Property 10662 – Florence

7 Bedrooms – Pool – Large Indoor Whirlpool

Superb 15^th century, hilltop estate with glorious views across Florence and yet only ten minutes from the city centre. 

Location and Surrounding Area. Property 10662 enjoys a magnificent location on a hilltop just outside Florence. You can spend hours gazing at the twinkling lights of the city from the peace and quiet of the immaculate terraced gardens, which cover an area of two hectares.

Florence is an art-lovers paradise; it was the centre of the Italian Renaissance movement and the museums, galleries, palaces and churches hold some of the world's greatest artistic treasures. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Piazza del Duomo is the largest building in Medieval Europe and Brunelleschi's Dome is not only a masterpiece of engineering but also the largest brick dome in the world. The octagonal St. John's Baptistery is one of the oldest buildings in Florence and is a marvellous example of the rich Florentine Romanesque style. The Bell Tower next to the cathedral was designed by Giotto and the climb up its 414 steps is well worth the effort for the astounding view from the top over Florence and the surrounding hills. The Uffizi, Bargello, Pitti Palace, Boboli Gardens and the Accademia have to been seen and once you tire of art and history, take a wander through the unforgettable streets and across the Ponte Vecchio bridge which spans the River Arno. Florence is also home to designer shopping and fine wine and dining experiences. Thick, juicy Florentine steaks are a local speciality and best accompanied by a delicious, local Chianti wine.

Any visit to Tuscany should include Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano and Siena, which are all an easy drive away.

For golf aficionados, the prestigious 18-hole Golf dell'Ugolino is the oldest Golf club in Italy. It even features in Chris Santella's best-selling book, “Fifty places to play golf before you die”. There is also a riding centre nearby for spectacular horse-riding treks in the Chianti hills and a nearby tennis court.

Property 10662 is about an hour's drive from Siena, Lucca, San Gimignano and Arezzo and less than half an hour from Florence international airport. Pisa and Bologna international airports are about an hour's drive from the villa.

The Property. Property 10662 sleeps up to 12 guests in seven magnificent bedrooms, five of which have a private bathroom. There are three doubles and a single bedroom on the first floor of the main house and a spacious suite with kitchenette and living room plus two double bedrooms in the Tower annexe. Each of the bedrooms has been lovingly decorated to create an individual,  cozy environment.

The ground floor of the main house has two gorgeous living rooms, both with an open fireplace and one with frescoes. The dining room seats up to 12 guests and the kitchen is a chef's dream with sleek work surfaces and all of the gadgets necessary for rustling up delicious meals. There is also an extra bathroom on the ground floor and a useful laundry room with washing machine, tumble dryer, iron and ironing board in the Tower. If you fancy getting away from it all for a couple of hours, you'll find a delightful TV room at the top of the Tower annexe. The wine cellars have been converted into a lovely spa area with a stylish whirlpool bath. The whirlpool has a salt filter rather than a chlorine filter so you can stay in the water for as long as you like.

The gardens are terraced and are full of beautiful olive trees and a selection of fine fruit trees. There is even a panoramic “dipping” pool on one of the terrace where a refreshing dip on a hot summer afternoon equates to luxurious living as you revel in the water and the views over Florence.