Property 161 – Chianciano – Tuscany

11 Bedrooms - Pool

Property 161 was originally built at the end of the XVth century as a wayside tavern, but soon became the centre of an estate belonging to the great Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala in Siena. In 1924 it was bought by Antonio and Iris Origo and turned into their comfortable home, from where they farmed and developed the land.

The Villa is built on three levels, following the lie of the hill, and is surrounded by the now famous garden created by Iris Origo and the English architect Cecil Pinsent – a ‘labour of love’ lasting many years. The house is full of old-world charm, not showy, but with beautiful antique furniture, comfortable beds, and lots of lovely rooms which offer both privacy and opportunities for family gatherings. Property 161. Three gardeners look after the premises, including the swimming pool opposite the "limonaia" (orangerie). Two full-time maids (including a local cook) and an extra help care for the house and its inhabitants (see below for details). Meals are often held under the pergola in the garden, where guests relax in the shade of roses and wisteria, lulled by the sound of water from the fountain nearby. The Villa includes an independent apartment on the second floor, with its own kitchen: a perfect retreat for children and nannies, or younger guests.

THE VILLA (for 14, without the independent apartment) consists in: 6 double bedrooms, 2 singles, 5 bathrooms, 1 cloakroom with WC. There is a delightful library with a fireplace and sofas, a sunlit living room with satellite TV, a central frescoed and balconied dining room for very special evenings (it’s rather far from the kitchen, near which there is another dining room), and a study – all on the raised ground floor. A large music and living room, with fireplace and two pianos, and several sofas and armchairs, offers plenty of room for entertaining friends and family gatherings, on a lower floor. A large kitchen and a second dining room are also on a lower floor, plus a breakfast room with double glass doors, facing the inner ‘fountain’ garden. All rooms have stunning views over the garden and valley.

Raised Ground Floor:

- Entrance hallway
- Cloakroom with guest WC
- Library
- Study
- Dining room with frescoes
- Living room with satellite TV
- 2 suites, each with 1 double and 1 single bedrooms and en suite bathroom
- 1 double bedroom with en-suite bathroom
- 1 single bedroom/study attached to the above bedroom.

First Floor: (overlooking the balconied dining-room)- 1 double bedroom with en-suite bathroom
- 1 double bedroom with its own bathroom across the corridor
- 1 attic bedroom with 1 bed (large)

Lower Floor:- Large living room with fireplace, opening onto the garden and pool
- (in another wing) Breakfast room with french windows opening onto the garden pergola
- Dining room
- Kitchen

FIRST FLOOR INDEPENDENT APARTMENT (for 6-7): here there are 1 double bedroom with TV, en-suite bathroom and a dressing room which can also be a child’s bedroom), and 2 twin bedrooms, 2 more bathrooms, plus a large and luminous living room. The view from all the windows overlooks the garden and the valley. This used to be the private apartment of Iris Origo, and has its own entrance from the courtyard. There is also a large kitchen, with dining table and fireplace.- 1 double bedroom with en-suite bathroom and dressing room/extra child’s room
- 2 twin bedrooms with bathrooms
- Large living-room
- Spacious kitchen with open fireplace

A washing machine and dryer, and an ironing table, are available for all the guests in the upstairs ‘linen room’.

The rent includes: electricity, water, heating if necessary (in October), firewood
- 2 fulltime maids and an extra help for the house - gardeners, pool maintenance
- food shopping (not wines - we encourage our guests to choose their own)
- toiletries and hair dryer in every bathroom
- the preparation of meals (not on Sundays): these include continental breakfast, lunch, plus 2 dinners per week
- bi-weekly change of bed-linen, bath and pool towels
- use of internet wireless in the house

The rent does not include:

- Telephone
- wines and food
- personal ironing and laundry

Extras (to be organized directly with the staff): Use of the house telephone and mobile phone, personal laundry can be obtained from the maid, baby-sitting.

GARDEN: The garden at Property 161 is completely at the disposal of its guests, except for Wednesday afternoons, when it is open to the public from 3 to 7 pm (this is a requisite for most ‘Heritage’ houses and gardens in Italy). Visitors are not free to wander, but are taken on strictly guided tours.