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Fabulous Tuscan Farmhouse with Spectacular Views
| Sleeps | 10 |
| Bedrooms | 5 |
| Bathrooms | 4 |
| Space | 4,000 sq. ft. |
| Property type | farmhouse |
| Minimum Stay | 7 nights |
Overview
Farmhouse, 5 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, (Sleeps 10 + 2 babies in cots)
This beautifully restored and spacious Tuscan farmhouse is close to Florence and has terracotta floors, original beams and traditional local furniture. Lying in 8 acres of wild flower-covered meadows L'Olmo enjoys spectacular views and is totally private and secluded. There are walnut, fig, plum, apricot and cherry trees and a profusion of lavender, rosemary and thyme. The main house has 2 double bedrooms 2 twin rooms and 3 bathrooms, all with showers and 2 also with bathtubs. NB One of the twin rooms leads directly off the master bedroom. There is an additional double bedroom below the house ensuite shower and its own private entrance which can be rented for an extra charge. There are 4 large living rooms including fully-fitted kitchen with dishwasher, washing machine and free internet access. Close to the house is a 12m x 6m swimming pool with shade provided by cherry and walnut trees. There are comfortable sun loungers with cushions. There is a magnificent covered dining terrace with spectacular views of the Sieve Valley. A portable gas barbecue is nearby. All the bedrooms have new mattresses, comfortable pillows and cotton sheets. The kitchen is well equipped for self-catering and there are plenty of chairs inside and out.
Keywords: Private Tuscan Farmhouse
About Martyn Lewis
We bought L'Olmo in 2000 as a holiday home and we now love to share it with family, friends and anyone else who loves Tuscany and wants to experience its unique friendliness and culture. We still spend the winter in England where we have our main home, family and friends but we love the summers in the Mugello. Our daughter, Lizzy, got married here in 2008 and we couldn't have chosen a more beautiful location for her special day.
Martyn Lewis purchased this farmhouse in 2000
Why Martyn Lewis chose Firenze (Florence) Province
We fell in love with the Mugello area of Tuscany and in particular our local village of Londa while spending holidays here in the late 1990s. What clinched it for us was the welcome we were given by the local people who have all become great friends.
What makes this farmhouse unique
A stunning location with spectacular views across the Sieve valley. Private and secluded without being remote. Friendly local village with great facilities and shopping. Proximity to Florence and ease of reaching other important Tuscan towns.
Guestbook comments from the owner
L'Olmo was the perfect place for our holiday. We wanted somewhere peaceful in the Tuscan countryside with easy access to cities and culture. It needed to accomodate 3 families with a range of demands from young children to teenagers. It suited us all brilliantly. The farmhouse was gorgeous; clean and comfortable with everything we could possibly need. Inside it was cool, there was plenty of room for everyone to have their own space, we loved the library! Outside the pool was wonderful, a good size and well maintained, with plenty of loungers so we didn't fight! The aroma of lavender, rosemary and thyme, planted alongside the pool, was heavenly as we swam and lazed about in the sunshine. The owners, Margaret and Martyn, generously invited us to help ourselves to fruit and herbs from the garden.This was paradise for the wannabe chef in our group. The outdoor dining area and barbecue were great, especially as eating and drinking took up a good proportion of the holiday! When we asked the children what to write in the review they said 'there was life everywhere!' - they were fascinated by the lizards, humming bird hawkmoths and masses of butterflies. We were very excited to see a Hoopie and deer in the forest. The local villages provided everything we needed with good restaurants and local produce. We had fantastic days out to Florence and Arezzo. Access by train and car was easy. Margaret and Martyn gave us a warm welcome, they were endlessly helpful but never intrusive. The communication and directions were clear and accurate, the information in the handbook was really useful and our only regret is that we didn't book a longer stay. We will be back!
Amenities
Londa Farmhouse Accommodation and Amenities
- farmhouse
- Guests provide their own meals
- 4000 sq. ft.
- Max. occupancy: 10
- children welcome ...
- pets not allowed
- non smoking only ...
- Rural ...
- Away From It All
- Family
- Historic
- Romantic
- Tourist Attractions
- Computer Available ...
- Fireplace
- Hair Dryer
- Heating ...
- Iron & Board
- Linens Provided ...
- Living Room ...
- Mobile Phone ...
- Parking Off Street ...
- Towels Provided ...
- Washing Machine ...
- Wireless Internet ...
- Free Wifi
- Catering Available ...
- Coffee Maker ...
- Cooking Utensils ...
- Dishes & Utensils ...
- Dishwasher ...
- Kitchen ...
- Microwave
- Oven ...
- Pantry Items ...
- Refrigerator ...
- Stove ...
- Toaster ...
- Child's Highchair
- Dining ...
