Grosseto C. Baccarini (60km; 50’), Firenze A. Vespucci (110km; 1h 20’), Perugia San Francesco (137km; 1h 40’), Pisa G. Galilei (145km; 1h 50’), Bologna G. Marconi (192km; 2h 10’), Roma Ciampino (266km; 2h 45’), Roma Fiumicino (228km; 2h 30’)
PRICE
EUR 5.450.000,00
DESCRIPTION
ORGANIC ESTATE FOR SALE IN SIENA, CHIANTI HILLS
On a hillside location in the Sienese countryside, in the ChiantiColliSenesi production area, 161.9-hectare estate with hamlet and organic olive grove. The property is a ruralhamlet dating back to the 18th century and is now divided into several units designed to receive guests (1,328 sqm in total with 18 bedrooms). The 9,000-sqm garden surrounding the buildings houses a 16 × 8 m swimming pool. The arable land on the estate is very suitable for planting vineyards.
The nearby village (5km; 5') offers all the basic services, and the art cities of Tuscany can be reached in less than two hours by car (Siena, Montalcino, Pienza, Volterra, San Gimignano, Florence, Pisa...). The thermal facilities of Saturnia can be reached in about 1h 45', and seaside locations such as Talamone and Castiglione della Pescaia are about an hour's drive away.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDINGS
The manor house (651 sqm – 7,005 sqft, 9 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms) is a large historic 18th-century building on three floors, now divided into apartments for guest accommodation. On the lowest floor are large storage rooms, warehouses and technical rooms. On the eastern side of the building is a spacious event kitchen with bathroom and covered space for outdoor dining. The rest of the building, on the upper floors, houses six apartments.
- Apartment N°1 (60 sqm – 646 sqft, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom): spacious living room with kitchen and bedroom with bathroom;
- Apartment N°2 (82 sqm – 882 sqft, 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom): kitchen with 17th-century fireplace, living room overlooking the pool, two bedrooms and bathroom;
- Apartment N°3 (46 sqm – 495 sqft, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom): entrance hall, kitchen with dining area, bedroom and bathroom, all converted from the old farm mill;
- Apartment N°4 (43 sqm – 463 sqft, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom): dining room with kitchen and view of the medieval village, bedroom and bathroom;
- Apartment N°5 (38 sqm – 409 sqft, 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom): spacious living area with kitchen and view of the pool, bedroom and bathroom;
- Apartment N°6 (58 sqm – 624 sqft, 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom): living area with kitchen, two bedrooms and bathroom.
The building has been entirely renovated and maintains the rustic charm typical of these buildings in the Tuscan countryside. On the outside, the structure has the typical mixed stone/brick walls and inside it was decided to preserve everywhere the original wooden beams and terracotta floors. In addition, to ensure maximum comfort to guests, the rooms are all equipped with air conditioning.
If one decides to plant a vineyard in the property, the spacious rooms on the ground floor of the villa could be easily adapted and converted into a wine cellar with ageing rooms and bottling line.
Guesthouse A (69 sqm – 742 sqft, 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms) is located next to the main villa, to which it is connected via a canopy at the exit of the event kitchen. Entering the lower floor we find a spacious living room, the kitchen and a bathroom with shower. Going upstairs we reach the sleeping area consisting of a large master bedroom, twin bedroom and shared bathroom in between.
Guesthouse B (371 sqm – 3,991 sqft, 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms) is on three floors. On the lowest level, partially underground, are two storage rooms. The ground floor is entirely devoted to vehicle storage, warehouses and storerooms. On the top floor, reached by external stairs, is a guest apartment (148 sqm – 1,592 sqft). Upon entering one finds oneself in a spacious living room with an open kitchen and fireplace. From here one then moves to the hallway that disengages the sleeping area consisting of a large master bedroom with private bathroom and three bedrooms with shared bathroom in the hallway.
In contrast, the owners' house (210 sqm – 2,260 sqft, 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms) is laid over two floors. The lower level is largely used as a wine cellar, while in the back is a bedroom with a private bathroom. Going up to the first level, one comes to a bright living room with an open kitchen, and from here one goes to a hallway that leads to the master bedroom with private bathroom, a second double bedroom and the service bathroom.
A wood-burning oven (17 sqm – 183 sqft) with woodshed and a small agriculturaloutbuilding (10 sqm – 108 sqft) in which to shelter tools and gardening implements complete the property.
Beyond the road there is then a ruined barn (about 50 sqm – 538 sqft per floor) that could be rebuilt following the original appearance.
EXTERIORS
The buildings are located on a hill and are surrounded by 161.9 hectares (400.1 acres) of land. The woods of the estate (131.2 ha) provide excellent privacy and are the ideal place for outdoor walks and hikes. In the right seasons it is also easy to come across mushrooms and truffles, as well as animals typical of the Tuscan countryside.
Arable land (27.1 ha) is suitable for a wide variety of crops, but the area is famed for the production of excellent wines and the property falls entirely within the Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG production zone. An olive grove (2.7 ha), managed with rigorous organic methods, makes it possible to produce excellent extra virgin olive oil every year.
Finally, all around the buildings stretches the 9,000-sqm garden on which are typical plants of the area and exotic-looking palm trees that frame the beautiful 16 × 8 m swimming pool surrounded by a terracotta solarium with umbrellas and deck chairs.
A private lake (1,200 sqm), located south of the hamlet, allows the garden and crops to be irrigated when needed.
The word Villa refers to an architectural typology whose meaning has evolved over the centuries. In the Roman Age, the villa was a house built for the upper classes. In the Post Roman Age, villa referred to a sort of village, similar to a fortified and self-sufficient farm whose inhabitants were called "villani" or "villici". It is with the architect and philosopher Leon Battista Alberti and his masterpieces Villa and De re edificatoria that the Villa starts to be considered as a place of pleasure and leisure. In the Renaissance villas, the first example of which is considered Villa Medici in Fiesole, the typically military and defensive features of rustic medieval castles are, for the first time, abandoned. This new conception of villa starts, therefore in Tuscany and, then, spreads to other courts of Italy and Europe. The Palladian villas, built in the sixteenth century in the area of Vicenza and along the Riviera del Brenta, represent examples that remained very influential for over four centuries.
It is very interesting to note how the term "villa" is commonly used in the English language. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, in fact, even in England this new architectural style became fashion and the word "villa" was so officially adopted also by the into English language. In the nineteenth century people began to talk about Villas simply referring to isolated buildings in the countryside, to emphasize the contrast with the houses joined together. This is a brief history of the architectural style protagonist of this portal, the Villa, whether we are talking about a farmhouse converted into a prestigious dwelling, a modern villa, a castle, a Medicean villa or a villa abroad.