room with summer colours
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Arched stairway with light and shadows that change during the day
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Master bedroom
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Master bedroom with antique furniture, prints ... and reading!
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Casa Colonica bathroom - it is spacious!!
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Twin bedroom from another angle
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Il Poggiolo just before sunset. Photo courtesy of Amy Rubin
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Different flowers at different seasons of the year
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Prints, antique and modern, in every room.
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5 burner stove top and kettle.
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Sitting room in winter colours
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Comfy chairs and lots of light, recreational reading and guidebooks.
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There is a child gate on the stairs that can be closed if needed.
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Master bedroom from another angle
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Guidebooks and recreational reading in the lending library
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Twin bedroom
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Il Poggiolo - landmark stone at entrance to property
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Il Poggiolo Tuscany - seen from another hill.
VRBO #207356
This listing was first published here in 2008.
Date last modified - Tuesday, September 20, 2016
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