- Dining Room
- seating for 10 people
- 4 Bathrooms
-
Bathroom 1 -
toilet
,
combination tub/shower
,
bidet
,
Accessed by spiral staircase
Bathroom 2 - toilet , shower
Bathroom 3 - toilet , combination tub/shower , bidet , On the ground floor
Bathroom 4 - toilet , shower , Ensuite to the extra bedroom
- All bathrooms are modern, fully tiled and clean. There is an ample supply of hot water and good water pressure. Shower and bath mats are provided as well as hand soap and tissues.
- 5 Bedrooms, Sleeps 10
-
Bedroom 1 -
1 queen
,
Master bedroom with ensuite bathroom
Bedroom 2 - 1 double
Bedroom 3 - 2 twin/ single , 1 baby crib
Bedroom 4 - 2 twin/ single , 1 baby crib , Leads directly off the master bedroom
Bedroom 5 - 1 king , Available at extra cost
- All the beds are of the highest quality with new firm mattresses and soft pillows. Sheets, towels and face cloths are 100% cotton. Extra blankets and comforters are available. All bedrooms have wardrobes and chest-of-drawers, bedside tables and lights. There are fly screens in every room to prevent entering insects at night and outside shutters to keep the rooms cool during the day. Bedroom 4, the smaller twin bedroom leads directly off the master bedroom so it is ideal for small children. Bedroom 5 is an optional extra but will not be let if you do take it. We have 2 children's cots, high chairs and baby toys for the house and the pool.
- Books ...
- CD Player
- DVD Player
- Games ...
- Music Library ...
- Ping Pong Table
- Satellite / Cable ...
- Stereo ...
- Television ...
- Toys ...
- VCR
- Video Library ...
- Deck / Patio ...
- Golf ...
- Kayak / Canoe ...
- Lawn / Garden ...
- Outdoor Grill ...
- Tennis ...
- Long-term Renters Welcome
- wheelchair inaccessible
- Private Pool ...
- Private Chef
- churches
- cinemas
- festivals
- library
- live theater
- museums
- playground
- restaurants
- ruins
- winery tours
- antiquing
- bird watching
- horseback riding
- outlet shopping
- scenic drives
- shopping
- sight seeing
- walking
- wildlife viewing
- ATM/bank
- Babysitter
- fitness center
- groceries
- hospital
- laundromat
- massage therapist
- medical services
- cycling
- equestrian events
- fishing
- freshwater fishing
- golf
- golf privileges optional
- hiking
- hunting
- kayaking
- mountain biking
- sailing
- swimming
- tennis
Reviews
Exceptional!
5/5 -
(12 traveler reviews)
Very nice stay
We spent a wonderful week at l'Olmo, 2 families with 5 teenagers. The view is just amazing, the place is very quiet and very well maintained, and the house is very comfortable. We spent time visiting Florence, Arezzo and Fiesole, and we very much enjoyed the pool, relaxing in the beautiful garden and dining on the terrace .
Margaret and Martyn are wonderful hosts, always there to answer questions and give advise but never intrusive.
I would warmly recommend l'Olmo for a stay in Tuscany.
Great holiday in Tuscany
Our family of Grandparents, children and grandchildren came together from as far as New Zealand to celebrate a 60th and 30th birthday. Our only specifications were that there would be a pool and outside dining. L'Olmo was a jewel of a find with this criteria and so much more. Martyn and Margaret were wonderful hosts who welcomed us like old friends when we arrived very late after a long day travelling. They have lived at L'Olmo for a number of years and have excellent knowledge of the area. On my birthday Martyn arranged and took us to his "second home" at a vineyard giving an excellent tour and wine tasting session followed by a fabulous lunch with traditional Italian courses and wines. This large, old, warm feeling house is beautifully furnished and spacious with many little extras. We very much appreciated the staple kitchen items, including local olive oil and even a pot of basil. The children loved the beautiful, clean and well maintained pool in which Martyn added new inflatables each day much to their delight. The views from here across the valleys were stunning. There was much wildlife whether it was watching the buzzards high in the sky or searching for wild boars and porcupines. Each evening the shepherd would herd his flock of sheep through the property allowing the little ones to pet the dogs and sheep. Accessibility by rail to parts of the region was easy and we made trips to Rome and Firenze with ease. Margaret and Martyn were great company, there if you need them but certainly not intrusive. This was a great location for exploring the Tuscany region and is good for relaxing and staying put or sightseeing and this location ticked all our boxes. We would have no hesitation in recommending this house and its hosts.
A wonderful holiday experience that all my family will never forget
All our expectations were exceeded at L'Olmo. Margaret and Martyn were exceptional hosts which made the villa and its beautiful surroundings that much more pleasing in all respects.We can't say more than a big, big thankyou to them both for creating such a superb experience.
Wonderful Family Tuscan Holiday
This summer our family—two parents and four kids, aged between 14 and 21, plus my father—embarked on what we hoped would prove to be perfect Tuscan holiday. L’Olmo did not disappoint.
The first evening, after a winding trip up the hillside, we were rewarded with a tree-lined colonnade entry onto the property that took our breath away. As you approach the property you get a sense of the quiet majesty and age of the place. We were warmly greeted by owners Martyn and Margaret. They were ever present but never intrusive for the remainder of our stay, extremely helpful with advice about day trips and at the ready to make reservations or help with anything else that might have come up.
The farmhouse itself is spectacular. Dating back centuries, it has been tastefully outfitted with many modern conveniences. The rooms are large and bright and the beds all have comfy, crisp linens. We love to cook and had such a good time perusing the local markets, snipping the property’s abundant herbs, and cooking in the spacious modern kitchen. The kids enjoyed the wi-fi “booster” set up in the kitchen so it ended up being a busy place.
Of course, we spent a lot of time outdoors exploring the property, dining al fresco, reading by the pool, swimming in the pool, playing ping pong, and just soaking in the unbelievable lavender-scented sweeping vista of the Tuscan hills.
We went on to visit other places in Italy on this trip but our stay in L’Olmo was definitely the highlight of the trip and we hope to return some day.
FAMILY VACATION
EXCEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS! THE HOUSE WAS MORE AMAZING THAN THE PHOTOS- BEAUTIFULLY FURNISHED AND MAINTAINED. OUR FIRST TRIP TO ITALY AND THE OWNERS TOOK AWAY ANY ANXIETIES ABOUT BEING IN A NEW PLACE- PLACES TO VISIT, EAT, HIKE, SIGHTSEE, SHOP. I'D RECOMMEND L'OLMO TO ANY GROUP OR FAMILY WHO WANT TO VACATION "UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN"!
Fantastic family holiday
We spent a week at l'Olmo in mid-August with a family party of six adults and three children aged eighteen months, five and nine - and everybody had a great time. The house was welcoming and comfortable, the location superb and the swimming pool irresistible.
Set high in the hills east of Florence and looking over the Val di Sieve, the views from L'Olmo are stunning. Sitting round the pool or on the terrace looking out over the wooded slopes or up at the stars at night, you feel you are in a timeless landscape that has changed little since Roman times. Especially when the family of wild boar that live close by come foraging for pears in the orchard next to the pool; and when the shepherd brings his herd of sheep, marshaled by his two sheepdogs, to graze in the fields in front of the villa.
The stone and oak-beamed farmhouse was cool, clean and comfortable with big bedrooms and lots of space downstairs for children and adults, perfect for a family like ours.
However we spent almost all of our time outdoors on the sun loungers around the pool or in the water. There's enough shade from the cherry and almond trees to keep you cool during the hottest parts of the day and the pool is big enough for games with the children or a decent swim.
We divided the cooking between the kitchen and the barbecue and had most of our meals on the terrace with the eight of us seated comfortably round the large dining table. But we had the option of using the posh dining room indoors and then ending the evening with coffee in the library.
Florence is an easy trip for a day's outing by car or train and the local village has a couple of good restaurants and a friendly bar. If you want to go a bit further afield the owner, Martyn, will happily advise you about the best places to eat, vineyards, local markets, villages, shopping and much more.
The road up to the villa is a bit daunting the first time but soon familiar and well worth it for the stunning location and views.
Map
L'Olmo is located in the most beautiful part of Tuscany, known as Mugello/Val di Sieve. Close to Florence it is also ideally placed to visit other famous Tuscan towns such as Siena, San Gimignano, Lucca and Arezzo. This area was chosen by the Medici family for their summer homes and to grow wine and olives. There are so many famous places to visit in this area that one could spend a month here and not see everything. Our guests typically enjoy the peace and tranquility of the house and gardens, the 12m x 6m private pool, walking the in woods locally, visiting the wide variety of Tuscan restaurants within easy access, visiting local wineries and learning about the local Chianti wines and the best olive oil in Italy, finding all their shopping needs in the local village, visiting the myriad of local fairs and markets, sightseeing in large and famous Tuscan towns but also exploring the smaller and less well-known villages within easy driving distance, enjoying the warm welcome extended to visitors by the local people.
Photos
Rates & Availability
- Available
- Unavailable
Additional information about rental rates
| Damage Deposit | $675.68 |
The above rates are for the main house only sleeping 8 people. There is another ensuite double bedroom which can be rented for a small additional cost thus sleeping a total of 10 people (plus babies!!) - please enquire for the rates.
We accept payment in pounds, euro and US dollars. Payment is usually made by bank transfer but we also accept payment by PayPal which is totally secure and assured.
Owner's Cancellation Policy
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